Piling Safety Awareness

Piling involves driving or boring deep foundation elements into the ground using large, specialist rigs.
Piling rigs are heavy, tall machines that can overturn if the piling platform is inadequate or unstable.
The piling platform must be designed, constructed, and approved before any piling rig is allowed on site.
Noise and vibration from piling operations can exceed exposure limits and affect workers and neighbouring properties.
Buried services must be identified and located before any piling work begins — service strikes during piling are catastrophic.
Exclusion zones must be established around the piling rig to protect workers from the moving rig and falling materials.
Spoil from bored piles may contain contaminated material and must be handled and disposed of appropriately.
Lifting operations associated with piling include handling steel casing, reinforcement cages, and tremie pipes.
Piling near existing structures requires monitoring for settlement, displacement, and vibration-induced damage.
Only trained, competent operatives with valid CPCS or NPORS cards may operate piling rigs and associated equipment.

Prevent rig overturn	A piling rig overturning on an inadequate platform can crush workers and cause catastrophic damage to the site.
Protect hearing	Piling generates extreme noise levels that cause permanent hearing loss — hearing protection and exposure monitoring are essential.
Prevent service strikes	Driving piles through buried services causes explosions, electrocution, and major service disruption to the surrounding area.

Do

Don't

Ensure the piling platform is designed, constructed, and approved before any rig arrives on site.
Establish and maintain exclusion zones around the piling rig during all operations.
Wear hearing protection within the designated noise zone around piling operations.
Scan for and locate all buried services before piling positions are set out.
Monitor vibration levels on adjacent structures and stop if trigger levels are exceeded.
Follow the lift plan for handling reinforcement cages, casings, and tremie equipment.
Check the piling rig daily and report any defects or concerns to the supervisor.
Handle contaminated spoil using the correct PPE and disposal procedures.
Maintain communication with the rig operator using agreed hand signals or radio.
Keep clear of the kelly bar, auger, and hammer drop zone during piling operations.

DON'T allow a piling rig onto an unapproved or inadequately constructed platform.
DON'T enter the exclusion zone around a piling rig during active operations.
DON'T work near piling operations without wearing the required hearing protection.
DON'T begin piling until all buried services have been identified and marked.
DON'T continue piling if vibration monitoring shows trigger levels have been exceeded.
DON'T lift reinforcement cages or casings without a written lift plan in place.
DON'T operate piling equipment without a valid CPCS or NPORS competency card.
DON'T handle contaminated piling spoil without the correct PPE and controls.
DON'T approach the piling rig without the operator's knowledge and agreement.
DON'T stand beneath the hammer, auger, or any suspended load during piling work.

See also: Piling Rig Stability & Setup | Piling Platform Requirements

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