Method statement for The installation of Precast Concrete Piles At (Site Name). 1 of 5
Standard Operating Procedures for Pile Driving. This method statement will outline how the authorised/ competent operatives of Conway piling perform the task of Pile driving on site(s). I. Establish Rig on to site. II. Discuss with client s representatives any safety procedures applicable to the site and establish a safe working area. This includes any safety induction. III. Check pile position locations (responsibility of main contractors) and sequence of piling works commencement. IV. All under ground services should be clearly marked by main contractor and he/she shall carry out Cat scan if in doubt. V. Where the pile construction is in the vicinity of a power or gas service, consideration should be within the risk assessment for the perimeter of the pile structure to be a minimum of three dia meters away from services. The immediate area should be a No Smoking zone. Power should be turned off to power cables and conformation note issued to the piling foreman. VI. Pitching of the pile is carried out by looping the chain around the pile approximately 1mtr from the end and winching up into helmet of hammer by rig operator. VII. Pile is then guided into the pile clamps by assistant on ground. VIII. Set up piling rig with pitched pile over marked position and the driver then places pile onto the ground. IX. Assistant then checks pile is plum with level. X. Driver lowers service winch and proceeds to operate driving hammer at low drop height until pile has safely entered the ground. XI. Assistant will then carry out vertical check if required. XII. Pile is then driven to the required height. XIII. If piles are to be driven deeper than segment pitched an additional pile is pitched with jointing end at bottom of pitched pile. 2 of 5
XIV. Jointing is carried out by placing pitched pile over driven pile, removing dirt cover off pitched pile by assistant and lowering of pitched pile on top of driven pile by rig driver with directions from assistant. XV. Jointing pins are placed in their locking position by the rig operators assistant with the use of a sledge hammer. XVI. Pile is checked for vertical plum again and then service winch is lowered and removed. XVII. Driving is carried out using the same procedure again. XVIII. Driver and assistant decide as work proceeds depending on how much of finished pile is protruding from the ground level which piles are to be driven in sequence. XIX. When pile testing is required an independent person ie, site foreman marks piles for testing ensuring not to mark any with damaged end due to driving operations. XX. Testing is carried out when piles are complete and before piling rig leaves site. It is carried out by an independent company. XXI. The test engineer establishes himself onto the site and checks piles for testing. XXII. He proceeds to drill required taps into test piles. XXIII. He then connects test lead cables to same. XXIV. When ready the piling rig operator places the rig hammer over test pile and on testing engineers command strikes pile the number of blows required to give the test engineer required readings. XXV. The same procedure carries onto next pile until finished. All operatives must wear personal protective equipment at all times during piling. Only authorised personnel should operate in the piling zone(s). Piling zone(s) should be cordoned off as a safety measure. 3 of 5
Conway Piling: Risk Assessment for Piling Operations. Hazards 1. Failure to check manufacturer s instruction. 2. Overhead power lines. 3. Underground services not identified. 4. Inadequate operator training. 5. Wire rope-broken wires or kinks, distorting links, rings or hooks. 6. Pitching of new pile. 7. Possibility of Rig overturning due to an unstable ground surface or working near excavations. 8. Joining pile to existing pile, if deeper piling is necessary. 9. Unexpected visitors entering the site. 10. Back leg, shoulder and arm injuries. Control Measures 1. Always check the manufacturer s handbook for instructions regarding the Piling Rig. 2. Always carry out a walk through survey of the site before bringing the rig into the operating zone. If cables pose a threat contact the ESB as soon as possible to safe guard the area in question. 3. Inspect all site maps relating to ground works so as to identify if there is any underlying services present that need to be highlighted. 4. All drivers will be trained and competent to operate Piling Rigs. 5. Wire ropes, rings and hooks will be inspected regularly and any defects are to be reported as soon as possible to Mr Lar Conway. 6. When pitching the new pile the assistant must ensure that chain is not twisted by using the looping technique, (chain running through ring on end of same) chain around pile approximately one metre from end and winching up into the helmet of hammer by rig operator. The pile is then guided into place by the assistant on ground. 7. The ground on which the piling rig has to operate must be inspected so as to ensure it s stability and that excavation don t pose a threat of overturning to the operatives. 4 of 5
8. The joining of the pile must be done safely and the assistant to the piling rig operator must be wearing gloves and he does not try to align pile by feeling with his fingers, he must remove plastic dirt covers and then he directs the rig operator to lower the pitched pile on to the top of the driven pile and then inserting the pile joint pins using a sledge hammer. 9. Only authorised person s may operate in the vicinity of the Piling Rig. 10. All employee s of Conway Piling have received manual handling training. 11. All ground assistance and other operatives on the site must not stand facing the hammer when it is in motion as this is very dangerous in the event of the wire rope breaking and flying forward. Resources: All operatives of Conway Piling will wear high visibility clothing, wet gear, helmets and safety boots. First aid box will be available to all the operatives of Conway piling. Only competent and trained operatives will be allowed to work with the Piling Rigs that are owned by the company. All employees working on construction sites will have safe pass. Lubricants and oils will be available during operations so as to ensure the safe working of the rigs Certificates will also be available on request. 5 of 5