Upon completion of a programme of challenging Environmental Restoration Works on an open lagoon, what do you do when you realise you risk undoing all your good work whilst de-mobilising the long-reach excavator from its floating pontoon?

Proactive planning between Jacobs, Soilfix Limited and its specialist equipment supplier Land & Water Plant Hire enabled the size of the crane to be increased to facilitate lifting the 26te excavator straight off the pontoon.

Robust temporary works procedures were in accordance with BS5975:2019 for the design of the crane lifting platform, with Andun Civil Engineering carrying out the design to ‘Cat 1’ and ‘Cat2’ standards, with a ‘Cat 3’ design check carried out by Jacobs for additional robustness.

Andun efficiently carried out an updated assessment of the increased crane size for the de-mobilisation, confirming the existing Lifting Platform was sufficiently robust using larger sized spreader plates. All crane operations (including excavator lift) were safely implemented without incident, in full compliance with LOLER Regulations 1998. A great example of effective communication and collaboration by a multi-disciplinary project team!