Pipe bridge protection

New Forest case study

As a utility operator, the local water authority holds a duty of care not to put the public at unacceptable risk by its undertakings.

This duty is underlined in the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), which requires an authority to undertake its operations in such a way as, “to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, members of the public will not be exposed to risks to their health or safety”.

The site was in Hampshire, on the borders of the New Forest.

Within a wooded area ,a 700mm cast iron pipe on concrete supports ,traversed the water course at a height of 3m from the river bed on a water authority easement.

This was deemed to be a risk to the public as a number of  factors were highlighted.

• Easy Access to the Public
• Near an Official public bridleway / footpath
• The Likelihood of the public accessing the pipe was deemed to be very high
• A Slip, trip and Fall could occur from the apparatus
• With a possibility of drowning in high water season

Taking into account all the above risk, a pipe protection product was identified as a safeguard. Durey Casting Ltd designed, organised fabrication and supplied this product.

The 700mm pipe spanned a length of about 6m across the river.

Using two bespoke powder coated Black Witches Hats,  positioned at each access point of the pipe crossing, flanking a strip of Safe Edge across the waterway, the bridge was secured.

Our products stopped access from both footways on the river bank, and also covering the possibility of access via the river. You can click on the top link to see the photos. The photos show the before and after positions.

The project was completed by the Water Authority term contractor and the risk has now been contained.