⚖️ ALARP: The Legal and Ethical Heart of UXO Risk Management

n the world of UXO clearance, there’s one principle that guides every decision—from desktop studies to disposal: ALARP.

It stands for: 🔸 As Low As Reasonably Practicable

But what does that mean in the real world of piling rigs, tight margins, and layered legacy risks?

🎯 ALARP = A Balance Between Risk and Effort

The principle asks:

“Have you reduced the risk enough so that further reduction would be grossly disproportionate to the cost, time, or effort involved?”

In UXO terms, that means:

• Conducting proper risk assessments,

• Justifying when intrusive investigation is needed,

• And ensuring mitigation (like clearance or avoidance) is appropriate to both the risk and the project.

⚖️ A Legal Expectation

Under UK law (e.g., Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974), duty holders must ensure risks are reduced ALARP. It’s not optional—it’s the standard expected by regulators like the HSE and ONR.

📌 Not One-Size-Fits-All

What’s ALARP for an offshore wind project may differ from a residential build. That’s why independent assurance matters—to confirm the client and contractor aren’t over- or under-reacting to the risk.

At Capreae, we help:

• Validate ALARP decisions, ensuring they align with CIRIA and project realities,

• Support clients in documenting defensible decisions,

• And provide independent assurance that helps satisfy regulators, insurers, and boards.

💬 Up next in the series: The Role of Assurance—and why the “three lines of defence” model is changing how the UK manages UXO risk at scale.