Eiffel 101: Safety Tips for Marine Pile Driving

Tips & Advice

Marine pile driving can pose some significant safety risks if proper precautions aren’t taken and if proper protocols aren’t in place. There are a lot of moving parts in marine pile driving. Proper use of hammers and proper application of pile driving materials is essential. Additionally, things like barge safety need to be taken into consideration. Below are some helpful tips to enhance marine pile driving safety intended for pile driving superintendents and pile driving teams to consider:

General Tips

  • Come up with a plan that details safety protocols for crew members for each, individual pile driving project based on the scope and needs of the project. This plan should cover all the bases: use of barges, use of cranes, pile driving procedures, use of misc. equipment, trenching protocol, welding procedures, what to do with hazardous materials, etc. A project emergency response plan should also be in place.

  • Make sure there is one dedicated employee to oversee the safety of the project from start to finish and that all other employees are involved in promoting safety too.

  • Ensure that all pile driving employees have been adequately trained in safety and understand what is expected of them to prevent issues.

  • Establish a location to store pertinent documents regarding safety training, inspections, hazard reports, safety permits, and incidents. Make sure all crew members are aware of where these documents are stored.

  • Come up with a plan for dealing with challenges specific to marine applications, including a plan for natural disaster preparedness.

Worksite Safety Tips

  • Before a project begins, a thorough safety survey of the site should be conducted to assess both current and potential risks.

  • As the project is in progress, there should be a schedule in place for additional, regular safety surveys.

  • Heavy equipment should be regularly inspected to make sure it’s in good, working order.

  • Pile driving materials should also be regularly checked for any damage.

  • Regular, scheduled maintenance should be performed on all heavy equipment, including any hammers used in pile driving.

  • Barges should be regularly maintained, and clutter should be removed from barge deck on a regular basis.

Employee Reporting

  • Make sure there are established systems that allow crew members to quickly and efficiently report hazards, injuries, and incidents.

  • Include employees in the process of carrying out safety surveys.

  • After accidents are reported, make sure a thorough investigation is performed that assesses safety vulnerabilities and results in a report of recommendations for improvement and prevention of accidents.

  • Encourage employee involvement in the establishment of any new safety protocols.

Additional Tips for Proactive Safety

  • Ensure that crew members have proper protective gear and are aware of how to utilize protective gear to its full benefit.

  • Make sure the work schedule allows for crew members to take breaks, eat, hydrate, etc. so that no safety issues are presented due to employee exhaustion.

  • Conduct emergency drills in addition to safety training to prepare crew members to act quickly in the face of the unexpected.

  • Ensure that first aid equipment and supplies are stocked and easily accessible to crew members.

  • Hold all supervisors and crew members accountable for their duties as they relate to safety.

  • Thoroughly review and evaluate safety protocols on an annual or semi-annual basis to assess effectiveness and provide recommendations for improvement.

Ultimately, safety requirements will differ for each pile driving project. The tips listed above, however, can be applied to most marine pile driving endeavors. The more you prepare and have procedures in place to promote safety, the better. By doing everything you can to minimize risks you can save yourself a lot of trouble in the end.

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