513 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 23-29

Sections

26-8. General Requirements.

Drilling Area Preparation

Ensure all utilities at the drilling location are identified, marked, and cleared before starting operations. Keep drilling masts or booms away from overhead utilities.
Ready the drilling surface by removing loose materials and obstructions, and ensure the surface meets the criteria of 29 CFR 1910.22.
Position drill rigs and jumbos on stable, level surfaces when possible. If on sloping or unstable surfaces, secure the equipment with anchorage or blocking, adhering to regulations stated in 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M and 29 CFR 1926.1052.

Drilling Equipment Movement

Before moving equipment, secure all heavy machinery components, including drill masts, outriggers, and compartments.
Operate drill rigs and heavy machinery with personnel in protected compartments. Ensure no one is on surfaces or in compartments that are unsafe during travel.
Clear personnel from equipment travel paths. Use spotters for positioning equipment, ensuring they stay out of direct travel pathways.

Jumbos

Provide safe and slip-resistant access to all working levels of drill jumbos. Secure jumbo decks and stair treads to prevent displacement.
Allow only necessary employees to ride on jumbos, unless the jumbo is passenger-designed, ensuring safe seating and access.
Ensure safe operation under jumbo decks by notifying employees prior to drilling, installing guardrails on decks over 6 feet high, and providing wide stair access for decks over 10 feet high.

Borehole Advancement and Casing

Guard accessible areas within the swing radius of rotating equipment to protect personnel from being struck or crushed.
Handle and lift drill rods and tooling safely, using mechanical equipment for heavy items, and ensure rigging adheres to 29 CFR 1926.1413.
Manage drilling fluids and cuttings to prevent equipment damage or personnel injury, ensuring proper containment and safe handling practices.

Drilling After a Blast

Inspect the area for misfires after a blast and safely remove any found before resuming drilling.

Electrical and Lighting

Install and maintain lighting and electrical systems in compliance with safety regulations, ensuring safe distances for personnel and equipment.
Equip all underground personnel with functional lighting devices for emergency situations and safe navigation.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

26-8. For safe operation on jumbo decks for tunneling, install guardrails on decks _____.

over 2 feet in height

over 4 feet in height

over 6 feet high

10 feet or higher

You forgot to answer the question!

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 26-8 (j.–k.).

26-8. General Requirements. (j.–k.).

j.  Drilling.  Drilling operations in this paragraph are described for activities relating to underground construction and include drilling associated with exploratory borings, blasting, ventilation, and access shafts.  For drilling associated with other operations, such as wells, geotechnical studies, and soil studies, see chapter 18.  (26-8.j)

(1)  Drilling Area Preparation.

(a)  Clear the drilling location of utilities in advance of drilling operations.  Utilities in the area must be identified and marked prior to performing intrusive operations.
        Drilling from surface locations may require clearance of overhead utilities.  The mast or boom must be clear of overhead obstructions in all operational positions.

(b)  Prepare the drilling surface to receive drilling tools.  Clear loose material, scale, and other obstructions in advance of stationing the drilling equipment according to 29 CFR 1910.22.

(c)  Place drill rigs and jumbos on stable and level surfaces to the extent possible. Drilling equipment that must be placed on sloping or unstable surfaces requires anchorage, outriggers, blocking, or construction of drilling platforms.

(c-1)  All anchorage and blocking must be sufficient to maintain boring direction and stability of the equipment and working compartments or platforms.  All elevated work platforms must comply with this manual, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M and
            29 CFR 1926.1052.

(c-2)  Periodically inspect drilling equipment, drift, and direction to assess if the work area or ground conditions have become unstable.  The work platform, blocking, or anchorage must be adjusted as necessary to maintain work area stability.

(2)  Drilling Equipment Movement.

(a)  Secure heavy equipment, drill masts, rigging, outriggers, pipe, and compartments prior to movement.

(b)  Movement of drill rigs, jumbos, and other heavy equipment must be performed with personnel located only in covered or otherwise protected operator compartments and not located on surfaces or in compartments that are not designed for occupancy during travel.

(c)  Personnel must be clear of the anticipated travel path.  Spotters may be required to properly position equipment.  Spotters must be positioned out of the direct travel pathway to the extent practicable.

(3)  Jumbos.

(a)  Provide safe access to all working levels of drill jumbos.

(b)  Design and secure jumbo decks and stair treads to be slip-resistant and to prevent accidental displacement.

(c)  Only employees assisting the operator will be allowed to ride on jumbos unless the jumbo is designed for passengers.  The design must include adequate seating arrangements that protect passengers from being struck, crushed, or caught between equipment and surfaces, and must permit safe access.

