The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) outline the duties of those operating work equipment and machinery. These regulations require that equipment is: maintained safe for use, in a safe condition and used only by people who have received instruction and training; and accompanied by suitable safety measures such as protective devices, markings, warnings.

As an extension of these duties, Socotec's UK resource manager, Gareth Mews, has introduced the new Scheme across Socotec's ground investigation projects to ensure everyone working within the vicinity of a drill rig is given a rig induction. In doing so, the client, internal and external staff and stakeholders can all be aware of the biggest potential hazards on site - the drill rigs.

Elaborating on the scheme, Mews said: "The potential risks associated with ground investigation works go beyond slippery work surfaces or fatigue. If organisations are inducting people with generic site safety procedures, then it is equally important - if not more so, given the potential risks - to introduce all of those on site to the potential hazards associated with working on and around the drill rig.

"It's a case of making everyone aware of the potential dangers and equipping them with the basic knowledge of rig safety protocols. No person should enter the danger zone without the express permission of the Lead Driller and said danger zones should be made clear - but it's important that this information and other instructions are transparent from the beginning to avoid unnecessary accidents."