Rhodar win at 2018 UKRIA for unique asbestos removal project

Rhodar won the award for ‘Outstanding Projects (under £3million)’ at the 2018 UK Rail Industry Awards on 23rd March, at Battersea Evolution, London. The event, now in its fifth year, brought together leaders and decision-makers who run the rail industry, for the sector’s largest and most prestigious celebration.  
 
The winning project was a collaboration between, Rhodar,  Rhodar’s client (Spencer Group) and Great Western Railways (GWR), who had a requirement for the safe removal of asbestos containing materials from one of its vast 192m HST (High Speed Train) maintenance facilities based in Penzance. Rhodar developed a solution that allowed the safe removal of asbestos, without impacting on the critical train maintenance schedule.
 
They developed a solution that utilised a unique multi-level scaffold enclosure system which was erected inside the maintenance facility and was operated on a bespoke set of purpose-built tracks. 
 
Following a successful pilot phase, Rhodar worked systematically through the depot (from one end to the other in 11 planned sections) by locking the scaffold system down in each section, sealing the specialist asbestos enclosure walls and floor, and attaching the moveable airlock and bag-locks.
 
Rhodar faced a number of challenges during the project such as adverse weather conditions on the south west coast and an increase in planned train movements through the HST maintenance depot.  Both had to be overcome in order to ensure the strict overall programme and timescales could be met. This then enabled the follow-on facility refurbishment works to be carried out on schedule.
 
Jason Davy, Managing Director, Rhodar commented:
 
 “We are extremely proud to win this award. It goes without saying that is it down to the excellent team of professionals and their continuous improvement and operational competency. The project was unique but worked successfully due to the shared vision that resulted in the creation of a best-practice partnering model, delivering significant benefits to all project stakeholders.”
 
The UKRIA event had 29 categories, and in the Outstanding Projects (under £3million) category, Rhodar was one of seven nationally recognised organisations to be shortlisted as a finalist. Winning this award recognises the hard work, and achievement of Rhodar colleagues and partners to support an efficient and robust rail network, which continues to be one of the safest in Europe.

The project had many notable elements which contributed to creating a genuine innovation:

1. A bespoke design to fit within the unique inner shell of the shed whilst providing central archway to allow for HST train movement.
2. A unique rail (wheeled) system to allow the system to be unhooked and rolled along the shed – saving 50% of material costs
3. Incorporated full relocatable asbestos enclosures, airlocks and bag locks.
4. Rolling working platforms at various levels for operatives to work from.
5. Staircase access to all levels.
6. Continued train maintenance operations whilst ensuring complete safety from asbestos fibres.
7. Programme tracked via tablet and bespoke software.

 
ENDS.

www.rhodar.co.uk