Pipelines are an integral part of every society’s infrastructure. They are important for transporting fluids, gases, water & sewage and other substances in a quick and efficient manner. However, when it comes to construction pipelines or performing maintenance, there are plenty of hazards that need to be accounted for—such as extreme pressures, hazardous terrain, suspended loads, or simply human error. Here are seven safety considerations for industrial pipeline construction that will help ensure everyone goes home safely at the end of the day.
Regular Safety Training
The key to mitigating human error is through consistent and regular safety training. This, of course, is true for employees both new and old. Veteran employees may be familiar with safety guidelines, but without a refresher from time to time, it’s not uncommon for employees to become more apathetic or less attentive to ensuring every safety procedure is properly carried out. This is only a natural reaction, however, as safety training prevents accidents and incidents from occurring. When accidents occur rarely, many people are lured into a sense of security that makes them less likely to believe there is as a threat present.
By providing regular training, you remind everyone of the dangers they’re preventing and ensure that new employees are well-versed in safety procedures as soon as they are onboarded. Furthermore, regular safety training provides many opportunities for industrial pipeline services to innovate and improve upon their safety procedures. As innovations in technology advance within the industry, old safety guidelines may become obsolete.
Pipeline Excavation Procedures
After covering safety procedures, industrial pipeline services should cover pipeline excavation procedures. Such procedures must be followed judiciously to prevent hazardous conditions that would cause harm to workers or the pipeline itself. In particular, regularly inspect and service excavators to ensure they remain in their best condition. Faulty excavators can cause extensive damage to a pipeline, potentially causing explosions or environmental contamination if a pipeline is compromised by a clumsy excavator.
As employees work, OSHA demands certain practices be observed for their safety. This includes proper sloping and benching techniques during excavation and trench-protecting systems for trenches deeper than 5 feet. The trench-protecting system prevents workers from being buried should the soil collapse. It is often a good practice to enforce even if the trench is under 5 feet.
Pipeline Construction PPE
During the excavation and construction process, every worker needs the proper personal protective equipment—especially when considering the use of heavy equipment. While PPE is typically considered the “last line of defense,” it can truly mean the difference between life and death, as it helps mitigate injuries. Standard PPE guidelines dictate every worker should have hard hats, safety goggles, steel-toed safety boots, gloves, and high-visibility gear like vests or jackets.
Visibility is particularly important when you use heavy machinery in the area. When operating heavy machinery, the operator’s awareness of the area is made more difficult, so the bright colors of high-visibility gear will make workers stand out from the worksite. This simple act of improving awareness of one another will dramatically reduce the number of accidents caused by human error.
Lastly, particular situations like welding procedures or operating around hazardous materials require the appropriate equipment. For example, welders should always have a shield mask that protects their eyes and face from bright lights and sparks.
Operating Heavy Machinery
While we’re talking about safety practices with heavy machinery, operators should regularly train and be reminded how to properly operate heavy-duty machines. This includes the operation of excavators, forklifts, and even trucks. Each should have set practices and guidelines in place to ensure that, when operating in and around the construction site, they are aware and cautious of other workers around them.
Make sure every piece of machinery has an operations and maintenance manual within reach for easy reference. The ability to quickly reference and relearn safety protocols will eliminate any guesswork that may occur if an operator is in an unfamiliar situation.
Handling Techniques
The safety considerations for industrial pipeline construction even include how you should handle tools and pipelines. Ensure workers adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations for any piece of equipment they’re using or operating to prevent overloading or unsafe handling. When necessary, prevent back injuries by making sure mechanical aids are being used for tasks like lifting heavy, suspended loads.
Before you start any task, you should always prepare a job hazard analysis (JHA). A job hazard analysis informs all employees of any risks present onsite during any specific tasks. As you may have noticed by this point, information is the most powerful tool for preventing accidents and injuries while on the job.
Pressure Testing Procedures
Many pipeline construction services must contend with extreme pressures inside of the pipes. As such, an important safety precaution is to ensure none of the pipelines exceed their maximum operating procedure during the construction process. If, during your pressure testing procedures, you find a pipeline’s pressure is too high, this is often a major indication that the integrity of the pipeline has been compromised. You should take steps to correct the problem. Ignoring issues with the integrity of your pipeline may lead to unforeseen consequences.
Regular Tool Inspections
Throughout the workday and after construction has been completed, you should always perform regular tool inspections of your equipment. Much of the equipment you use undergoes a lot of stress and pressure that eventually degrades or damages your tools’ condition. For that reason, you want to check your equipment and machinery for signs of cracks, corrosion, wear, tear, or simply excessive age. Continuing to use damaged or degraded tools only increases the likelihood of accidents or injuries occurring on your worksite. If you ever notice a defect in your company’s equipment, repairs or replacements should be carried out immediately to prevent unsafe working conditions. Remember that safety is the most important thing on a worksite.
The very nature of construction includes necessary hazards that can’t be fully eliminated. Therefore, it’s crucial you do everything possible to mitigate accidents and keep your workers as safe as possible. By keeping these safety considerations in mind and putting them into practice, you’ll have an efficient and protected workforce for every job.
