Stop work immediately and do not touch, move or further disturb the object.
Keep personnel away, prevent access to the area and notify the site manager.
Follow the project’s emergency procedures and contact the police on 999 where the object is suspected to be ordnance or presents an immediate risk.
Do not use a fixed evacuation distance unless it has been determined by a competent authority or qualified specialist.
Stop all further activity and do not attempt to inspect, clean, cover or move the object again.
Withdraw personnel, prevent access and notify the site manager immediately.
The fact that an object has already been moved without detonating does not mean that it is safe.
Obtain specialist advice and contact the police where suspected ordnance has been uncovered.
Yes. Age, corrosion, ground conditions and previous disturbance may affect the condition of an item and its components.
It is not possible to determine whether suspected ordnance is safe from its appearance alone.
Any suspicious military-looking object should be treated cautiously and assessed by an appropriately qualified person.
A government-maintained record based on historical reports (e.g., from ARP wardens or police). It helps identify known bomb locations—but it is not exhaustive.
Not necessarily. A desktop study is appropriate where project screening identifies credible indicators such as bombing records, military land use, nearby incidents or intrusive work reaching potentially affected ground. The scope should match the site and proposed works; regional history alone is not proof of a site-specific hazard.
UK health and safety law requires employers and dutyholders to assess foreseeable risks and apply reasonably practicable controls. That does not mean every site automatically needs the same UXO investigation. The appropriate response should be proportionate to the evidence, proposed works and credible residual risk. Project-specific legal advice should be obtained where required.
Far from it. Engaging a specialist on-site can help avoid misidentification, emergency downtime, and staffing costs—saving potentially hundreds of thousands of pounds per day in large projects.
Please contact us—we’re here to help you understand your options and reduce uncertainty:
Email:
help@uxos.uk
Phone: 07916 422 388
