SUDS Installation Safety

Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) manage surface water using swales, permeable paving, ponds, and attenuation features.
SUDS installation involves excavation, liner placement, aggregate filling, pipe laying, and landscaping work.
Excavations for attenuation tanks, swales, and ponds create trench collapse and fall hazards during construction.
Ponds and basins designed to hold water become drowning hazards during and after construction.
Permeable paving systems require handling heavy concrete blocks and sub-base aggregate materials.
Geomembrane and liner installation involves working in excavations with slippery surfaces and restricted access.
Some SUDS components are installed beneath car parks and roads, involving traffic management during construction.
Geocellular storage crates used for underground attenuation are supplied in large units requiring mechanical handling.
Connection to existing drainage networks may require working near live sewers and buried services.
CIRIA guidance (C753 — The SUDS Manual) sets the design and construction standards for SUDS in the UK.

Excavation hazards	SUDS features require extensive excavation creating collapse, fall, and buried service strike risks.
Drowning risk	Ponds, basins, and attenuation features fill with water, creating drowning hazards during and after construction.
Manual handling	Heavy paving blocks, aggregate, and geocellular crates cause musculoskeletal injuries without mechanical aids.

Do

Don't

Support or batter all excavations for SUDS features to prevent trench and pit collapse
Fence or barrier open ponds and basins during construction to prevent falls into water
Use mechanical handling for geocellular crates, paving blocks, and heavy aggregate deliveries
Locate and mark all buried services along SUDS installation routes before excavation begins
Wear slip-resistant footwear when working on geomembrane liners in excavations
Ensure safe access and egress from excavations for ponds, swales, and attenuation tanks
Install edge protection around open water features until permanent fencing is in place
Carry out a manual handling assessment for repetitive block laying and aggregate spreading
Connect to live drainage networks under a permit with appropriate isolation and support
Brief all workers on the drowning risk once any SUDS feature begins to retain water

DON'T enter unsupported excavations for swales, ponds, or attenuation tank construction
DON'T leave open water features unbarriered where workers or the public could fall in
DON'T manually handle heavy geocellular crates without mechanical lifting equipment
DON'T excavate for SUDS features without locating buried services along the route first
DON'T walk on geomembrane liners without slip-resistant footwear — they are extremely slippery
DON'T connect to live sewers without a permit and confirmed isolation of the connection point
DON'T allow children or the public near SUDS construction areas containing open water
DON'T backfill over permeable paving sub-base without compaction testing where specified
DON'T stack paving blocks too high on pallets where they could topple onto workers
DON'T ignore drowning risk at shallow ponds — even small depths are dangerous

See also: Below Ground Drainage Installation | Attenuation Tank Installation

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