Installing sheet piling is essential to many marine construction projects. However, everyone involved in a project follows safety guidelines to ensure the safety of employees and machinery during installation. When starting your next project, consider adding of the following to your safety guidelines list:
- Establish a supervised “danger zone” around operating machinery.
- Secure the hammer’s leads with a blocking device or other effective means that are capable of supporting the weight of the hammer.
- Secure all pressurized lines and hoses with a quarter-inch alloy steel chain or wire rope rated to a 3,250-pound capacity.
- All leads should be equipped with a continuous ladder or horizontal bracing, space them evenly at no more than 18 inches apart. Ensure the leads have adequate anchorages and that they are equipped with fall protection equipment.
- Provide fall protection to workers on unguarded platforms or walkways of greater than 7.5 feet.
- Ensure the sheet piling is firmly stabilized before employees use any attached machinery.
- Provide workers with adequate floatation hear if they will be exposed to a drowning hazard.
- Assign a designated signaler to work with the engine or winch operator. When a worker is aloft in the leads, the hammer should not be moved except on the signal of that worker.
- A hammer stop block is required.
- Two steam or compressed air shut-off valves are required, one within reach of the hammer operator.
