Health and Safety

FPS - Pre-commencement Piling Standard

In general piling operations is one of the first sub-contractors to work on a construction site.  Certain facilities need to be immediately available in order for the piling to commence in a satisfactory manner but also safely and in accordance with legislation.  Experience has taught us that for the facilities to be available it is essential to ensure the arrangements are made some weeks prior to arriving on site.  This document offers guidance on the minimum acceptable conditions expected before work commences. 

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CPCS Cards for Fitters on Piling Sites

MCG Members have agreed that fitters necessarily operating plant and equipment during and as part of examinations and/or repairs will not be required to hold the plant specific CPCS card, provided they already carry the CSCS Plant Mechanic or Construction Plant Maintenance and Repair Card.

Click here to download this statement in PDF format

 

Use of Debonding Foam

In recent years the hazards of vibration-induced conditions such as ‘hand-arm vibration’ (HAV) and ‘whole body vibration’ (WBV) have come to the fore as a health issue in the construction industry. 

The FPS encourages member companies to develop and use improved technologies to ensure that risk from the exposure of employees to vibration is either eliminated at source or, where this is not reasonably practicable, reduced to as low a level as is reasonably practicable.

Technical considerations related to the use of debonding foam on pile reinforcement.

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Breaking Down of Piles

The adoption of a suitable pile breaking method can result in financial and program savings and, most importantly, will address and reduce potential health and safety issues.  In this document, the FPS consider the different methods available.

 

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FPS Guidance:  The application of the LOLER Regulations to Piling Rigs

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) came into force on 5 December 1998 to replace industry specific regulations on lifting, including sections of the Factories Act 1961, the Construction (Lifting Operations) Regulations 1961 and the Lifting Plant and Equipment (Records of Test and Examination) Regulations 1992.

This Industry Code of Best Practice is designed to offer practical guidance on the application of the regulations to the piling industry. The document is designed to complement the Health and Safety Executive publication ‘Safe Use of Lifting Equipment, Approved Code of Practice and Guidance – L113’ and other guidance for the construction industry.
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Notes for Guidance on PUWER (Regulations 11 and 12) in relation to Guarding and Cleaning of Augers on Piling Operations     

The document contains guidance for Members and their clients covering the cleaning and guarding of augers in order to comply with PUWER Regulations 11 and 12.

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Visibility Aids for Piling Rigs

There have been occasions where Principal Contractors have raised queries regarding PUWER Regulation 28, which states:

Every employer shall ensure that, where self propelled work equipment may, while in motion, involve risk to the safety of persons -(e) Where the driver’s direct field of vision is inadequate to ensure safety, there are adequate devices for improving his vision as far as is reasonable practicable.

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Lifting Operations on Piling Sites - Appointed Person Statement

FPS position statement on appropriate qualifications and cards for "Appointed Person" and Slinger Signallers engaged in lifting operations on Piling sites.

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