Shared-Learning-NRL19-09-Barnards-Lock-Environmental-Incident.

Network Rail, IP Western were tasked with undertaking a bridge deck replacement over the River Kennett using a 1200 tonne crane.

The works were being undertaken in an ecologically sensitive location near the River Kennet.

This is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with the potential for water voles, reptiles, birds and bats as raised in the Phase 1 Habitat Survey.

Planned vegetation clearance works were set to take place removing 10,000sq metres of wet woodland ready for the installation of a work area.

The works commenced without an Environment Management Plan on-site.

Additionally, throughout the works there were numerous misunderstandings of the locations of ecologically sensitive areas.

During the planning of the works there was a change in the contractor's Lead Project Manager.

There was no handover information communicated between the two.

This lead to an oversight in sending the required ecology information to the Site Operator on time for the works.

Furthermore, though there was a good amount of engagement with the ecologists, opportunities were missed to mark the trees and specify the exact locations of ecologically sensitive areas.

Due to this, and pressure to meet the programme, the contractor Site Manager decided to use a best guess approach instead of following the recommendations in the Work Package Plan, as well as failing to brief out the ecological constraints of the works to the site team.