Ensure that an experienced industry professional carries out a detailed ground stability assessment before any machinery or plant arrives on site. This involves measuring the ground bearing capacity using the correct testing equipment, identifying any weak or variable areas, and understanding how the terrain may react under load. A proper assessment is the foundation of all safe construction activity.
Accurately documenting every detail of how the site will be used is essential for choosing the right ground protection. This includes recording the exact number and type of machines that will operate on-site, traffic frequency, projected footfall, and any high-impact or repetitive movements expected. The more precise the data, the more effective and reliable the ground planning will be on site.
Selecting a trusted ground protection specialist (like us!) ensures you receive a site assessment that focuses on both safety and operational efficiency. During this visit, the terrain, access routes, gradients, and expected loading points are reviewed in detail. This ensures that the recommended trackway or matting system is tailored to the site’s conditions and the project’s requirements.
Ongoing communication with your trackway provider is vital to make sure the correct equipment is ordered and installed. This includes confirming the appropriate trackway system, underlay, fixings, and any additional components needed for safe operation. Clear dialogue also helps prevent delays, ensures compliance with safety standards, and keeps your project progressing smoothly.
Once the trackway is safely installed, it is important that the agreed project duration is maintained so inspections and tightening can be performed at the correct intervals. If the schedule changes, all third parties, including ground protection suppliers, crane companies, and site managers, must be informed promptly. Small timeline shifts can significantly affect ongoing safety requirements.
Continual monitoring is essential to ensure the ground protection is being used correctly and only by appropriate machinery. For example, steel-tracked vehicles or non-approved equipment should never be operated on trackway systems not designed to handle them. Regular checks help identify early signs of wear or misuse, ensuring a safe and compliant working environment throughout the project.
According to HSE (2025), “Vehicle overturns account for nearly a fifth of all deaths in workplace transport accidents. Forklift trucks, compact dumpers, tipper lorries, and tractors are especially prone to overturning.” As such, it’s essential to ensure that pressure is evenly distributed across all working areas on site to prevent plant machinery from skidding, slipping, or sinking. The best way to achieve this is by following the six steps outlined above. Another important consideration is preparing for every eventuality. If things don’t go to plan, is there a chance you’ll need a heavier piece of equipment or plant machinery? Have you factored this possibility into your initial assessment? It’s always better to over-prepare. In our experience, most accidents occur when last-minute changes or emergency fixes require unexpected machinery to enter the site, which was not originally accounted for.
Common surfaces encountered on construction sites are grass, beach, stone, paving, tarmac, and peat. These ground conditions can be soft, flat, sloping, rutted, or firm. When assessing the quality of the ground and ground bearing capacity, consider not only the site itself but also the access points, as they can significantly impact your assessment. Do you need access roads for heavy machinery throughout the project? We approach each site holistically, ensuring we assess how heavy machinery will physically enter and move around the site. This includes evaluating access points and ensuring the proper pathways are in place for all equipment.
For longer-term projects, ground conditions and ground bearing capacity can change due to factors like seasonal weather or location. There are a couple of approaches here: Install trackway during the warmer months, then lift and replace it with winter-suitable trackway as conditions change in colder months. Or install winter-grade trackway from the outset, then reassess the conditions in winter to determine whether additional adjustments or trackway are necessary.
Similar to the previous point, preparing for heavy machinery from the beginning by using heavy-duty trackway ensures you’re covered either way. Lighter-duty vehicles can safely use heavy-duty trackways, but not the other way around. This early preparation helps avoid any issues later on.
Ground stability can change over time, and depending on land use, location, and weather conditions, these changes can occur quickly. Even if there has just been a project completed on the same piece of land you intend to use, it is important to assess the ground per project. Areas particularly vulnerable to rapid shifts in stability include coastal regions, high or open terrain, locations exposed to consistent sub-zero climates, and areas with heavy footfall or vehicle traffic. However, some lands may not face these conditions yet still experience instability due to other factors. Nearby construction projects or a history of mining activity can significantly affect the ground’s stability. It’s crucial to monitor and assess these external influences when planning any construction or development project to ensure safety and prevent unforeseen risks.
Heavy-duty ground protection mats play a vital role in ensuring site safety, preventing ground damage, and maintaining access on unstable or sensitive terrain. TuffTrak is one of the premium solutions we offer. It is designed for extreme durability and load-bearing capacity. Made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), TuffTrak mats provide a stable, non-slip surface, ideal for construction, infrastructure, and events on uneven or soft ground. These mats are particularly crucial on sites where land stability is a concern, as outlined in the UK Government’s land stability guidance. TuffTrak supports compliance while improving safety and efficiency on-site. Our trackway products page highlights a range of options for different terrains and project sizes that we can support.
At Davis Trackhire, we use the latest technologies within the ground protection industry. Most of our technologies are created and installed by the industry’s best, Brigade Electronics. We are pioneering the way within the trackway sector with our remote control trucks, which provide for innovative, safer and rapid installations.
We were recently voted Scotland’s Top Road Safety provider and carry a Fors Silver accreditation, safety is our top priority.
In total, we have been operating for 15 years, dealing with a diverse range of projects along the way. Contact our team to learn more about ground stability and the hire products we offer.
This completely depends on the amount and frequency of heavy duty plant equipment on site and the inita ground assessment survery plus the time of year the construction project will take place. We will help you assess this from the outset on out initial enquring phonecall then we attend site for an offical in-depth site assessment.
Contact us today to arrange a free no obligation quotation for your next project or event. Please complete the form below and one of our team of experts will contact you within 24hrs.
Alternatively contact us on 01698 352751 for an immediate response.
