Costain Limited
Biodiversity Boost in The North East
Shibdon Pond and Meadow are recognised as areas of strategic environmental importance within the North East and are both managed by Durham Wildlife Trust. Recently this contractor has successfully completed two environmental projects in Tyne and Wear aimed at improving biodiversity in the local area. The first project focused on Shibdon Pond, one of the few large open water bodies...
Using Apps to Make on Site Compliance Monitoring More Reliable
Costain and ALS (laboratories) are working together on a new software suite for onsite compliance testing of water arising from excavations. The app based sample recording and submitting process ensures that samples are correctly logged to the sample point (can be used to check sampling has been undertaken correctly if results are not as expected and that sample is from...
Multi Modal Engagement Programme for Road Safety 
The project team led an internal communications campaign on the topic of Road Safety. This topic was chosen based on the results of their wellbeing health needs assessment survey, where over 50% of participants said that they wanted more information about driving safely. Road safety is a topic that can be repeated again and again on projects, with the same...
Inflatable Manhole Protector Bung
A simple inflatable bung has been developed, as the first of its kind on this project. The inflatable protection allows an operative to safely install the rising pieces and iron work and also protects the operative whilst working at height. The bung can be inflated and fitted to eliminate the need for working at height. Rather than being used as...
Contaminated Land Risks: Odour Management
VOCs and hydrocarbon fumes arising from the handling of contaminated soils are easily detectable below hazardous thresholds as an odour and have potential to cause significant disturbance to nearby residents. A comprehensive odour management system has been agreed with the Local Authority and implemented to minimise this risk as far as practicable in a residential area where the local community...
Groundwater Protection During Excavation
Inground hydrocarbon contamination created risks to groundwater during Diaphragm Wall construction activities on the site. To manage the risk of drawing down contaminants during this activity, a cut off barrier formed from 2 circular walls of insitu stabilised soils around the shaft footprint were constructed using Cutter Soils Mixing technology. In this way, the creation of potential preferential pathways in...
