Balfour Beatty

http://www.balfourbeatty.com

Site Energy Efficiency Dashboard

Published 24 February 2025 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

CategoriesCarbon reduction Conserve of energy Conserve of resources

Site Energy Efficiency Dashboard (SEED) centralises and displays available digital real-time performance data related to the efficiency of three main asset groups: plant, fleet and compound generators with the aim of reducing Scope 1 carbon emissions, reducing costs and driving efficiencies. Data is taken from JCB Live Link (plant), Masternaut (fleet), Victron (generators), including assets that are owned, contract hired...

3D Printed Decoy Birds used to Attract New Species to Artificial Nesting Structure

Published 24 February 2025 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

CategoriesIdentification of flora, fauna and natural resources Protect the local environment

Kittiwake are small gulls with declining populations in the UK. The species is listed as vulnerable, at risk of extinction and on the UK’s Red List for Birds of Conservation Concern. To help support the local colonies and encourage new chicks to the population, this contractor has used 3D printed decoy Kittiwakes to attract new Kittiwakes into the artificial nesting...

Vacuum Lifting Revetment Unit

Published 19 September 2024 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

CategoriesControls Modern methods of construction

This contractor has moved away from lifting eyes cast into units by developing vacuum lifting systems. This reduces potential for corrosion, benefits aesthetics and improves safety. Further development in the vacuum lifting system took place with the addition of hydraulic rams to allow the units to be picked from horizontal transport position and dropped to the required angle for installation....

Avoiding Service Strikes by Project Excavators

Published 19 September 2024 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

CategoriesInspection and assurance Near miss Positive reinforcement for good safety practices

This contractor used a safety control measure, the Leica X Watch system in machines used for the bulk excavation of the underpass on this project. This safeguarded operatives from hitting the props, bridge and monitoring instrumentation that were installed in the work area. As-built information of the items they wanted to avoid hitting was installed onto the excavator’s GPS system....

Mandating Human Form Recognition

Published 15 August 2024 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

CategoriesCoaching for unsafe actions Controls Emergency preparedness Sharing of safety alerts

This contractor is pioneering a transformative safety measure by mandating Human Form Recognition (HFR) technology on all sites. HFR involves a sophisticated multi-camera system mounted on mobile plant machinery that detects human figures in real-time. This system alerts the plant operator with both visual and audible signals when pedestrians are detected nearby. Furthermore, it actively notifies pedestrians of their detection,...

Isolation Switches for Excavators

Published 3 June 2024 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

CategoriesControls Inspection and assurance Sharing of safety alerts

Due to the nature of the works close to the public footpaths, they have had an isolation switch fitted to both excavators which means that and individual has a remote button they can press should the excavator stray toward the public fence that kills the hydraulics and stops the machine. This has previously been used within rail, and was amended...

Cast Iron Repairs and Associated Carbon Savings

Published 7 May 2024 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

CategoriesCarbon reduction Conserve of resources Specialist input

On this project they faced a question as to whether they would repair or replace the damaged cast iron façade, with over 3000 components this was no small task. They sourced a specialist supplier who conducted a comparison life cycle assessment of the remanufacture of cast iron and compared with the manufacture of new cast iron components, this concluded that...

Use of Clear Bin Liners

Published 19 April 2024 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

CategoriesConserve of resources Monitoring and recording of resource usage Waste management

After a meeting held with the Environment Agency, it was discussed among the team to start using clear bags for all waste on the project. This was implemented to ensure waste was not being placed in the wrong skip. This also helped to reduce mixed waste by physically being able to see the content of the bin liners.

Curved Nozzle for Blasting

Published 19 April 2024 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

CategoriesControls Positive reinforcement for good safety practices

The contractor has designed and created a bespoke nozzle to go onto the handle of blasters to reach areas of complexity. This enables works to proceed in difficult to reach areas without compromising the health and safety of the workers. This also allows works to be easier to conduct and allows higher accuracy in reaching specific areas. This could be...

Temporary Bridge

Published 4 April 2024 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

CategoriesCarbon reduction Conserve of resources Monitoring and recording of resource usage

This contractor installed a 120m long temporary bridge providing the travelling public and pedestrians with a safe route while the Southern Piled Viaduct is demolished and replaced. The site team and design team were challenged with creating a sustainable diversion where all materials associated with the diversion were to be either re-used or repurposed. This was achieved while constructing to...

Prefabricated and Preinstalled Plant Room Kiosks

Published 4 April 2024 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

CategoriesLower embodied carbon content materials Prefabrication

Early engagement with the client identified concerns over the social and environmental impact that building new plant rooms would have on a live campus. As part of the solution the contractor offered to change from a traditional brickwork and cladded building to a pre-build cladded kiosk fully fitted out mechanically and partially electrically. This kiosk weighing in at circa 10.5...

Hydrocarbon Barrier

Published 4 April 2024 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

CategoriesDefined plan to protect and enhance the natural environment Identify potential natural environment detriment Plans to prevent pollution Prevention of surface water run-off Protect the local environment

This project’s marine licence requires site to stop construction spills from entering the marine environment. The site were originally due to install a large filter drain system and collection ponds to process all run off from the existing platform. This would involve excavation within the Saltmarsh environment, potentially damaging the SSSI location and require 24/7 pumping system to be on...

Women’s PPE Roadshow

Published 12 March 2024 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

CategoriesEngagement and commitment from the workforce PPE

This contractor worked with their suppliers to arrange a ‘try on’ event for the women’s PPE range. This gave female colleagues the opportunity to try out the range on offer in a variety of sizes to ensure a comfortable fit and order what they required on the day. Providing properly fitting, comfortable PPE in women’s sizes, is an important way...

Ultilow Tarmac

Published 15 February 2024 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

CategoriesCarbon reduction Lower embodied carbon content materials

Ultilow is a range of warm mix asphalts for more sustainable road surfacing that are manufactured and supplied at lower temperatures than conventional hot mix asphalts. As a result they offer significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions of up to 15% and typically around 8-10%. They also deliver a range of site safety and productivity benefits and no compromise on...

Using Trained Dogs to Detect Japanese Knotweed

Published 15 February 2024 | No comments
Written by Jack Endean

CategoriesIdentify potential natural environment detriment Protect the local environment Protection of existing natural habitat Removal of invasive species

On this project they have found several areas where invasive plants particularly Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam is developing. As it is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), to allow these species to spread in the wild, they want to do everything they can to prevent any spread at all. In their efforts to prevent...

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