Field Instructin 5.2 Ples Inspectin and Supprt Prir t Cmmencement f Wrk Purpse This instructin utlines the minimum inspectin and supprting requirements fr wrk n ples. Safety Befre cmmencement f wrk, a risk assessment must be carried ut using the Risk Analysis Prcedure (OSH-3.6-1-02), t identify and dcument the hazards and risks assciated with the task and ensure apprpriate cntrl measures are implemented. It is imprtant that, apprpriate cntrl measures must be identified, dcumented and implemented t lessen r cntrl the identified hazards. Instructin The preventin f ples falling dwn is f the utmst imprtance and must always be addressed in the jb planning and risk assessment prcess. The lad n a ple may alter as wrk is being dne. This culd be thrugh an additin t, r remval f, a lad. The greatest risks ccur when the ple is being climbed r when the lad is altered and the ple is nt capable f supprting the additinal lad. Sme f the factrs that must be cnsidered befre climbing r altering the lad n a ple r adjacent ples are: the age f the ple any ple defects the type f ple the mechanical lad n the ple and the changing f that lad (size f transfrmer r ther equipment) the inspectin/treatment status the cnditin f the existing ple supprts (e.g. check that the supprts meet the current reinfrcing standard) Inspect ples and assciated hardware fr defects befre cmmencing any wrk. Where a ple is t have its lad altered it must first be assessed t determine the necessary supprt required. Where a ple is fund t have a defect, it must be supprted and reprted t the team leader. Defects and inspecting ples All ples require a clse and thrugh visual inspectin at grund level (where pssible) and all the way arund the ple t a depth f 300 mm fr a nn-reinfrced ple and 200 mm fr a reinfrced ple. (If rust is detected n the reinfrcing steel, then excavate t a depth f 350 mm fr further inspectin.) CS10 # 2226195 FI 5.2 Ples Inspectin and Supprt Prir t Cmmencement f Wrk Page 1 f 7 Uncntrlled when Printed
Field Instructin The entire length f the ple requires a visual examinatin fr signs f rt and/r insect activity. Types f ples. Cnsumer Ples D nt climb any cnsumer ple (ther than during the initial installatin and cnnectin f a new ple) unless the ple has first been supprted using an authrised ple supprt as listed in Table 3 (Authrised ple supprts cnsumer ples) f this instructin. D nt climb r supprt 150 mm x 150 mm wden ples, r steel pipe tripd ples. If the age f the cnsumer ple cannt be determined, d nt climb it and d nt alter the lad n the ple. Wrk n cnsumer ples must nly be perfrmed frm an elevated wrk platfrm (EWP), self-supprting ladder r scaffld. New cnsumer ples must meet the fllwing requirements: Wden Ples A galvanised steel pipe f 114 mm utside diameter, with a minimum wall thickness f 4.5 mm, capped at the ple tp t prevent ingress f misture and embedded in a cncrete base. The ple hle must be a minimum f 1.6 m deep, with a diameter crrespnding t a minimum diameter f 100 mm greater than the ple diameter. When planting the ple, the hle must be filled with cncrete. The cncrete must be extended 100 mm abve grund level and shaped t shed water away frm the ple. Ples can be supprted by either mechanical supprts r existing verhead cnductrs. See Table 2 (Authrised ple supprts Hrizn Pwer netwrk ples) fr authrised types f ple supprts. Overhead mains cnductrs can be used as a supprt when they are in gd cnditin and f even regulatin. Fur way supprt is cnsidered t be verhead cnductrs (including stays but nt huse services) at apprximately 90 degrees t each ther. Check the identity disc t determine the age f the ple and whether it has been inspected. New ples will nt have a treatment plug. Any ple that des nt have a treatment plug must be dealt with as if it is an untreated ple. Untreated ples: are cnsidered safe fr climbing withut additinal supprt if is less than five (5) years ld, but it must still be checked fr defects must be supprted befre climbing if mre than five (5) years ld and is nt supprted fur ways by verhead mains cnductrs CS10 # 2226195 FI 5.2 Ples Inspectin and Supprt Prir t Cmmencement f Wrk Page 2 f 7 Uncntrlled when Printed
