Excavator slides away on Peat Slide

Scottish Woodlands Health & Safety Bulletin

During a forest road new build, an excavator was waiting on the road formation for the next delivery of stone. The exposed peat layer beneath the machine began to give way and slide, carrying the excavator downhill approximately 20m.
Shortly afterwards, the peat then moved again, travelling approximately another 190m downhill before coming to rest at the existing access road.
No one was hurt. All works on site were suspended while the operators assessed the area to see if another landslide could occur.
The excavator was then moved onto the existing access road, debris was cleared to maintain site access, and sumps were installed on the roadside drain to reduce the risk of diffuse pollution.

Read the bulletin below for more advice on building forest roads over peat and avoiding peat slide.