Work was being carried out by Interserve which involved strengthening to box girders with the steelwork repairs being undertaken by HS Carlsteel Ltd. Jack Tighe Ltd were awarded the surface preparation and painting contract in January 2015.
Work commenced in February and was carried out by a 4 man team of ICATS accredited operatives supervised by a SSSTS accredited supervisor. Samples taken from the existing coatings had been analysed, with the results of the analysis showing that no lead was present. Consequently, the Control of Lead at Work Regulations did not apply to this contract.
The work area was subdivided into 3 sections, each of which had a different specification as follows:
Area A – Existing External Steelwork
Area B – Existing Box Girder Interior Steelwork
Area B – Existing Box Girder Interior Steelwork – Main Box A and Cross Box B9A
All of the work areas involved working at height and working in a confined space. External access was achieved via fixed scaffolding, mobile aluminium towers and MEWPs. Our personnel held IPAF and PASMA accreditations and had received confined space and working at height training. Internal access was via fixed scaffold and existing manways.
The confined space working regime involved the receipt of a permit to work, atmospheric gas monitoring, liaison on emergency procedures, a permanent safety guardian and tally boards, air fed masks, notices to warn third parties during blasting and spraying operations, an air klaxon horn facility, intrinsically safe lights and forced air/extraction equipment via a subsidiary manway so as not to obstruct the main access/egress manway.
The Company used its own plant and equipment, including blast pots and spray equipment, dust extraction and grit recovery units.
The contract was completed in May 2015 at a final cost of circa £104,000.
