4 Safety Tips for Pipeline Construction

Pipelines are essential to our world, carrying everything from water to natural gas for the modern home. Naturally, construction crews spend a good amount of time perfecting each pipeline to ensure it’s up to code and safe. It’s also important to make sure the construction crew stays safe during the job, especially if the pipe is partially underwater and the area requires dewatering.

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A Safe Construction Site

At a pipeline construction site, safety is a high priority. Work that requires dewatering can especially present a challenge. As you prepare to start work on a pipeline project, keep these safety tips in mind to protect yourself and your coworkers:

  1. Stay alert and aware
  2. Use personal protective equipment
  3. Follow standard excavation procedures
  4. Continue safety training

1) Stay Alert and Aware

Carelessness or distractions can easily lead to injury in a construction zone. To best combat this danger, stay alert and encourage your coworkers to do the same. Maintain a constant awareness of everything around you and watch where you step.

2) Use Personal Protective Equipment

PPE may be seen as cumbersome or unnecessary, especially in less hazardous construction settings. However, it’s important to consider the potential consequences of ignoring your protective gear. If a heavy pipe drops on your feet, you’ll be grateful for those steel-toed boots! Even if feels inconvenient, don’t forget to wear your personal protective equipment.

Some protective equipment can be applied to the rest of your construction site. During a nighttime job, you’ll be grateful for huge industrial lights rather than just having to carry a flashlight, or reflective tape to increase your visibility to others. Research the most practical types of protective equipment for your site and make sure to make good use of them.

3) Follow Standard Excavation Procedures

Standard construction procedures are standard for a reason. These tried-and-true methods have been proven to be safe and effective. To maintain a safe work environment, your best bet is to stick as close to the standard as possible.

Pro Tip: As with any digging project, call 811 to ask about buried utility lines before work begins. The last thing you need to deal with during a project is extra costs and work from damaged underground lines.

4) Continue Safety Training

Safely training should never truly stop. Even after the initial classes are finished, keep yourself and your coworkers up-to-date on any new potential dangers or new methods of construction work. Similar to staying alert on the job, keeping aware of industry standards will also contribute immensely toward maintaining a safe work environment. Make sure everyone knows how to use an inflatable barrier for your project, how to use the construction equipment properly, what to do in an emergency, and more.

Staying Safe on the Job

The best way to maintain a high standard of pipeline construction safety is simply to not take chances. Stick to the safety standards you’ve already been observing, and continue promoting safe practices and habits on the job. The fewer risks you take, the better.

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