Lucion Delta-Simons' Technical Manager, Will Capps, is set to contribute to a industry dialogue on trial pitting safety at an upcoming AGS webinar this September.
The Value of Trial Pitting
In the world of ground investigation, trial pitting remains one of our most valuable tools. It’s a technique that, despite its apparent simplicity, provides irreplaceable insights into subsurface conditions. However, this fundamental practice is increasingly coming under scrutiny from a safety perspective.
The challenge lies in balancing the method’s effectiveness with evolving safety requirements.
As Will Capps explains, “There aren’t other methods that can replicate trial pitting in a ground investigation and provide the same information.”
This reality makes it crucial to address safety concerns while preserving the technique’s practical utility.
Evolving Industry Standards
The upcoming AGS webinar will delve into this complex intersection of safety and practicality. A key focus will be examining how health and safety requirements apply to trial pitting operations – a topic that has sparked considerable debate within the industry. The discussion will challenge conventional approaches, asking whether current guidance is always appropriate for short-duration ground investigation trial pits.
Expert Ground Investigation Services
At Lucion, our approach to ground investigation goes beyond just trial pitting. Through our group of companies, we have an expansive range of geotechnical capabilities.
Our team includes highly skilled geotechnical engineers, geologists, and drilling operators, supported by our UKAS ISO 17025 accredited geotechnical testing laboratory.
Our comprehensive ground investigation services include:
- Geotechnical laboratory testing
- Environmental assessment and monitoring
- Expert supervision and project management
- Dynamic Sampling
- Dynamic Probing Test (DPT)
Safety vs Practicality
The geoenvironmental sector faces unique challenges in balancing safety requirements with practical necessity. Will will draw on his extensive experience to examine these questions from a ground investigation contractor’s perspective, exploring available guidance, its practical application, and most importantly, how we can effectively reduce risk while maintaining efficiency.
The discussion comes at a crucial time when the industry is seeking to standardise best practices while acknowledging the unique characteristics of different ground investigation methods. By bringing together perspectives from main contractors, designers, and GI contractors, the webinar aims to foster a more nuanced understanding of how we can move forward with trial pitting safely and effectively.
The AGS webinar “Trial Pitting; Controlling the Risks” will take place on Wednesday 24th September 2025. You can sign up to the event by clicking here.
For more information about our ground investigation services or to discuss safety management in geotechnical projects, contact our team by emailing [email protected] or fill in our enquiry form.