(d)  Notify employees working under jumbo decks whenever drilling is about to begin.

(e)  On jumbo decks over 6 feet (1.8 m) in height where there is no adjacent surface that provides fall protection, install removable guardrails or equivalent protection on all open sides, excluding access openings of platforms (see chapter 21).

(f)  Stair access to jumbo decks over 10 feet (3 m) in height must be wide enough to accommodate two persons.

(g)  Provide receptacles or racks for drill steel stored on jumbos.

(h)  The employer must provide mechanical means for lifting drills, roof bolts, mine straps, and other material to the top decks of jumbos over 10 feet (3 m) in height.

(4)  Borehole Advancement and Casing.

(a)  Barricade or otherwise protect accessible areas within the swing radius of the equipment’s rotating superstructure to prevent an employee from being struck or crushed by the equipment.

(b)  Ensure that personnel are guarded or kept a safe distance from rotating drill pipe, bits, collars, rod, and casing during operation.  Operate the equipment from the cabin or in working platforms to the extent possible.  Take additional precautions to protect personnel located within swing radius of articulating booms, tooling, or rigging, or within an area located where cuttings or drilling fluids accumulate.  Additional
        precautions include having a safe egress/escape route, maintaining direct visual, verbal, or radio communication between equipment operators and personnel working within the vicinity, and wearing high visibility clothing.

(c)  Handle and lift drill rods, pipe, casing, and other down-hole tooling based on the size and weight of the tooling and in a manner that reduces struck-by and lifting hazards.

(c-1)  Move heavy pipe, rods, or tooling using mechanical equipment if the size and shape of the equipment is not safe for manual handling.

(c-2)  Rigging must be inspected and appropriately sized in according to 29 CFR 1926.1413.

(c-3)  Couple and decouple drill string tooling, drill rod, drill pipe, and casing with the equipment secured and with minimum movement of the equipment.  Ensure that personnel keep a safe distance between hydraulically actuated or mechanized clamps, tongs, jacks, pipe stabber, pipe spinner, and rotating parts.  Maintain drill rod, pipe, casing, and tooling in secure racks or compartments when not in use.

(d)  Manage drilling fluids and cuttings to maintain borehole stability, jumbo or drill rig stability, and to prevent pressure releases that may damage equipment or injure personnel.

(d-1)  Do not allow drilling fluids and cuttings to clog equipment lighting, safety devices, or guards, or to create obstructions in personnel or equipment travel paths.

(d-2)  Secure drill fluid hoses, pipe, and tooling from whipping hazards and place them where they can be inspected for wear and leaks.

(d-3)  Do not manually clear clogged fluid pipes, hoses, casing, or drill pipe unless the equipment can be safely depressurized and when access by personnel does not require entry into the borehole.

(d-4)  Locate, to the extent possible, accumulation areas for cuttings and drilling fluids away from drilling equipment and personnel.  Maintain drill fluid circulation equipment and pumps free of damage and be readily available for inspection during operation. Containerize or stockpile cuttings in a manner that does not create work area obstructions, or trip, air quality or engulfment hazards.

(e)  Perform casing or securing of a boring or drill area with equipment that is selected to withstand the loads expected for that area.

(e-1)  Temporary borehole casing may be placed with percussive methods only when such methods are not expected to destabilize working areas.

(e-2)  Place casing jacks in level and stable areas that will not de-stabilize the rock face, drill rig or jumbo footings, or personnel work areas.  Personnel must not place hands on the jacks when in operation.

(e-3)  Perform permanent installation of conductor or borehole casing with concrete or other sealing media that will prevent leakage or de-stabilization by drilling fluids, circulated air, muck, or cuttings.

(5)  Drilling After a Blast.  Before commencing the drill cycle after a blast, examine the face and any remaining blasting holes for misfires.  Remove the misfire prior to continuing drilling operations.

k.  Electrical and Lighting.  See chapter 7 for lighting and chapter 11 for electrical. (26-8.k)

(1)  Install lighting circuits on one side of the tunnel near the spring line and mount the cables on insulators at each point of suspension.

(2)  Properly design and maintain all electrical and lighting systems. Use only nonmetallic and waterproof fixtures mounted in a manner that provides safe clearance for personnel and equipment.

(3)  Protect personnel from potential lighting hazards such as thermal burns and optical discomfort. Remove unused lighting and systems from the work area when no longer needed.

(4)  All personnel working underground must carry functional lighting devices on their person to help locate the backup area emergency lighting devices or to facilitate their safe egress.