Our country heavily relies on natural gas, oil, and diesel to power our homes, businesses, and infrastructure. To transport these resources, pipelines are constructed and maintained underground. However, working with these materials requires special safety precautions to prevent accidents, injuries, and damage to equipment and worksites.
Remember the following safety tips as you complete your pipeline project to facilitate a smooth and secure completion!
1) Provide Workers With Continuous Safety Training
Frequent safety training is a good way to raise awareness about the importance of pipeline safety and keep it at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Continuous training will reinforce proper work habits and ensure the entire crew is up-to-date on the current industry standards.
2) Always Use Personal Protective Equipment
While PPE (personal protective equipment) is the last line of defense between pipeline workers and an accident, that is not to say it is not crucial. Wearing proper protective equipment can mean the difference between safety and injury—or even death—in a dangerous situation on site. Pipeline PPE should include (at least) goggles, steel-toed boots, gloves, and hard hats.
3) Practice Safe Excavation Procedures
Standard industry pipeline excavation procedures exist for a reason, so it’s imperative that no one on your team cuts corners. Your list of safety procedures will depend on your specific worksite, but a few of the standard tasks typically include:
- Marking underground utilities
- Servicing equipment & tools when due
- Adhering to proper benching & sloping techniques
- Conducting pressure testing
4) Stabilize Heavy Equipment With Crane Mats
Operating the heavy machinery you’ll need for pipeline excavations on wet, slippery, or soft surfaces or where there is underground infrastructure can be dangerous. Hardwood mats can provide a stable surface or create a temporary access road that protects the ground and your equipment as you move and use it. Pipeline skids for cribbing, racking, and elevating pipes will also be useful tools for your project.
At Ritter Forest Products, we offer a full selection of hardwood crane mats and hardwood and timber pipeline skids to make pipeline construction projects safer and more efficient. Our products are available new, used, and for rental to accommodate the needs of excavations of any scale!
Browse the industries we serve online and fill out our contact form to receive more information on our hardwood mats for your next pipeline project today.
