UXO Risk Mitigation Services
Expert UXO Risk Mitigations
Artios is one of only two companies in the UK assured by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to undertake on-site UXO risk mitigation including Explosive Ordnance Clearance of highly contaminated firing ranges. This provides our clients with independently recognised assurance in our competence, methods procedures and delivery standards.
We provide comprehensive on-site services to reduce the residual risk posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO) to a level that is As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).
Our services form part of Stage 4 of the UXO risk management process and follow the industry-standard guidance set out in CIRIA C681: Unexploded Ordnance (UXO): A Guide for the Construction Industry. Every mitigation strategy is informed by a Detailed UXO Risk Assessment and a site-specific Mitigation Plan, ensuring that the measures employed are proportionate to the identified hazards and site conditions.
With a proven track record supporting local authorities, major infrastructure projects and private construction companies, our experienced team provides impartial, expert-led advice. We take a pragmatic and cost-conscious approach, recommending only those services necessary to manage the actual level of risk.
Artios can provide support at any stage of the project lifecycle. However, involving our engineers at the earliest opportunity delivers the greatest value. Early engagement allows us to develop and maintain effective strategies and guidance throughout the project, helping to minimise preliminary delays, avoid unnecessary disruption and reduce the risk of costly change orders arising from UXO hazards.
UXO Awareness Training
Our UXO Awareness Training is essential for anyone working on UK construction sites where ordnance contamination may exist. This training equips your team with the minimum skills to recognize, respond to, and report UXO safely — focusing on reducing false alarms and costly project delays.
Training includes:
Types of UXO and their characteristics
How to identify suspicious items
Emergency procedures for UXO discovery
Assistance in updating your site Risk Assessment and Method Statements based on the latent hazards.
We offer flexible delivery options: site specific in-person sessions or remote/virtual training—tailored to your operational needs
UXO Watching Brief
A UXO Watching Brief ensures a qualified UXO specialist is present during all intrusive works—such as excavation or drilling—in areas with known or suspected UXO contamination.
Benefits include:
Real-time risk identification and mitigation
Immediate expert response to discoveries
Full compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations
Liaison with emergency services where required.
This service is especially vital on former military sites, WWII bomb-impacted regions, or areas flagged in preliminary risk assessments.
Non-Intrusive UXO Survey
In low-ferrous environments, a non-intrusive magnetometer survey allows us to detect subsurface anomalies without disturbing the ground.
Survey methods include:
Walkover (handheld magnetometer)
Vehicle-mounted systems
Drone-based magnetic sensors
Collected data is processed using specialist geophysical software to identify anomalies matching UXO profiles. Our reports provide:
Clear interpretation of results
Recommendations for Target Investigation or UXO avoidance planning
This is a fast, effective solution for detecting areas of ground which will require further investigation for large or open-area sites.
Downhole Magnetometry
Downhole magnetometry is used to detect deep-buried metallic objects by deploying magnetic sensors into boreholes. Many types of aerial delivered weapons often lie deep under the ground, such as High Explosive (HE) bombs dropped during World War 2. Downhole Magnetometry is ideal for ‘higher threat’ sites where there is a requirement for:
Deep foundation drilling
Piling
Geotechnical investigations.
This method provides greater detection depth and accuracy than surface-based systems, ensuring site safety before heavy equipment is deployed.
UXO Search and Clearance
A handheld UXO detector sweep is a practical, cost-effective method of scanning for buried ordnance in confined, or access restricted areas due to vegetation or difficult terrain.
Key advantages:
Suitable for pre-digging risk reduction
Rapid deployment by trained UXO technicians
Complements larger-scale mitigation strategies
Provides thorough, surface level clearance in localised areas.
While not always suitable for detecting deep-buried UXO, such as aerial bombs, it serves as a critical component to effective UXO risk management on active or constrained worksites.
Why Choose Us for On-Site UXO Risk Mitigation?
When working on active sites where unexploded ordnance (UXO) could pose a significant risk, having a reliable and experienced team to manage on-site detection and mitigation is essential.
Our specialised UXO risk mitigation services are designed to ensure safety, minimise project delays, and provide peace of mind. By combining advanced technology with expert field operatives, we deliver tailored solutions to address the unique challenges of UXO-contaminated sites.
Certified UXO specialists with decades of field experience capable of providing advice at all stages of planning and project delivery.
Fully insured and indemnified with ISO certified systems.
Flexible service packages to suit all project sizes.
Rapid deployment across the UK and Ireland.
Full compliance with CIRIA C681 and industry safety standards
FAQs
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The first step is always a Detailed UXO Risk Assessment. This assessment determines whether unexploded ordnance (UXO) contamination poses a credible risk to your site and informs whether a UXO Survey is required. At Artios, we ensure every survey recommendation is evidence-based, proportionate, and tailored to your site-specific risks. This means you only commission survey work when it adds real value to the safety and efficiency of your project.
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If a Detailed UXO Risk Assessment identifies a viable risk, UXO Engineer Support is often the most effective way to keep your project safe and compliant.
This may include:
On-site UXO supervision during intrusive works.
Immediate response if suspect ordnance is encountered.
Tailored risk mitigation strategies to ensure all works remain ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable).
Artios’ highly experienced engineers provide practical, proportionate support, ensuring your project progresses safely without unnecessary disruption.
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Ideally, you will include one of our UXO Project leads or an UXO Engineer in the earliest stages of planning for the conduct of ground works. This will help us tailor a solution for your needs across the project delivery cycle. Our experts can provide UXO Mitigation advice across groundworks, or more complex tasks.
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Yes, but the effectiveness depends on the right UXO survey methodology being selected for the UXO risk and ground conditions of the site. For example:
Non-Intrusive Magnetometer Surveys can typically detect a 50kg German UXB at depths of around 4m, and larger bombs at even greater depths. These are most effective on “clean” ground with minimal ferrous contamination.
On brownfield or contaminated sites, where scrap metal and debris can mask signals, intrusive survey methods such as Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) with magnetometer probes are often more reliable.
Our specialists will advise on the most appropriate survey method based on the assessed UXB risk, soil conditions, and your planned works.
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If a Non-Intrusive Survey identifies a geophysical anomaly (a potential UXO or pUXO), there are two options:
Design Out the Risk – where possible, intrusive works can be planned to avoid disturbing the anomaly.
Target Investigation – if the anomaly cannot be avoided, Artios can carry out a controlled intrusive investigation to confirm whether it is UXO. If ordnance is found, our UXO engineers will manage the response in line with safety and regulatory requirements.
This approach ensures safety while minimising unnecessary delays and costs.
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Survey duration varies depending on site conditions, survey methodology, and access. As a guide:
Walkover survey system – around 2 hectares per day (low contamination sites).
Drone-mounted survey system – 5–6 hectares per day.
Vehicle-mounted survey system – up to 10 hectares per day.
Our site engineers will provide accurate scheduling advice based on the size, terrain, and characteristics of your site.
Book Your Professional UXO Survey Today
Non-intrusive UXO surveys are an effective and efficient method for identifying potential explosive remnants without disturbing the ground. By utilising advanced detection systems and adaptable methods, these surveys ensure both safety and minimal disruption to project timelines.
With options such as walkover and vehicle-mounted systems, the survey duration and approach are tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of each site. Expert project management ensures accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and timely completion.