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Severe Weather Contingency Plan
Project ID:123456
Project Name: Rail Improvement Programme
Client: TFL / ODA
Sponsor: TFL / ODA
Project Manager:John Smith
Area Manager:Rob Jones
Date: 14th December 2010
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1. Project Overview
Commission the re-signalled infrastructure on the Rail Line encompassing the four new SSI interlocking areas of Carlton Road, Canonbury, Darlington and Channelsea to provide capacity for an increase in passenger train paths for the commencement of the May 2011 timetable. The key output requirements in terms of service pattern are referred to as SLC2K
Transfer of signalling control of the area to IECC at Upminster Signalling Centre resulting in the closure of Carlton Road and Darlington Junction signal boxes
Effect the following fringe changes during the Christmas Blockade:
–Good Oak Temporary Fringe
–Prime Hill (Wembley SB)
–Queens Cross Incline
–Tree Junction to Stratford
2. Introduction
At present snow is forecast over the Christmas blockade however on-going risk assessment will be conducted prior to works and then managed by 24hr project office (which includes planning support) over possession, taking into account the weather forecasts updates, progress to date and the ability to curtail most works. Site Construction Managers will carry out daily risk assessments on the conditions on the ground taking into account safety, effect on quality of works, the ability to curtail works and handing back on time.
Daily reviews of the weather forecasts will be undertaken, utilising the services of the MetGroup Duty Forecaster. The duty managers will gain a verbal forecast update via the telephone conferences. The duty forecaster can be contacted with a minimum of 3 hours notice via 0207 123 4561234. The forecasters are able to supply weather forecast by geographic areas and specific weather elements which will allow the project to prepare accordingly.
Weather details can also be obtained via the Metgroups website username “rail” password “1234”.
3. Basic preparedness
This document has been produced to cover how the project will manage its work and resources before and during periods of severe weather throughout the Christmas blockade.
To enable the project to plan for any severe weather conditions a review will be undertaken each day on the treed up to and during the blockade of the long / medium / short term weather forecast. The outputs from this review will trigger the contingencies contained within this document.
The following measures will be put into place regardless of the severity of the weather conditions:-
Transport
  1. Vehicles will be checked for road worthiness prior to use
  2. Vehicles will be equipped with de-icer and windscreen scrapers
  3. Additional care will be taken when driving in severe weather conditions
  4. Routes in and out of the Rail area will be monitored for road works and conditions each day – reports will be issued via the duty managers advising on road closures or impassable routes.
  5. All project resources have been advised to undertake their own risk assessment ahead of starting any journey during the blockade
Underfoot conditions
  1. Walkways and access points will be treated to ensure underfoot conditions are as safe as possible
  2. Stocks of grit and salt will be held at each depot
  3. A dedicated Carmen team will be deployed to each depot to remove snow and spread grit / salt on the access points at the depot
Welfare
  1. Full cold weather PPE is issued and to be worn
  2. Hot meals will be available during the blockade for site operatives
  3. Signal testers will be issued with hand warmers
  4. Hot drinks will be available at Salt Yard and Hornbrook
  5. Critical signalling resources will be accommodated in Hotels
  6. Additional hotel rooms will be available to accommodate resources that are unable to travel
  7. Where possible local resources will be used to reduce additional travel
Adverse weather condition Risks as captured in Risk Register and modelled in the QSRA:
ID / Title / Probability / Distribution / Duration (Hours) / Cause / Risk / Effect / Mitigation Actions / Task IDs Risk is Applied to
Min / ML / Max
Est
Unc / OHLE - Inclement Weather / Spec / Uniform / 3 / 6 / The works are taking place in winter. / There is a possibility of high winds/heavy rain/frost/snow. / Uncertainty in overall duration / Detailed weather mitigation plan developed / High Level uncertainty in activity duration for the following activities (also knock on impact of generic weather risk, see below): CAR3850, CAR3860, CAR3870, CAR3880, CAR3890 and CAR3900
R015 / Unforeseen Weather / 5% / Uniform / 24 / 24 / 36 / The works are taking place in winter. / There is a possibility of high winds/heavy rain/frost/snow having an impact on the overall programme. / Overall impact on the start of installation activities / Detailed weather mitigation plan developed:
(i) Monitoring weather forecasts
(ii) Provision of accommodation to allow staff to get to site should weather forecast endanger travel
(iii) Local mitigation measures to deal with Snow, including hand held snow blowers / ATK2020, CAR0000, CAR3000, CAR5000, CAR2000, CAR4000
Activity applied to start of installation activities as this would have the biggest impact on the overall programme. Could cause delays with up to 36 hours.
