The impact of piling rigs toppling over due to weak ground is significant, not only in the risk it poses to human life, but in the economic impact on the piling contractors and their clients, not to mention the reputational damage to all involved. In 2004 the UK piling industry launched its very successful piling platform initiative which changed the practice of the UK construction industry with respect to the provision of safe working platforms. This has led to a significant reduction in the number of piling rig instability incidents. This paper reviews the development and implementation of the working platform initiative and illustrates the process successfully used for evaluating the bearing pressure imposed by a working piling rig, designing and then testing of a working platform. Recognising improvements in safety usually require a culture change experience of the management process for implementing a working platform initiative is also described.
Subjects: granular working platform, tracked plant
Author: Derek Egan, Managing Director
Publisher: DFI, EFFC