EXC/General/TBT-EXC-021

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Awareness

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Unexploded ordnance (UXO) from World War II remains buried across the UK, particularly in cities and coastal areas.
UXO includes bombs, shells, grenades, and incendiary devices that can detonate when disturbed by excavation.
A UXO desk study and risk assessment should be completed before excavation on any site with potential wartime history.
High-risk areas include former military bases, dockyards, railway yards, and heavily bombed urban centres.
UXO can be found at any depth from surface level to several metres below ground in bomb crater backfill.
Magnetometer surveys detect ferrous metal objects in the ground that may indicate buried ordnance.
If suspected UXO is encountered during excavation, all work must stop immediately and the area evacuated.
Only qualified explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialists may assess, handle, or remove suspected UXO.
CIRIA report C681 provides guidance on UXO risk assessment and management for construction projects.
Failure to assess UXO risk before excavation has resulted in explosions causing injuries on UK construction sites.

Prevent explosion	Disturbing live UXO during excavation can cause detonation, killing workers and causing widespread destruction.
Legal duty	CDM 2015 requires hazard identification including UXO risk assessment before ground disturbance on affected sites.
Widespread risk	UXO is present across the UK from WWII — any site in a historically bombed area may contain live ordnance.

Don't

Commission a UXO desk study before excavation on sites with potential wartime bombing history
Brief all excavation operatives on what UXO looks like and what to do if found
Stop all work immediately if a suspected UXO item is uncovered during excavation
Evacuate the area to a safe distance and prevent anyone from approaching the find
Call the police on 999 who will arrange for military EOD specialists to attend
Engage a UXO specialist to provide on-site watching brief during excavation in high-risk areas
Carry out magnetometer surveys where the desk study identifies elevated UXO risk
Include UXO emergency procedures in the site emergency plan and construction phase plan
Mark the location of any suspected UXO find clearly and maintain the exclusion zone
Record all UXO-related information and specialist reports in the project health and safety file

DON'T excavate on former military or heavily bombed sites without a UXO risk assessment
DON'T touch, move, or attempt to identify a suspected UXO item found during excavation
DON'T assume UXO is only found at depth — items can be at or near the surface
DON'T re-enter the exclusion zone around a suspected UXO until EOD specialists clear it
DON'T dismiss unusual metallic objects found during excavation without proper assessment
DON'T use mechanical excavation in high-risk UXO areas without specialist watching brief
DON'T rely on the desk study alone — brief operatives to remain vigilant during all digging
DON'T continue excavation near a suspected find until the all-clear is given by specialists
DON'T handle corroded metal objects that could be degraded ordnance components
DON'T ignore the UXO risk assessment because the site is in an urban or developed area

See also: Excavation Safety Awareness | Ground Conditions Assessment

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