Chapter 3: Identifying and Managing Risk (Commercial, Health, Safety and Environmental)

Risk, or the perception of risk is often a key consideration for a client when considering any site for construction and by extension ground investigation. This section examines the numerous and varied sources of risk for any ground investigation, and highlights that these can come from the ground itself (soil and rock), ground water, mining and natural cavities and from unexpected sources such as archaeology and unexploded ordnance etc.

A diagram illustrating the key sources of ground related risk has been produced to help readers understand how many potential risks exist and how they should be identified and managed. The risk management process in terms of hierarchy of controls is given in relation to ground investigations. The fair allocation of risk is also discussed in relation to the ground investigation contract and how this can achieve more value for money for clients.

The section explains how pivotal, the Pre-construction information (PCI), and Designer's Risk Register, are to the early identification of potential risks and are explained in terms of their relevance to the ground investigation process.