AMCO CASE STUDY

Rope Access Earthwork Examinations & Vegetation Clearance

Home 9 ASSET INSPECTIONS 9 Rope Access Earthwork Examinations

Client: AMCO

Service Delivered: Rope Access Earthwork Examinations & Vegetation Clearance
Location: West Coast South – NW&C Region
Project: AMCO WCS Examinations CP6 Year 5

Background

As part of CP6 Year 5, Network Rail tasked AMCO with delivering 222 earthwork examinations across the West Coast South route of the North-West & Central (NW&C) region. Many of these sites were historically classed as difficult to access or previously unfinished, presenting unique challenges.

GeoAccess partnered with AMCO to ensure these sites were safely accessed, fully examined, and delivered to a high technical standard. With expertise in rope access vegetation clearance and earthwork inspections, GeoAccess ensured no site was left incomplete.

Rope Access Earthwork Examinations for AMCO

Method

The site team comprised:

A COSS / Team Leader from AMCO
An IRATA Level 1 Earthworks Examiner
A rope access vegetation clearance team led by an IRATA Level 3 Supervisor

Most sites required standard or enhanced vegetation clearance under CIV065 NR Standard. Many locations had challenging vegetation, sometimes at head height, but the team persevered to create clear, safe working conditions for compliant inspections.

Where standard access was not possible, GeoAccess employed specialist methods such as rope systems and the use of abrasive wheels to access through palisade fencing. These solutions reduced the need for line blocks or possessions, keeping the inspection programme efficient and on schedule.

Innovations & Solutions

Pre-site reviews with AiVR improved planning, access assessment, and site safety.
A collaborative weekly programme allowed adjustments based on real-time conditions and local COSS feedback.
Efficient re-ordering of sites helped minimise delays and optimise resource use.
A commitment to continuous feedback loops ensured examinations were consistently carried out to the highest technical and safety standards.

This collaborative approach between GeoAccess and AMCO delivered both operational efficiency and safety improvements

Results & Conclusion

222 earthwork examinations successfully completed.
Delivered in just 54 working days, averaging 4+ sites per day.
Works carried out in challenging winter 2023/2024 conditions, without programme slippage.
Demonstrated the value of combining rope access expertise, vegetation clearance, and innovative planning tools.

By applying safe access methods and collaborative planning, GeoAccess ensured AMCO’s inspection programme was completed on time, on budget, and to full compliance standards, even in difficult terrain.