Unity Partnership Oldham Council
Duration
12 Month Unity Partnership Secondment
Challenge
Working for Unity Partnership, a wholly owned company of Oldham Council, LBR Associates were responsible for undertaking and managing routine inspections of Oldham Council’s structures stock. Team changes at Unity Partnership and challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic had resulted in inconsistent capture of data and routine inspections not being undertaken as programmed.
Geographically diverse with a structure’s stock exceeding 1350 no. structures (circa. 250 no. bridges, footbridges, and culverts and circa. 1100 no. retaining walls), inspections were in rural and residential areas with varied hazards and risks to be considered at each location. As such, programming, organising, and managing multiple third parties including Traffic Management (TM), road space teams and specialist access suppliers was required for Principal Inspections. The inspections were also undertaken during a national lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, which presented a unique set of challenges with maintaining social distancing.
Typical of an under-resourced local authority, it was identified that minor remedial works, such as reconstruction of collapsed sections of stone masonry retaining walls or parapets, recommended during previous routine inspections were not being undertaken. This was due to information not being presented to the appropriate teams implementing the works.
Figure 1 - Typical Masonry Arch Bridge
The Solution
Figure 2 - Span Steel/Concrete Composite Bridge
Working through a secondment, our team worked collaboratively with the client to improve the data stored on the asset management system, Pontis, and implement the County Surveyors Society Bridge Condition Indicator inspection and recording process, ensuring good quality and consistent data is gathered going forward.
To deliver the multi-faceted Principal Inspections, our team identified specialist access and TM requirements at each site location. Specialist access teams were appointed to undertake confined space and provide MEWP access. Liaison with various third parties was required to set dates for the inspections and book the required road space and TM. Prior to any site visits, our team ensured all suppliers such as rope access inspection specialists and MEWP operators were able to demonstrate the appropriate competency levels.
Further to the health and safety challenges which are usually involved with structural inspections and surveys, our team also had the additional challenge of working within the government guidance on Covid-19. This was communicated to the teams prior to inspections.
To ensure effective communication between inspection teams and minor works teams, a minor works programme was developed in Pontis and access provided to the team undertaking minor remedial works. This resulted in minor works being undertaken in good time minimising health and safety risks to members of the public.
Given Oldham Council’s limited resources and understanding the importance of identifying high risk structures, our engineer undertook Risk Based Principal Inspection Interval Assessments to identify which structures required more regular inspection and potential intervention to bring up to the desired condition.
The Results
Our team were able to successfully manage 35 no. Principal Inspections and undertake approx.100 no. General Inspections within the financial year without injury or incident. All reports to the client were completed on time and on budget. By reintroducing the County Surveyors Society Bridge Condition Indicator inspection and recording process our team ensured consistent and good quality data is gathered. This will be maintained through our current engagement reviewing and approving inspections submitted by the team going forward. A platform was also provided for the Council’s limited resources to be focused on remedial works outputs rather than simply undertaking routine inspections.
LBR Associates Ltd is a start-up company comprising chartered civil engineers with over 10 years professional experience in civil and structural engineering.
The following case study demonstrates our staff’s asset management capability working with a Client to improve their asset management systems.
This scheme was delivered by another organisation and was not directly associated with LBR Associates Ltd.