4. Work activity mitigations
The following measures will be implemented during or prior to severe weather conditions:-
Plant & Trains
  1. 24 hr fitter cover will be deployed complete with spares
  2. Spare RRVs will be held at Salt Yard
  3. Site conditions, in particular snow and ice will be assessed prior to plant being deployed to site
  4. During periods of severe conditions (ie a snow blizzard) all plant movements will be stopped
  5. Should the recovery train be delayed by more than 24hrs then recoveries will be postponed / removed from site by RRV’s
Willesden Platform repair works
  1. Staff no shows – Staff across sites can be redistributed to fit most pressing need
  2. Decision points in plan (as detailed in QSRA report) to start works (there is also curtail decision points where working railway can be restored whatever the progress up to that point
  3. During periods of extreme low temperatures additional fan heaters will be deployed to site
  4. Additional additives will be put into the cement mix during low temperatures
  5. Grit and de-icer will be applied to the platform and walkways during periods of low temperatures
  6. Additional lighting will be deployed during periods of poor visibility
  7. Shovels and snow blowers will be used to clear any snow from the key areas on the worksite
  8. Scaffold and tarpaulin will be erected in addition to the platform canopy should the weather conditions impact the work activities
S&C installation works
  1. Staff no shows – Staff across sites can be redistributed to fit most pressing need
  2. Decision points in plan (as detailed in QSRA report) to start works (there is also curtail decision points where working railway can be restored whatever the progress up to that point
  3. If snow fall is significant then a risk assessment of the worksite will be undertaken prior to starting the installation works
  4. Moderate snow fall will be removed by either shovel or snow blower
  5. Rail stressing works will be cancelled should the temperature fall below 5 degrees
  6. Works on the installation of the switches can continue during periods of low temperatures, however, the worksite should be continually assessed to ensure that snow and ice is cleared from the switches
  7. Tamping will not be undertaken if the rail temperature falls below -7 degrees, kango packing will be undertaken as a contingency
  8. Additional lighting will be deployed during periods of poor visibility
OHLE works
  1. Staff no shows – Staff across sites can be redistributed to fit most pressing need
  2. Decision points in plan (as detailed in QSRA report) to start works (there is also curtail decision points where working railway can be restored whatever the progress up to that point)
  3. If snow fall is significant then a risk assessment of the worksite will be undertaken prior to starting the OHLE works
  4. Moderate snow fall will be removed by either shovel or snow blower to allow OHLE works to safely commence
  5. High winds will preclude the use of ladders and machines, activities will be risk assessed on site by the site supervision
  6. Ground conditions for the footing of ladders will be risk assessed on site by the site supervision
  7. Work at ground level will only be impacted by severe snow, wherever possible this will be cleared by shovel or snow blower
  8. Laser gauge works for the heights and stagger checks would be impacted by severe weather conditions and works would therefore be stopped
Signalling works
  1. Staff no shows – Staff across sites can be redistributed to fit most pressing need
  2. Decision points in plan (as detailed in QSRA report) to start works (there is also curtail decision points where working railway can be restored whatever the progress up to that point
  3. If snow fall is significant then work on points may require the clearance of snow and ice, this will be undertaken with shovels or snow blowers
  4. Points will be treated with de-icer to ensure that they do not freeze up during the commissioning works
  5. Points operators will be issued with de-icer to ensure points remain operational throughout the blockade
  6. 4ft equipment works will only be affected should the snow cover the equipment making axle counters, AWS and tpws difficult to locate
  7. Snow on or around the 4ft equipment will be removed to enable works to continue
  8. Salt will not be deployed on / around the track ballast
  9. High winds and poor visibility will be assessed prior to all signal / gantry erections
  10. Any cable route works / terminations will need to be assessed if the accumulation of snow is significant
  11. Heavy rain or snow fall will be isolated from the signalling equipment by the use of portable tents
5. Overall Contingency Plan
The main rail contingency plan has a number of Go / No Go points which the weather forecast and current conditions will be considered. A call will be made to the MetGroup prior to the Go / No Go point.
6. Communications
All communications in and out of the project will be managed via the Duty Managers, any local site risk assessments will be reported back to the Duty Managers for onward communication.
The Duty Managers will record all events via the Duty Log. Site Managers will also record local site events via the project diaries.
Page 1 of 6 / Severe Weather Contingency Plan
Issue Date / 14/12/10 / Issue / 1

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