Laider Consultancy Enables CE Marking For Bridge

With the aid of services provided by Laidler Associates, the refurbished Portumna road bridge in Galway has become the first bridge in the Ireland to carry CE marking. Laidler Associates also helped to ensure that the bridge met the requirements for EMC certification and that it satisfied the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations.

Waterways Ireland awarded the order for design specification, contract preparation and project supervision to Royal Haskoning, who appointed L and M Keating to carry out the building and installation work. Royal Haskoning recommended that Laidler Associates should be used to provide the consultancy services needed to ensure that the bridge met all relevant legal requirements and, in particular, the requirements for CE marking. Jane Arbuckle, technical director, mechanical and electrical engineering, at Royal Haskoning, said: 'The company offered a one-day safety workshop and two presentation sessions at the start of the contract to ensure that all of those working on the project were fully briefed on health and safety issues.

After these preliminary sessions, Laidler Associates carried out detailed hazard assessments covering all aspects of the bridge design and construction. Consultants from the company also visited the site during the construction work and, when the work was complete, they carried out a detailed final inspection before certifying the structure.