A Health and Safety Solution
Unguarded pile holes
What is the problem?
Workers falling down pile holes.
Further Information
WorkSafe Advisory Service
What are the risks?
When holes are unguarded, people can fall
into them and get injured, entrapped or both –
a driller’s offsider was killed after falling into a
600mm wide x 2.5m deep pile hole. The drill auger
had been removed from the hole and was slewed
to dump spoil, which exposed the hole.
What is a solution to the problem?
Ensure pile holes have guards in place. Pile-hole
guards can be made from bars being formed into
a cage. The bars should be bent into an L-shape
at the bottom to make supports for the footplate.
Guards need to be a minimum of 900mm high and
fitted with a footplate for stability and to prevent
people falling down the hole if the top of the hole
becomes exposed. The footplates can be made
from steel mesh welded to the bars.
Before drilling starts, place a pile-hole guard on the
ground and drill the hole inside the guard.
A solution
Typical pile hole guard with footplate.
HSS0027/01/07.08
Edition No. 1 July 2008
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Email: [email protected]
worksafe.vic.gov.au
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