Field Instructin Treated ples: are cnsidered safe t climb withut additinal supprt if it less than ten (10) years ld, but it must still be checked fr defects must be supprted befre climbing if mre than ten (10) years ld and is nt supprted fur ways by verhead mains cnductrs The clur f the treatment hle plugs changes during July at every fur-year testing cycle. There are tw (2) clurs used in the 12 mnths at the start and end f each fur-year cycle. The plug clurs used since 1994 are shwn in Table 1 (Inspectin plug clurs). Table 1 Inspectin Plug Clurs Year cycle Plug Clur 1994 t 1997 Black 1998 t 2001 Grey 2002 t 2005 White 2006 t 2009 Brwn 2010 t 2013 Green 2014 t 2017 Blue QA Inspectrs Red D nt climb r change the lading f ples marked with a sign displaying a single hrizntal white strip, r a painted white slash until they have been reinfrced r supprted. Ples marked with a sign displaying tw hrizntal white strips, r painted equals signs (=) are safe t wrk n when wrking frm an EWP. Hwever, if the ple is t be stripped, r if wrked n frm a ladder, then the ple must be supprted by a crane near the ple tp and abve the pint f balance. If a ple is supprted fur ways by verhead mains cnductrs and ne r mre f thse supprts will be remved, then befre remving the cnductrs, treated ples ver ten (10) years ld and nn-treated ples ver five (5) years ld must be supprted by ne f the methds in Table 2 (Authrised ple supprts Hrizn Pwer netwrk ples). Nte: Sme ples may be painted with a white r red crss. Treat these ples the same way as thse displaying a sign with tw hrizntal white strips. Reinfrced Wden Ples Wden ples require an examinatin f the types and cnditin f supprts, age and treatment befre climbing. The reinfrcing steels f wden ples must be inspected at grund level (where pssible) and t a depth f 200 mm t determine any degradatin frm rust r any ther defect. If rust is detected, excavate t 350 mm. CS10 # 2226195 FI 5.2 Ples Inspectin and Supprt Prir t Cmmencement f Wrk Page 3 f 7 Uncntrlled when Printed
Field Instructin All ples, including pre-1994 (which d nt have treatment hles) that are reinfrced with nn-galvanised reinfrced steels, must be reinfrced t the current ple reinfrcing standard prir t climbing r changing the lad and must be wrked n nly frm EWPs. Steel Ples If circumstances arise where a wden ple can nly be climbed by a ladder, the ple must be supprted by a crane, near ple tp, abve the pint f balance. Befre wrking n steel ples, inspect the ple and hardware abve grund. If n cncrete is evident arund the base f the steel ple, excavate the earth frm arund the ple t depth f 400 mm. Inspect at grund level and t a depth f 200 mm t determine any degradatin frm rust r any ther defect. If rust is detected then excavate t 350 mm. If there is rust at grund level r in the newly expsed area, supprt the ple befre wrking n it. If yu are unsure f the integrity f a ple, r any f the checks indicate a suspect ple, then supprt the ple befre climbing it. Cncrete Ples Befre wrking n cncrete ples, inspect the ple and hardware abve grund. Cncrete ples suffer frm external damage and/r rust f the reinfrcing and the defects are fund by a thrugh examinatin f the exterir f the ple including belw grund level t a depth f 200 mm. Remval r Lad Transfer f Cnductrs n Ples When carrying ut wrk n ples that will have their lad temprarily r permanently altered by either the partial r full remval f the verhead main cnductrs r stays, the fllwing precautins must be taken: Ples n either side f the wrk ple must be inspected t ensure that: the ple and the reinfrcing are in gd cnditin the ples are treated (nn-reinfrced) and