Piling & Foundation

Specialists Federation

Safe Working
Platforms
Piling & Foundation Specialists
Federation - January 2008

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.

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

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

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

It should be everyones
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.

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

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!

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

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.

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

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.

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

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.

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

Crane rig being mobilised on poorly prepared platform

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

Bored piling rig collapsing sideways due to soft spot on platform

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

Another view of same rig

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

New pile driving rig sinking due to poorly compacted platform

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

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

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

Crane attachment drilling rig collapsed sideways due to soft spot

in platform very close to edge of platform.

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

Displacement pile rig nose diving off bog mats

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

CFA rig collapsed across main London Paris railway line

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

The Solution
Members 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.

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

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.

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

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.
Piling & Foundation Specialists
Federation - January 2008

Reference Material to Assist

The FPS in the UK in conjunction with the Building
Research Establishment (BRE) have produced a
good 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 these

booklets 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 on

their web site the following discussion papers from
the 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
Piling & Foundation Specialists
Federation - January 2008

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.

Piling & Foundation Specialists

Federation - January 2008

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