Mineshaft Safety Works Method Statement

4. Backfilling Operations And Reinstatement

4.1 All excavations and construction works will be backfilled as soon as possible after the completion of the works. Backfilling will normally be done with the excavated materials followed by the careful replacement of subsoil and topsoil to restore former ground levels.

4.2 Some suitable, surplus, excavated material may be left slightly mounded over the excavated area to allow for any further possible settlement that may take place.

4.3 The Contractor will be responsible for the safe and proper disposal of any surplus or unsuitable excavated material or waste material from site, together with the importation of any additional material necessary to restore former surface levels.

4.4 On completion of the works at each mine entry the contractor will be required to reinstate the site to its condition prior to the start of the works.

4.5 The minor nature of the engineering works proposed should result in a minimum of reinstatement work being necessary, comprising mainly of replacement of excavated soils and sowing grass seed.

5. Site Management And Control

General

5.1 The contractor appointed to carry out the work will be instructed to take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent adverse environmental impact and nuisance, in the form of noise, vibration, dust and water pollution. Prior to the commencement of work at each site the contractor will be required to submit a detailed method statement and health, safety and environmental risk assessments for the approval of the supervising engineer appointed by the DTI.

5.2 The contractor will be required to use, wherever possible, materials from recycled or sustainable sources that will interact favourably with the existing environmental setting.

Site supervision and management

5.3 On behalf of the DTI, an experienced engineer will be appointed to supervise the works on a full-time basis. The supervising engineer will monitor the works and ensure that they are carried out in accordance with the approved method statements, planning permission and any other requirements.

Working Area, Site Cleanliness and Making Good

5.4 The following contractual obligations will be placed on the contractor and enforced by the supervising engineer:

• To confine operations to the minimum area of ground required for proper execution of the work;
• To load, unload, park or store materials, plant, vehicles or equipment only within the site boundary;
• At all times to keep the working area and areas surrounding all buildings, sheds, welfare facilities or other temporary structures clean and tidy;
• To dispose of any mud, water, chippings, soil or other waste products in a proper manner and in accordance with the legal requirements of the Isle of Man;
• To take all precautions necessary to prevent pollution or contamination of drains, streams, waterways and watercourse;

• To leave the working area and the access thereto in a clean and tidy condition and to promptly effect repairs to any damage caused whether in the vicinity of the works or on the access route thereto;
• To refrain from smoking on site and provide, where there is a risk of fire from other sources, suitable fire fighting equipment.

Water and Electricity

5.5 If supplies of water are required for site works, such as mixing concrete, grout or cement, the contractor will provide this from either a convenient local supply by agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Isle of Man Water Board, or by use of portable containers or bowsers.

5.6 Electricity for portable plant or power tools will be provided as required from portable generators.

Protection of services

5.7 The contractor will be responsible for consulting with the relevant statutory undertakers and establishing the location of all underground and overhead gas, electricity, water, chemical, telephone, storm water and foul drainage services, etc likely to be affected by the proposed works.

5.8 The contractor will also be required to ensure that the position of any excavation is clear of all known existing underground structures, sewers, water and gas pipes, cables etc. In the absence of satisfactory information from the appropriate authorities the contractor will excavate a starter pit, by hand, prior to commencing excavation by mechanical means.

6. Environmental Management

Noise and vibration

6.1 The contractor will be required to ensure that all work on site will be carried out in such a manner that noise and vibrations emitted do not amount to nuisance. The Contractor will be instructed to employ the best practical means of minimising noise and vibration produced by site operations, including the following:

• No works will commence on site without prior notification having been given to the Chief Environmental Health Inspector of the Department of Local Government and the Environment;
• All vehicles and mechanical plant used will be fitted with effective exhaust silencers and be maintained in good efficient working order according to manufacturers recommendations;
• The positioning of plant and movement of vehicles on and off site will have regard to the need to minimise noise and vibrations at adjacent properties;
• All plant will be operated in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations. Compressors will be 'sound reduced' models fitted with properly lined and sealed acoustic covers which will be kept closed whenever the machines are in use. Pneumatic percussive tools will be fitted with mufflers or silencers;
• Machines in intermittent use will be shut down in the intervening periods between work or throttled down to a minimum;
• Items of stationary plant, e.g. generators, pumps, etc., will if necessary be housed in acoustic enclosures when in operation;
• Where necessary the contractor will monitor site noise and vibration levels to ensure compliance with any limitations that may be stipulated by the Department of Local Government and the Environment. In addition the contractor will endeavour to maintain a good relationship with the local community by, for example, notifying them about any expected noisy operations, their anticipated duration and, in conjunction with the supervising engineer, dealing quickly with any complaints that may arise.

