Engcon UK
The Noble Art of Digging
Wasn’t sure whether to post this here or under Charlie’s ‘Explosive advice needed’ thread which, perhaps understandably, didn’t attract much in the way of answers.
Visiting our Dutch office for a couple of days with my French counterpart. Did a site visit yesterday to an area called Ede. There’s a housing development going up on the site of an old army barracks (the clue was a Sherman Tank at the entrance to the site), and we had what must be one of the most unusual site inductions I’ve ever had.
One of the peculiarities of the site (and the region as a whole) is unexploded ordnance. Ede is around 10 clicks from Arnhem and one of the dropzones for the Airborne Brigade in Op Market Garden. Amongst the hazardous remains are grenades – which for some reason are regarded as being more dangerous than the also-present mortar shells, bombs and, bizarrely, propaganda shells which are designed to explode at altitude and cover the area with printed matter designed to demotivate the dastardly Hun. Apparently, the latter are highly prized – presumably because of their rarity – and the guy who gave the site briefing has claimed one of these as a personal trophy.
Anyway, our hostess Nicky, Patrick and I rocked up at the designated time to be greeted at the Herras fencing by the chap in charge of the briefing who then proceeded to explain what was underfoot, as it were. We were also told that Huig, the Kobelco Op, was under standing instructions to drive out of the danger area in the event of a call of nature. An extended (about 15 minutes) briefing included how they managed the EOD process, using some specialist magnetic resonance kit and a varying approach to the detonation of the stuff, either in situ in the soft sand or something more serious and protracted. Having an Army background, this interest me; lengthening what would have otherwise been a 5 minute process.
He ended with something along the lines of ‘Well, that’s my job done and you now know the risks’, got in his car (the estate by the portaloo), and drove off.
Yes – that was it. We were now inducted to wander around, no safety gear and chat to Huig about the job and his machine (it’s an Engcon, BTW)
Certainly my shortest and most random site induction. Anyone had anything similar?
Visiting our Dutch office for a couple of days with my French counterpart. Did a site visit yesterday to an area called Ede. There’s a housing development going up on the site of an old army barracks (the clue was a Sherman Tank at the entrance to the site), and we had what must be one of the most unusual site inductions I’ve ever had.
One of the peculiarities of the site (and the region as a whole) is unexploded ordnance. Ede is around 10 clicks from Arnhem and one of the dropzones for the Airborne Brigade in Op Market Garden. Amongst the hazardous remains are grenades – which for some reason are regarded as being more dangerous than the also-present mortar shells, bombs and, bizarrely, propaganda shells which are designed to explode at altitude and cover the area with printed matter designed to demotivate the dastardly Hun. Apparently, the latter are highly prized – presumably because of their rarity – and the guy who gave the site briefing has claimed one of these as a personal trophy.
Anyway, our hostess Nicky, Patrick and I rocked up at the designated time to be greeted at the Herras fencing by the chap in charge of the briefing who then proceeded to explain what was underfoot, as it were. We were also told that Huig, the Kobelco Op, was under standing instructions to drive out of the danger area in the event of a call of nature. An extended (about 15 minutes) briefing included how they managed the EOD process, using some specialist magnetic resonance kit and a varying approach to the detonation of the stuff, either in situ in the soft sand or something more serious and protracted. Having an Army background, this interest me; lengthening what would have otherwise been a 5 minute process.
He ended with something along the lines of ‘Well, that’s my job done and you now know the risks’, got in his car (the estate by the portaloo), and drove off.
Yes – that was it. We were now inducted to wander around, no safety gear and chat to Huig about the job and his machine (it’s an Engcon, BTW)
Certainly my shortest and most random site induction. Anyone had anything similar?
