PILING WORK (TRIPOD METHOD) –

SAFE WORKING METHOD

I. POTENTIAL HAZARDS:
1. Bodily injury due to
a. Fall of material.
b. Trap in pile.
c. Slip and fall or fall inside the piling pit.
d. Crushing.
2. Electrical hazard due to
a. Overhead live line contact.
b. Underground power cabling.
c. Lighting.
3. Health hazard due to
a. Smoke from generator
b. Working ergonomics
c. Noise pollution

II. Personal Protective& Safety Equipment requirements:

1. Safety helmet with proper chin strap
2. Safety Shoes
3. Gumboots at wet or sledge area
4. Leather and cotton gloves
5. Dust mask at dust generation area
6. Ear plug
7.Barricade tap for area barricade.

III. Safe Working Procedure:

1. The following safety points are to be ensured before
starting piling work:

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 a. Approved design drawing to be available at site.
b. Designated engineer to be nominated for the task.
c. Workers engaged for this job should be screened and
physically fit for the job.
d. Worker’s tool box talks to be given before engaging the
worker in this job.
e. Ensure that required personal protection equipments are
issued to the workers.
f. Ensure that the piling tripod is free from corrosion and
steadier.
g. Ensure that the piling generator is well maintained and no
leakage of diesel or lubrication oil.
h. Piling generator rotating parts are to be protected to
prevent injury

2. The following safety points are to be ensured for Pile

driving equipment:
a. Base Support of the Tripod Leg shall be suitably designed
and it shall have adequate Length and width.
b. All pile drivers are to be firmly fixed with adequate
length and width.

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 c. Base support of the tripod leg shall be suitably designed
and it shall have adequate length and width.
d. Tripod legs are to be properly anchored and should
withstand the vibration.
e. Fastening arrangement shall have proper arrangement of
bolts and D shackles & pins.
f. Pile drivers should not be erected close to any overhead
power live cables or underground cables. In case over head
live cable is there, it should be fixed 3 meters away from
the cable. In case underground cable is there, power cable
power supply to be isolated and ensured before starting
the job.
g. The distance between the piling rigs should be more than
equal to twice the longest length of the tripod leg.
h. In case of rotary piling the truck to be positioned
properly and outriggers to be fitted firmly. Do not load
on the tyres while in operation.
i. Ensure that the mast assembly mounted on the truck is
bolted properly in rotary pile.
j. Ensure that the rotary parts are protected by guards.

3. Safety in pile operation:

a. Experience and trained workers should operate the piling
operation.
b. Workers should wear all personal protective equipments at
the working area including ear protection.
c. Workers should not wear loose cloth near moving parts.
d. Wire rope should be free from any type of damage.
e. Bit and piece joint wire rope should not be fixed.
f. Proper clamping to be done on wire rope with D shackle.

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 g. Any abnormal noise noticed shall stop the operation and
rectify it.
h. Muddy clay or wet soil to be routed properly to avoid
slippery in the working place.
i. Bentonite pit which collect all the clay slurry should be
covered with hard barricade. While closing the pit, clay
slurry to be removed for drying out and soil to be filled
inside the pit.
j. When pile driver is not in use block the bottom of the
head and protect it to prevent accident.
k. After piling, the piling bore holes are to be protected or
barricade to prevent fall or trip hazard.
l. All wire ropes, D shackles, moving parts are to be
inspected on daily basis and if any erosion or damaged
noticed, it shall be replaced. Pulleys are to be inspected
and any wear and tear shall be replaced safely.
m. Barricade the working area to prevent unauthorized person
entry inside the working area.
n. Pile driving generator exhaust to be routed properly and
maintain the generator in good condition of Internal
combustion engine.
o. Do not hold the pile head for long duration. During food
break and end of the shift, keep the pile head in ground
level and do not hang with load.

4. Safety in Pile testing:

a. Testing pile shall be carried out under the supervision of
responsible person for testing.
b. Barricade the area and display warning at pile test place.

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 c. Entry of pile testing area should be prohibited any
movement for safety point of view.
d. While testing under the pile confined space permit to be
raised.
e. Ensure that the pile testing hydraulic jack to be tested
by competent person and valid testing certificate to be
available.
f. Escape route to be available at the pile testing (under)
area.
g. Authorized person should be allowed to enter inside the
pile testing area. Caution board to be displayed.

5. Handling of piling pipes:

The following points are to be ensured by site supervisor.
a. Piling pipes shall be shifted mechanically through hydra
crane at the maximum extent possible with proper slinging.
b. In case pipe could not be shifted through mechanical
means, it shall be shifted by two persons by inserting
strong rod into the pipe.
c. If shifting is required for mechanical means, hydra crane
shall be used.
d. Hydra moving ground to be assessed and leveling is
required to avoid hydra crane movement.
e. Certified hydra crane (Competent person)to be used for
this purpose.
f. Before shifting the pipes by hydra crane, check that the
slings are tied properly.
g. Do not shift with single slinging. It may lead to pipe
fall down while shifting. Always use double legs slinging
with ‘/\’ shape.

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 h. Do not lifting the materials above one feet level, while
the hydra crane is moving, unless otherwise if necessary
to lift in particular place it can be lifted to minimum
requirement and after that it is to be lower to one feet
level.

Manual Lifting of piling Trimy pipe as shown in picture:

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