CIRIA issues UXO best practice guide

The Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) has published essential guidelines for the management of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the marine environment.

CIRIA’s report ‘Assessment and management of unexploded ordnance (UXO) risk in the marine environment (C754)’ defines marine environment and outlines the prospective sources of UXO contamination, CIRIA’s press release reads.

It describes how it might pose a threat to intrusive engineering work and it provides a framework for the assessment and management of the risks posed by potential or actual UXO encounter.

Additionally, the guide identifies the roles and responsibilities as well as the duties of different organisations and stakeholders under existing legislative and regulatory regimes and pinpoints where and when professional advice from an UXO specialist should be sought.

The guide presents and describes those components that are required to deliver a professional risk mitigation strategy, based on effective hazard identification and efficient assessment, management and communication of risk that is both comprehensive, cost-effective and critically, delivers project safety, according to CIRIA.

Joanne Kwan, Project Manager at CIRIA, said: “This document is the first UK good practice guidance and will provide comprehensive UXO risk management guidelines for all organisations working throughout the lifecycle of marine energy, cabling and infrastructure projects.”

CIRIA’s report has been prepared by Royal HaskoningDHV, an international engineering and project management consultancy, and 6 Alpha Associates, a strategic advisor for managing offshore UXO risks.