Didcot A Power Station
APPENDIX O
Coal Handling Demolition
Method Statement
DEMOLITION OF Coal Handling Yard, All Associated Infrastructure and Structures, to include asbestos removal & demolition.
1.0Scope of Works
This Method statement covers the demolitions of all buildings, structures, coal handling machinery and associated equipment, from the coal off loading and handling yard, and the transportation conveyor systems to the Power station.
1.1Description Of Work Area
1.1.1The area was the former coal offloading, handling, and storage yard.
1.1.2The coal was transported into the station via railcars.
1.1.3 They tipped the coal into a tippler pit, inside the tippler building, beneath the tracks, via a bottom discharge system.
1.1.4 The coal was moved from this position via coal elevator conveyors, to a central discharge tower in the centre of the coal yard.
1.1.5 It was then either moved and stockpiled around the yard by bulldozers, or transported to the Power Station bunker bays, via further conveyors and transfer towers.
1.1.6 Associated buildings, plant and other control equipment are within the footprint of this work area.
2.0Identified Hazards
2.1The residual coal and coal dust that may be hazardous, because of its flammability, and is a known to cause ill health, because it is a respiratory trigger irritant.
2.2The proximity of underground electrical feed cables to the equipment.
2.3The presence of pits, voids and sumps.
2.4The size and weights of items that will be demolished, especially the high level structures.
2.5Stored Energy within the conveyor system.
2.6Working within a live rail yard, (The facility will be re used for the export of the scrap metals from site).
3.0Enabling Works
3.1Oil Removal from Transformers and other Electrical Equipment
3.1.1Specialist Contractors will be engaged for the removal of the oils.
3.1.2 A sampling regime will be draw up for all oil containing equipment, and items will have oil samples removed. Dependent on results of sampling, clean oils will be removed for recycling, from the equipment via vacuum tanker lorries.
3.1.3 Oil contaminated with PCB’s above acceptable threshold levels will be removed to specialist treatment sites. All Oil removal will be carried out before demolition works commence.
3.2Asbestos Removal
3.2.1 A Demolition & Refurbishment Asbestos Survey (HSG264:2010) has been completed for the area, reference: AS03509-048.
3.2.2A copy of the Asbestos Removal Contractor’s Plan of Work shall be forwarded to
RWE Npower prior to commencement of the Works
3.2.3 Coleman & Company will assess whether the asbestos containing materials (ACM) are notifiable as licensed materials or Notifiable non-licensed under Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012).
3.2.4Prior to the removal of Notifiable Asbestos a Fourteen-Day Notice to the HSE
(Form ASB5) will be in place.
3.2.5A licensed sub-contractor will remove Notifiable Asbestos under The CAR 2012.
3.2.6 Generally Non Notifiable Asbestos will be removed by Coleman & Company by competent individuals
3.2.7Methods used will be in line with the HSE ‘asbestos essentials’
3.2.8 All Non-Notifiable Asbestos will be removed whole where possible. The material will be kept damp using a fine water spray.
3.2.9 All Notifiable non-licensed ACM will be notified to the HSE prior to works commencing (this may be undertaken on the day, but must be before works commence) using form ASBNNLW1.
3.2.10 All ACM’s (Notifiable licensed asbestos; Notifiable non-licensed; and non-notifiable asbestos) will be removed by suitably trained personnel equipped with the required P.P.E and R.P.E –Disposal overalls / Half face masks and P3 Filters which will be face fitted by a competent person to the specified model
3.2.11 Any Asbestos Air Clearance Certificates shall be forwarded promptly to the office for inclusion within the Health and Safety File.
3.3Wash/Rinse Down
3.3.1 The entire system will have been contaminated with coal. It is anticipated that the client will have had any bulk contamination removed, prior to the start of demolition. Residual contamination will be purged and cleaned up by industrial cleaning operatives, during the demolition.
3.3.2 The methods used will include: industrial vacuuming, mechanical and hand removal and water washing.
3.3.3 Residual coal will be moved to stockpiles, for offsite disposal. A systematic program of water washing and coal dust suppression will be carried out during the demolition works. Residual washings and water run off will be managed and captured. Any resulting waste will be disposed via vacuum tankers to authorised treatment facilities.
