512 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 16-22

Sections

18-8. General Requirements.

Powered Industrial Trucks (PITs), Forklifts, and Telehandlers

Operators must ensure PITs, forklifts, and telehandlers comply with ANSI/ITSDF B56.1, including displaying rated capacity and observing chapters 15 and 16 for suspended load movement.
Operators must be trained, qualified, and designated, and must follow specific procedures when the PIT is unattended, including setting brakes and chocking wheels on inclines.
Operators must ensure the use of overhead guards, proper docking equipment, and adhere to safe driving and load handling practices.

Floating Equipment

A Qualified Person (QP) must assess the safe placement, transport, and operation of equipment on flotation devices, considering manufacturer’s instructions and environmental restrictions.
The QP must document a written evaluation, including stability and structural assessment, in the AHA and provide it to relevant authorities before work begins.
If manufacturer’s instructions are unavailable, a Registered Professional Engineer (RPE) must develop safe operating procedures, and the QP must evaluate and document these in the AHA.

Drilling Equipment

Maintain a copy of the drill manual onsite, equip drills with emergency shutdown devices, and ensure clearance from electrical sources.
Survey travel routes for hazards before moving equipment, set up equipment on stable ground, and follow specific setup and operation guidelines, including weather monitoring and dust control.
Operators must ensure safety measures around the drilling area, like guarding auger and boreholes, and adhering to specific procedures when handling drilling equipment.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

18-8. If manufacturer’s instructions are unavailable, who must develop safe operating procedures?

A KO or COR

A Registered Professional Engineer (RPE)

A Qualified Person (QP)

A Competent Person (CP)

You forgot to answer the question!

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 18-8 (i.–k.).

18-8. General Requirements. (i.–k.).

i.  Powered Industrial Trucks (PITs), Forklifts, and Telehandlers.  All PITs, forklifts and telehandlers must meet the requirements of design, construction, stability, inspection, testing, maintenance, and operation according to ANSI/ITSDF B56.1.
(18-8.i)

(1)  When PITs, forklifts, or telehandlers are configured to hoist and lower (by means of a winch or hook and/or with rigging) and horizontally move a suspended load, refer to chapters 15 and 16.

(2)  All PITs, lift trucks, stackers, and similar equipment must have the rated capacity posted on the vehicle clearly visible to the operator.  When the manufacturer provides auxiliary removable counterweights, the corresponding alternate rated capacities must be clearly shown on the vehicle.  Do not exceed the ratings.

(3)  All PIT operators must be trained, qualified, and designated according to paragraph 18-3.

(4)  When a PIT is left unattended, fully lower the load engaging means, neutralize the controls, shut off power, and set the brakes.  Chock the wheels if the truck is parked on an incline.

(5)  Utilize an overhead guard as protection against falling objects.  It should be noted that an overhead guard is intended to offer protection from the impact of small material but not to withstand the impact of a falling capacity load.

(6)  Properly secure dock board and bridge plates before they are driven over. Carefully and slowly drive over the dock board or bridge plates and never exceed their rated capacities.

(7)  Operate the PIT at a speed that will permit it to be brought to a stop in a safe manner.

(8)  On all grades, appropriately tilt back the load and load engaging means and raise the load only as far as necessary to clear the road surface.

(9)  When ascending or descending grades in excess of 10%, drive loaded PITs with the load upgrade.

j.  Floating Equipment.  A QP must evaluate all equipment placed or operating on barges, pontoons, vessels, or other means of flotation for safe placement, transport, and operating conditions.  At a minimum, the evaluation must include:  (18-8.j)

(1)  Proper operating procedures according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

(2)  Stability and structural assessment of equipment and barge/pontoon.

(3)  Where and how the equipment will be secured to address positively secured positioning of the equipment (no movement/tipping), if required.

(4)  Environmental restrictions.

(5)  If the QP determines that the equipment can safely operate under the anticipated conditions within the manufacturer’s operating procedures, the evaluation must be documented in writing by the QP and included in the AHA and provided to the USACE supervisor/KO or COR prior to work beginning (see para 18-6).

(6)  Use of this equipment in this capacity is not allowed if the equipment cannot safely operate under the anticipated conditions and within the manufacturer’s operating procedures, or if the QP determines that it is not safe to do so.