less than ten (10) years ld (visually inspect fr serviceability) the ples are untreated (nn-reinfrced) and less than five (5) years ld (visually inspect fr serviceability) the ples are treated (nn-reinfrced) and mre than ten (10) years ld, (they must be inspected fr serviceability by the Distributin Ple Inspectin prcess cntractr) the ples are untreated (nn-reinfrced) and mre than five (5) years ld (they must be inspected fr serviceability by the Distributin Ple Inspectin prcess cntractr) CS10 # 2226195 FI 5.2 Ples Inspectin and Supprt Prir t Cmmencement f Wrk Page 4 f 7 Uncntrlled when Printed
Field Instructin Nte: If either f the ples supprt a transfrmer r similar netwrk asset, ensure that they meet the abve inspectins and are in gd cnditin and the activities n the wrk ple will nt transfer any undue lad r impact n the ples either side. Where practical, ples must be remved n the same day that the verhead cnductrs are remved. Ples that are t be left standing vernight r fr prlnged perids must be supprted. Ples that pass the inspectin criteria may remain standing fr up t three (3) mnths, after which they must be remved. Authrised Types and applicatins f Ple Supprts Table 2 Authrised Ple Supprts Hrizn Pwer Netwrk Ples Supprts Vehicle-munted cranes Slings r chains fitted s that the ple cannt verbalance r fall and take up slack in the sling r chain. Ple grabs cannt be used withut slings n ples greater than 5 kn. Vehicle-munted ple hlders Kevrek with ple grab 10.0 metre tnne crane with ple grab Temprary stays using minimum f 19/2.00 stay wire The ple must be supprted in at least three (3) evenly spaced directins. Stays can be fitted t a sling arund the ple prvided the sling cannt slip dwn the ple. Hrizn Pwer standard permanent steel reinfrcing Current ple reinfrcing standard Applicatin All ples Maximum 11 metre ples with n transfrmer. Minimum fr transmissin wden ples. All ples All wden ples All wden ples Authrised Types f Ple Supprts and applicatins fr Cnsumer Ples Table 3 Authrised ple supprts cnsumer ples Supprts Vehicle-munted cranes Using slings, chains r ple grabs Temprary stays Fur way supprt Vehicle-munted ple hlders Kevrek with ple grab CS10 # 2226195 FI 5.2 Ples Inspectin and Supprt Prir t Cmmencement f Wrk Page 5 f 7 Uncntrlled when Printed
Field Instructin Nte: Ple pikes are nt apprved fr supprting ples fr the purpse f climbing. D nt climb wden ples while they are supprted with ple pikes. D nt use ple pikes where the verhead cnductrs are being remved Ple Identity Disc Infrmatin Ple identificatin by use f a disc is imprtant as the disc has infrmatin stamped n it that describes the particular ple t which it is attached. Each disc is inserted int the ple at a height which is easy t read. The infrmatin stamped n the discs permits better and mre ecnmical frward planning, especially in relatin t the mst suitable species, treatment etc. fr a particular area r terrain. Fig 1 (Ple identity disc infrmatin) identifies what the disc cdes mean. All discs shuld be stamped accrding t this cde. Fig 1 Ple identity disc infrmatin Specific terms Cnsumer ple Lad A ple that is used t supprt ne r mre service wires. The mechanical frce placed n the ple that will cause it t mve frm its installed psitin. CS10 # 2226195 FI 5.2 Ples Inspectin and Supprt Prir t Cmmencement f Wrk Page 6 f 7 Uncntrlled when Printed
Field Instructin References Occupatinal Safety & Heath Act 1984 Occupatinal Safety & Health Regulatins 1996 SHMS OSH-3.6-1-02 Jb Risk Analysis (JRA) Prcedure SHMS OSH-3.6-1-26 Persnal Prtective Equipment SHMS OSH-3.6-1-03 Mbile Plant and Equipment Field Instructin 2.6 Wrksite Clthing / Persnal Prtective Equipment Requirements Field Instructin 2.17 Safe Apprach Distances Field Instructin 2.23 Jb Hazard and Risk Management (JRA) CS10 # 2226195 FI 5.2 Ples Inspectin and Supprt Prir t Cmmencement f Wrk Page 7 f 7 Uncntrlled when Printed