September 14, 2026
Chaired by Paul Breslin, the BDA Health & Safety Sub-Committee met on 10th September 2026 to review the Association’s safety guidance and discuss a range of health and safety matters including machinery and transport, site hazards, personal protective equipment, fatigue and training.
Key Highlights:
- BDA Safety Guidance Review – The committee progressed its review of BDA safety guidance, agreeing amendments to manual handling training, major non-conformance wording and CSCS criteria. Several sections are complete. Outstanding review actions, including legislation checks, cross-references and supporting examples, are due by 18th September 2026. The review also covered:
- Machinery Safety and Inspection – Maintenance, inspection and high pressure systems amendments were agreed. PUWER and BDA LOLER guidance links will be added, with hydraulic hose wording reviewed alongside high pressure systems. Safety distances and machinery guarding, including the proposed use of the 16228 standards, will be discussed further.
- Driving at Work and Transport – The revised transport section, aligned with DVSA directives, was agreed. It covers driving at work, moving drilling machines, operator licensing, dual-purpose vehicles, towing, tachographs, speed, carrying capacity and load restraint.
- Site Planning, Permits and Services – Permit-to-break-ground and RAMS wording was agreed, with a working example to be considered. An earthing reference will be added for overhead services, with Keith Spires to consult National Grid. Site-specific requirements and RAMS will be emphasised.
- Specialist Site Hazards – Wording is being updated for confined spaces, highways, railways, artesian water and ground gases. Mine-workings guidance will distinguish between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The water section will be reviewed to differentiate platforms and jack-ups.
- Personal Protective Equipment and Fatigue – Metatarsal protection and a fatigue section have been added to the draft guidance. Selected wording remains under review, and HSE guidance on half-face masks will be circulated for discussion at the next meeting.
- Hot Weather and Fatigue – Members raised concerns about poor sleep and fatigue during recent hot weather and the implications for site safety. Potential additional precautions and lightweight PPE options were discussed, with the topic to return to the next meeting.
- Assistant Driller Training – An update on RSK’s Assistant Driller Training project, which is being prepared for launch and is open to collaboration, was presented. Committee members supported the initiative and noted the need to consider its relationship with the BDA Training & Education Sub-Committee’s super-sector project.
