Piling & Foundation Specialists Federation - January 2008 Piling & Foundation Specialists Federation...

Piling & Foundation Specialists Federation - January 2008

Piling & Foundation Specialists Federation

Safe Working Platforms


The Problem “One third of accidents in the piling

industry result from defects in the working platform that the rig is required to work from”.

( Terry Bolsher – Chairman of the UK Federation of Piling Specialists).

The experience in Australia is NOT dissimilar to that of the UK.

Every year piling rigs fall over or are subject to near misses due to inadequately prepared or maintained site surfaces – all such incidents involve potential fatalities or serious injury to operatives and extensive damage to equipment.


A working platform is the foundation for a piling rig that may weigh anything from 5 tonnes to 200 tonnes and all of the ancillary equipment that may be used on the platform to service the rig.

Modern piling equipment is becoming increasingly heavy, often with higher centres of gravity, to cater for the demand for deeper and larger diameter foundations to take higher load capacities, combined with the need for more environmentally friendly installation techniques


It should be everyone’s aim to minimise accidents on construction sites and to prevent any injuries to personnel and the possible long term implications of such injuries.

Delays to projects caused by accidents to skilled operatives and the downtime whilst equipment is being repaired are likely to be extensive.


As in many other industries experienced operatives are limited and new operatives are often being trained “on the job” – exposure to adverse conditions can inevitably lead to problems. To effectively train a skilled operative takes several years – not days.

The lead time for equipment, accessories and spare parts from overseas is often considerable. For example most European and USA manufacturers are currently quoting upto 12 months for supply of new equipment!


There is sometimes a lack of understanding with project supervisory staff regarding the importance of preparing a safe working platform capable of supporting the equipment to be used, and whose responsibility it is to design, prepare and maintain such a platform throughout the course of the project.

There is also sometimes a lack of appreciation at site management & supervisory level of the effects of excavating for services through a working platform and the need for engineered replacement of any material that is disturbed during such excavation.


Visual assessment of a working platform can only check the surface of the platform. It is critically important to also check the underlying material, the quality of the platform fill, its construction and depth, and the application of geotextile material if required.


The Effect of Poor Working Platforms

Let us look at the effects of some poor working platforms on piling rigs.

These photographs are all from the UK where they have maintained more extensive records of such incidents in the past – it is often difficult to obtain such graphic details in Australia.


Crane rig being mobilised on poorly prepared platform


Bored piling rig collapsing sideways due to soft spot on platform


Another view of same rig


New pile driving rig sinking due to poorly compacted platform


Crane based pile driving rig collapsed across car park & site sheds


Crane attachment drilling rig collapsed sideways due to soft spot in platform – very close to edge of platform.


Displacement pile rig “nose diving” off bog mats


CFA rig collapsed across main London – Paris railway line


The SolutionMembers of the Piling Federation propose the introduction of a Working Platform Certificate to be prepared for ALL platforms that piling rigs are required to work from. This may involve multiple certificates on some projects such as bridge sites.

The Certificate confirms that the working platform has been properly designed and constructed in accordance with the design, and that it will be adequately maintained to ensure that the integrity of the platform is likewise maintained.

The Certificate requires the signature of the Principal or Main Contractor on the project and must be handed to the Piling Contractor before piling or other foundation work commences on the site.


Working Platform Certificate The use of the Certificate is a way of

increasing the awareness of working platform safety and the importance of maintaining the platform in good condition throughout the course of the contract.

The Federation of Piling Specialists in the UK introduced the Working Platform Certificate just over 4 years ago and the system is now in extensive use throughout the UK. It has proved to be a highly effective way of overcoming the problems that existed prior to its introduction.

Reported incidents have decreased significantly.

The Certificate does not state who should carry out the design work but the members of the Federation strongly recommend that qualified geotechnical engineers be engaged to undertake the work.


The Responsibility The responsibility for the design, construction, maintenance

and repair of a working platform should be taken by the organisation that has CONTINUOUS control of the project activities – NOT the piling contractor.

The platform may continue to exist after the piling contractor has left the site and may be used by other trades, requiring maintenance and repair to continue beyond the end of the piling works. Even during the piling works other trades often operate from the same working platform as the piling contractor.

The piling contractor is responsible for supplying details of the plant and machinery to be used on the project including the bearing pressures, dimensions and working space required to operate safely.

The Certificate does not seek to transfer any responsibility for accidents occurring during the piling contract. Both the Main Contractor and the Piling Contractor have responsibilities under the existing O,H&S legislation in the state in which the work is taking place which will remain unchanged.


Reference Material to AssistThe FPS in the UK in conjunction with the BuildingResearch Establishment (BRE) have produced agood practice guide to the design, Installation ,maintenance and repair of ground Supported working platforms entitled “Working Platforms for Tracked Plant”.

The Piling Federation have acquired a stock of thesebooklets and distributed them to all of their members. Additional stocks are available for sale

to members and non members.

In addition the Piling Federation have posted ontheir web site the following discussion papers fromthe UK documentation: Working Platform Design Sensitivity Calculation of Track Bearing Pressures for

Platform design Rig Loading Spreadsheet Guide to Hydraulically Bound Working

Platforms

www.pilingfederation.org.au


Where to from here? Individual Federation

members have commenced including the concept of the Working Platform Certificate in our tenders for piling works throughout Australia.

We are advising our engineering, supervisory and operative staff regarding the concept and the need to promote the requirement at every opportunity.

We are initiating a publicity campaign through the technical press regarding the concept.


Where to from here?We are developing training material including a Safety Poster dedicated to Safe Working Platforms which will be distributed to all members and to main contractors.

We wish to receive support for the initiative from all main contractors and government departments who undertake projects involving piling.

We call on your support to assist us with this!

Thank you for your attention

Piling & Foundation Specialists Federation - January 2008 Piling & Foundation Specialists Federation...

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