(7)  If there are no manufacturer’s operating procedures, an RPE with knowledge and experience with this type of equipment, must develop the safe operating procedures.  The QP may then perform the evaluation of the equipment and barge/pontoon. Document the evaluation in the AHA and provide a copy to the USACE
supervisor/KO or COR prior to starting work.  (See para 18-6)

(8)  If this equipment is mechanized equipment used in conjunction with rigging to lift a load, it is considered LHE (see chapter 16).

k.  Drilling Equipment. (18-8.k)

(1)  Keep a copy of the drill manual available at the jobsite.

(2)  Equip drilling equipment with two easily accessible emergency shutdown devices, one for the operator and one for the helper, unless it is designed by the manufacturer to have a single operator and single kill switch.

(a)  Shut down rigs before any personnel enter the operational area of the drill.

(b)  Position auger heads in the hole or place a cover over the hole before workers enter the operational area of the drill.

(c)  If infeasible due to type of equipment being used, a CP must perform a risk assessment and document the findings in the AHA as to why this requirement is not practical.  Identify appropriate precautions and/or controls to ensure an equal level of safety is being accomplished.  (See para 18-6)

(3)  Maintain clearance from electrical sources according to table 11-4.

(a)  Post signs on the drilling equipment warning the operator of electrical hazards.

(b)  Ensure proper clearance before moving equipment.  Clearance must be
        monitored by a spotter. An electrical proximity warning device may be used in addition to a spotter to aid in the detection of live lines.

(4)  Moving Equipment.

(a)  Before drilling equipment is moved, survey the travel route for overhead and terrain hazards, particularly overhead electrical hazards.

(b)  Do not transport earth drilling equipment with the mast up.  The equipment may be moved with the mast up to drill a series of holes, such as in blasting, if the following conditions are satisfied:

(b-1)  Movement is over level, smooth terrain.

(b-2)  The path of travel has been inspected for stability and the absence of holes, other ground hazards, and electrical hazards.

(b-3)  Travel is performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

(5)  Equipment Set-up.

(a)  Set-up equipment on stable ground and maintain it level.  Use cribbing when necessary.

(b)  Extend outriggers according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

(c)  Follow the requirements of chapter 34 when drilling equipment is operated in areas with the potential for classification as a confined space.

(6)  Equipment Operation.

(a)  Monitor the weather conditions.  Cease operations during electrical storms or when electrical storms are imminent.  (See paras 1-7 or 2-7, as applicable)

(b)  Drill crewmembers must not wear loose clothing, jewelry, or equipment that might become caught in moving machinery. High visibility vests used on drilling rigs, if required, must be of the break-away type.

(c)  Utilize auger guides on hard surfaces. If infeasible due to type of drill rig being used, a CP must prepare a risk assessment and document the findings in the AHA as to why this requirement is not feasible.  Identify appropriate precautions and/or controls to ensure an equal level of safety is being accomplished.  (See para 18-6)

(d)  Verbally alert employees and visually ensure employees are clear from dangerous parts of equipment before starting or engaging equipment.

(e)  Direct the discharge of drilling fluids away from the work area to prevent the pooling of water.

(f)  Utilize hoists only for their designed intent and do not load them beyond their rated capacity.  Take steps to prevent two-blocking of hoists.

(g)  Follow the equipment manufacturer's instructions if rope becomes caught in, or objects get pulled into, a cathead.

(h)  Do not run or rotate drill rods through rod slipping devices.  Do not hoist more than 1 foot (0.3 m) of drill rod column above the top of the drill mast.  Do not make up, tighten, or loosen drill rod tool joints while the rod column is supported by a rod-slipping device.

(i)  Control dust.  Implement the requirements contained in chapter 6 when there is potential for silica exposure.

(j)  Clean augers only when the rotating mechanism is in neutral and the auger is stopped. Use long-handled shovels to move cutting from the auger.

(k)  Cap and flag open boreholes.  Barricade open excavations.

(l)  Provide means to guard against employee contact with the auger (for example, guard around the auger; barricade around the perimeter of the auger; electronic brake activated by a presence-sensing device).  Employees must maintain a safe, clear distance while the drilling equipment is operating.  If infeasible due to the type of drill equipment being used, the employee may proceed to approach the drill only when the drill has stopped rotating, the controls returned to the neutral position, and a clear signal has been given by the operator and understood by the helper that it is safe.

(m)  Do not use side-feed swivel collars on drill rods unless they are retained by either a manufacturer-designed stabilizer or a stabilizer approved by an RPE.

512 EM385-1-1 Chapters 16-22