With that information, says Egan, the principal contractor is
responsible for designing the working platform, either using inhouse
temporary works designers or by engaging a specialist geotechnical
design firm.
“The maintenance responsibility resides with the GC, who is in
control of the site,” said Gildea. “The piling contractor will flag any
issues on site and the GC will maintain them.”
According to Finbow, he believes that inspection responsibilities
should fall to the specialty contractor.
“We’re using the platform with our rigs… my view is, if I’m going
to put a rig on there, I’m going to make sure that it’s okay. I think
it’s very clear,” he said. “We build platform inspection into our own
site management reporting back to the person(s) responsible for
the maintenance of the platform’s current condition. I would hope
that everybody does that to make sure that the rig is safe and isn’t
going to implicate the safety of their people.”
“It’s a complicated issue and it’s not something that everyone
agrees on,” said Taube.
How to start improving
Since there are no regulations or guidance specific to the U.S. market
at this time, piling contractors must rely on other sources to
dictate best practices when it comes to safer working platforms.
For contractors interested in learning how they can improve today,
members of the Working Platforms Industry-Wide Working Group
recommend reviewing the BR 470 document as a crucial first step.
“It’s got very good, practical recommendations for the construction
and maintenance of platforms, and also good guidelines
on designing platforms,” said Gildea. “Reviewing that document
would be the first step for anyone in the U.S. If you apply the general
recommendations in there, you’re taking a step up from where
you would be otherwise.”
Due to copyright, BR 470 is not available through ADSC-IAFD,
DFI or PDCA, but a digital copy can be purchased for £45 (just
under US$60) from BRE by visiting www.brebookshop.com and
searching “BR 470.”
“Review the BRE document and become familiarized with
that, and another good tool would be the Working Platforms
Industry-Wide Working Group, which is open to the public,”
said Taube. “We definitely encourage participation and having
discussions with other specialty contractors. Those are the
first steps.”
“Take the knowledge that’s out there – because there is knowledge
out there now,” said Finbow. “The knowledge pool is growing
week by week. Join organizations like ADSC-IAFD, DFI or PDCA
and benefit from that pool of knowledge. Don’t stand alone; we’re
much more powerful as a group.”
The Working Platforms Industry-Wide Working Group is looking
to improve safety across the construction industry, and believes
that, collectively, specialty contractors can make a difference by
insisting on proper working platforms and refusing to compromise
on safety.
“Safety is a responsibility, morally, of all of us,” said Finbow.
“Be bold. Stand up for what’s right and what you know is right
and needed to protect your workers,” said Taube. “Don’t sacrifice
your standards in order to win work. It can be very tempting to
say, ‘Hey, the other guys can do it without a working platform, so
that’s what we’re gonna do.’ It can be a race to the bottom in terms
of working platform safety.” t
Your participation is needed in order to improve working platform
safety across the industry. PDCA members interested in joining the
Working Platforms Industry-Wide Working Group should contact
frank@piledrivers.org to learn how to get involved.
WORKING PLATFORMS
“We’re using the platform with our
rigs… my view is, if I’m going to put a
rig on there, I’m going to make sure
that it’s okay. I think it’s very clear.”
– James Finbow, Bauer Foundations Canada
86 | EDITION 3 2019 www.piledrivers.org
/www.brebookshop.com
/www.piledrivers.org
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