Dust

6.2 The contractor will be required to employ the best practical means of preventing or minimising dust arising from site operations, including the following measures:

• All public highways, tracks and accesses used for the transport of plant, equipment and materials will be kept free from mud, rubble, dust or spillages of any sort and not damaged in any way. In the event any highway, track or access is dirtied or damaged the contractor will take all necessary steps to immediately clean and repair them.

• The wheels or tracks of any vehicles or plant leaving the site or travelling between different sites will be thoroughly cleaned so that no dirt is deposited on the highway. Tracked vehicles will not be allowed to run directly on the highway without adequate protection being afforded to the road surface to prevent damage or deposition of mud, etc. If necessary, regular sweeping of metalled roads will be carried out at the end of each working day and at such other times as are necessary in order to keep them clean;

• Steps will be taken to prevent dust arising from excavation or other site operations. The measures to be employed will include (but not necessarily be limited to) wetting, sheeting, covering or enclosing material stockpiles, mixing areas and delivery lorries.

Burning of materials

6.3 No burning of surplus materials will be permitted to take place on site.

Water Pollution

6.3 The contractor will be required to employ best practical methods to protect all watercourses, including water in underground strata, against silting, erosion and/or pollution so as to not adversely affect the quality or appearance of the water or cause injury or death to animal, aquatic or plant life and/or damage to property and land, including the following:

• No potentially polluting materials will be stored near a watercourse or in such a situation that they can fall or be carried into a watercourse. All fuel or lubricating oil stored on site will be located as far as reasonably possible from any watercourse. Such stores will be surrounded by an effective bund capable of containing 110% of all the full contents of the store and kept locked or otherwise secured when not in use. All deliveries to such stores will be supervised by a competent person;

• Any direct discharge of water arising from the works will only take place with prior approval of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Isle of Man Water Authority;

• No tools, plant or equipment will be washed in watercourses. Any used water will not be allowed to drain to any surface drainage system. Silted or discoloured water will be treated or settled in a lagoon prior to discharge into a watercourse, such discharge only taking place with prior approval of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Isle of Man Water Authority;

• There will be no abstraction and/or drawing of water, for any reason, from a watercourse (surface or underground) without prior approval of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Isle of Man Water Authority;

• On sites where soil contamination is known or suspected, any water arising from the works will not be allowed to directly enter watercourses or any drainage system without prior approval from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Isle of Man Water Authority;

• Ground surfaces will be protected where there is a risk of spillages or contamination from polluted water, oil, diesel, concrete, etc. Such protection measures will include the use of drip trays or sheeting. In addition a supply of oil absorbent materials will also be kept on-site at all times.

Trees

6.5 No trees will be felled, cut or otherwise disturbed without the prior approval of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Wildlife

6.6 The Wildlife and Conservation Office of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has been consulted about the proposed works. A copy of a letter dated 2 March 2004 from Dr R G Selman, Wildlife and Conservation Officer, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) in response to consultation on the proposed investigation and safety engineering works is included in the planning application supporting documentation.

6.7 With regard to wildlife and conservation and Dr Selman’s letter of 2 March 2004, there is no opening visible at present. Having regard to the nature of the collapse it is highly unlikely that bats or birds utilise the collapse area for gaining access underground. Therefore, if the collapse is secured with a concrete cap, it is not proposed to incorporate a grille in the shaft cap for wildlife access.

6.8 Vigilance will be maintained during all site works for the presence of bats or birds. Upon investigating the collapse, it should become apparent whether any void are present under the collapse and whether it directly connects to underground mine workings.

6.9 It will be incumbent on the Engineer supervising the works on behalf of the DTI to liaise with DAFF if necessary during the course of the works.

Archaeology

6.10 We have consulted Manx National Heritage (MNH). Mr Andrew Johnson, Curator-Field Archaeology has informed us that MNH does not have any archaeological data in respect of the collapse feature.

6.11 He commented to us that, when the planning application is submitted, MNH would probably seek the attachment of a standard archaeological condition allowing access during the works to record any features exposed.

7. Photographic Record

7.1 The contractor will be required to make a photographic record of the works to include all key stages of work, including:

i) Prior to the start of any site works, the condition of the collapse and any surrounding area likely to be affected, including the access; ii) Erection of fencing and signage; iii) Excavation works, including the finished excavation prior to the emplacement of formwork and reinforcement; iv) Construction of concrete shaft cap or plug, including placement of formwork, placement of steelwork, pouring of concrete and finished works immediately prior to backfilling; v) Completed site works, including backfilled excavations and reinstated areas.

7.2 The photographic record will include the date when taken, the mine entry reference number and an indication of scale.

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APPENDIX 2