Rotary bored piling uses a large auger or drilling bucket to bore into the ground before the pile is concreted in place. The rigs are heavy, the bore holes are deep, and the operation involves lifting reinforcement cages and placing concrete under bentonite or polymer support fluid. This talk covers the key hazards and the controls every operative must follow during rotary bored pile installation.
Key Hazards
Rig overturning on soft or sloping ground during boring operations
Workers falling into open bore holes left unprotected between shifts
Striking underground services during boring through unknown ground
Reinforcement cage swinging or falling during lifting into the bore
Control Measures
Ensure the piling platform is designed, constructed, and verified as adequate before the rig arrives.
Check underground service records and carry out service detection before boring at each pile location.
Cover or fence all open bore holes immediately when the auger is withdrawn or between operations.
Establish an exclusion zone around the rig equal to the mast height plus a safety margin.
Use a banksman and tag lines when lifting and guiding reinforcement cages into the bore hole.
Monitor the stability of support fluid levels in the bore to prevent collapse of the hole walls.
Ensure all lifting equipment for cage and tremie operations has current LOLER thorough examinations.
Brief the team on the daily pile schedule, ground conditions, and any known obstructions.
Wear hearing protection within the designated noise zone around the operating piling rig.
Remember
The piling platform must be designed and verified before any rig is positioned on site
Open bore holes must be covered or fenced immediately when the auger is withdrawn
Underground services must be checked at every pile location before boring begins
Exclusion zones around the rig must equal the mast height plus a safety margin
Reinforcement cage lifts require a banksman, tag lines, and current LOLER certificates
Hearing protection is mandatory within the noise zone around operating piling rigs
Applicable Legislation: CDM Regulations 2015 · LOLER 1998 · BS EN 1536 (Bored Piles) · Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974