3.4De-planting Electrical Equipment
3.4.1 All transformers and other electrical control equipment will be removed prior to the main demolitions. The transformers and equipment will be removed by cranes, which will load them directly onto waiting trucks, for immediate off site disposal.
3.4.2 The destinations of the equipment will either be recycling sites, end users, or re-useable equipment dealers. Cables that run through and around the structures will be removed by mechanical methods during the demolition phase.
3.5Separation Cut
3.5.1 Operatives working from MEWP’s, crane held man baskets, or structural platforms, will make all separation cut to isolate the structures before removal. During hot works in this area, rigorous fire watching, and hot working precautions will be enforced.
3.6De Energising The Conveyor Systems
3.6.1 The conveyors need to be de energised prior to demolition. The belts were kept in tension during their use by a series of balance weights in steel framed housings similar to a lift car.
3.6.2 All elevated access for the operatives carrying out the works will be from existing structures and platforms, MEWP’s, or crane held man baskets.
3.6.3 Operatives will hot cut the balance weights anchor cables, allowing the weights to drop, in a controlled, contained fall, to the bottom of the housing.
3.7Removal of Conveyer Belts
3.7.1Where possible, the conveyor belts will be removed from the structures prior to their demolition.
3.7.2 All elevated access for the operatives carrying out the works, will be from existing structures and platforms, MEWPS, or crane held man baskets.
3.7.3Operatives will manually cut the belts at the highest point possible, with handsaws.
3.7.4 Excavators using grabs will then pull the belts out of the structures at the bottom end. The operatives will then cut the belts into manageable lengths, which will be rolled up, and fastened with wire ties.
3.7.5 These rolls of belting, will be stored for later re use on site, i.e. blast protective sheeting, or for ultimate off site disposal as salvage.
3.8Soft Stripping
3.8.1 Operatives will strip out all soft fixtures and fittings out of previously inhabited buildings.
3.8.2 The main method of stripping will be the operatives using hand tools, but in some larger buildings this may be augmented via small mechanical plant, such as skid steer loaders and mini excavators.
3.8.3 The operatives will segregate all waste into appropriate streams, and will skip the waste and recoverable materials accordingly.
4.0Protective Measures Employed
4.1Herras type fences and barriers will be erected, to enforce exclusion zones.
Appropriate signs will delineate the barriers and traffic and pedestrian routes.
4.1.1The work area shall become an exclusion zone for non-demolition personnel during the demolition & deconstruction period.
5.0Method & Sequence of Deconstruction
5.1Demolition & Removal of Steel Buildings & Structures
5.1.1 Shear equipped demolition excavators will demolish the buildings and structures in a logical progressive manner, working one area of each zone at a time.
5.1.2 A High Reach excavator will proceed to demolish the High Level Structures and conveyors. This will be done methodically starting from the top of the remaining ducting cutting downwards.
5.1.3 A Second Excavator equipped with a shear will assist with demolition to the extent of its reach, and will process the resulting scrap metal into manageable sized sections.
5.1.4All internal plant and equipment will be demolished via the shears as it is accessed.
The scrap handler crane will load all scrap metal onto the dump truck which will transport it to the scrap stockyard, (former coal yard).
5.1.5 The operations will be continuous until all of these structures have been demolished and removed.
5.1.6 Any part demolished buildings or structures will be left in a safe and secure state overnight and any voids will be fenced off, or temporarily filled in as required.
5.1.7 Rigorous good housekeeping measures will be maintained at all times as a team of secondary excavators fitted with grabs and grapples will continually sort stockpile and skip the demolition arising as generated.
5.1.8 All mechanical demolition operations will be done in a sequenced, safe and controlled manner and under the strict guidance of nominated banksmen.
5.1.9 All site traffic movements will be under the guidance of banksmen who will wear hi- visibility clothing delineating their role.
5.1.10 Any concrete plinths within the demolition area will be broken out using an excavator equipped with a breaker. In the case of any dust, firewater hoses will be used to wet down and as a dust suppressant.
5.1.11 All broken concrete will be loaded onto the dump truck with an excavator for removal to an on-site recycling compound. Any protruding re-bar will be hot cut, flush with grade level.