We undertook the role of Principal Contractor and as such ensured compliance with obligations identified within the CDM Regulations 2015, including:
Invergarry Power Station lies on the shores of Loch Oich in Inverness-shire and forms part of the Garry Hydro scheme. Our task was to undertake all temporary works to gain access to the work areas and thereafter to carry out surface preparation and corrosion protection painting to the high pressure penstock lining, the spiral casing, the draft tube, the tailrace liner, and the adit door and plug liner. There were 2 adjacent CDM sites, one of which was under Jack Tighe Ltd control and the other was under SSE control.
We planned and structured the works to avoid any potential conflict with these other sites and implemented daily co-ordination meetings to facilitate the smooth operation of all the sites.
Management of the works was led by Paul Wolstencroft, Jack Tighe Ltd Contracts Director. Day to day control was effected by a full-time site supervisor, assisted by regular site visits made by Nebosh and NACE accredited Health, Safety and Environmental Officers and Quality Engineers respectively. These site visits incorporated formal site audits to ensure compliance by our own personnel and our subcontractors with both the safe methods of working and the quality plans. A designated QS made monthly visits and our Training Manager attended site to carry out chemical re-breather training and face-fit testing.
Daily meetings were held between Jack Tighe Ltd and our subcontractors to maintain progress to programme and to liaise on any specific aspect of the project requiring immediate attention. Weekly site meetings were held between our management, subcontract management and the client to ensure co-operation was being achieved, health, safety, environmental and quality targets were being met and the client was happy with progress.
We formulated specific quality plans for each section of the works, complete with all necessary hold points, notification points, dry and wet film thickness measurements, curing times and hand over details. Likewise a site specific Environmental Risk Plan and Impact Assessment was formulated to supplement the usual method statement, risk assessments and COSHH assessments. This covered aspects such as airborne dust arising from the surface preparation stage, potential land contamination through any spills together with avoidance techniques, noise pollution caused by machinery and means of efficient and regulated waste disposal. The works came under the auspices of the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002, due to the presence of lead having been established in the existing paint coatings. Accordingly, Jack Tighe Ltd provided all appropriate welfare facilities including decontamination units preceded by dirty/clean areas and receptacles for all contaminated workwear. Lead in air tests and blood lead level testing was carried out to protect the workforce.
Access and egress to the work areas, where required, was provided by approved scaffold subcontractor McDonald Scaffolding and by Giraffe Access Ltd, also a member of our approved supply chain. This access included the construction of a walkway through the tailrace and the construction of a moveable access platform in the penstock, as well as by fixed scaffold platforms in the draft tube and spiral casing. Jack Tighe Ltd personnel carried out the construction and placement of a 16 foot wide dam, made of timber and steel and sealed with neoprene. The function of the dam, which was equipped with drain-off tubing, was to ensure a dry working environment whilst carrying out blasting and painting operations.
The specification called for:
All weld seams, sharp edges, rivet heads and thickening plates had to be stripe coated prior to spray application of primer and finish coats to ensure a continuous paint coating.
Company owned plant used on this project included dust extraction units fitted with Hepa filters, grit vacuum recovery units, blast pots, spray pumps, metal heat and environmentally controlled paint storage unit with internal bund, diesel bowsers, welfare and office units, clean air packs, fork lift truck, all-terrain vehicle, generators and site specific lighting. Mobilisation and demobilisation of the works was carried out by our Company owned lorries and vans.
The works were carried out by a team of ICATS accredited blasters/sprayers (average team size of 14, peaking at 17), supervised by an SSSTS accredited supervisor. All personnel held additional training certifications including Confined Space, IPAF, PASMA and First Aid. Two of our employees were trained AP4 Permit Holders (training carried out by SSE) to ensure correct SSE procedures were followed at all times.
Value of work completed within the 14 week programme was circa £540,000 and led to further additional works at this and other SSE sites which are currently in progress.
