Standard Operating Procedure

Transcription

1 Procedure Type: Creation Date: Revision Date: Standard 01/28/ /01/2016 Purpose: Ensure that the backfilling of excavations are performed in a safe and controlled manner. Scope: This SOP is intended to be used as a guideline for Brown's Backhoe Service, Inc. employees who oversee and perform backfilling activities for trenches containing utilities, wellheads, PAP systems, conductors, and general excavations. Requirements: Before backfilling excavation, the site shall be thoroughly inspected by the Work Team to determine if special safety measures must be taken. It is required that all backfills achieve a minimum compaction rating of 95,000 pounds per square foot. Applicable Documents: JSA (Job Safety Analysis) Compaction Verification Form Lock-Out/Tag-Out SOP 01 Materials and Tools: Shovel Rake Metallic Burial Tape Whacker Packer Water Wagon Compaction Wheel/Sheepsfoot Compaction Test Probe Delineators Caution Tape Cones Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Hard Hat Safety Glasses Flame Resistant Clothing Personal H2S Monitor Gloves Steel Toe Boots Ear Plugs Steel Toe Guards Page 1 of 8

2 1) Assess location. a) Identify any hazards that may be on location. Lock-Out/Tag-Out is required for open trenches with electrical services in them. In the event of a dual panel and both trenches are open then it is required that both be locked and tagged out. Refer to SOP 01 for the Lock-Out/Tag-Out procedure. Inspect the trench edge for loose material and undercut sections. b) Place mitigations/controls in place. c) Cones are mandatory to be place on wellhead, 3 feet from water risers, 10 feet from power pole, rampovers will be identified with cones, and documented on your JSA. Any remaining cones must be used to isolate the work location. d) Set out two delineators with yellow caution tape tied between them in front of both the AOJ/JOG post, the panel box at minimum of 2 feet away, or anywhere electrical service is at surface. This designates a NO entry zone for the backhoe. Page 2 of 8

3 2) Inspect Whacker Packer NEVER fuel your equipment while HOT. Allow your equipment to cool down for 10 minutes before fueling. NEVER leave the Whacker Packer running unattended. Personal Protective Equipment required during use: hearing protection and steel toe guards. a) Detach red flag from whacker packer and place on drivers seat. This is a reminder to not forget the whacker packer or to secure it. b) Unsecure whacker packer and unload. It is required to use TEAM LIFT. c) Check all fluid levels: fuel and oil. If fluid levels are low do not operate until fuel and oil are added. d) Inspect the pull cord for tears, frayed edges, or rips. If there is visible damage to pull cord, report this to your Supervisor. e) Once inspection is complete, allow whacker packer to warm up at mid-throttle for 5-10 minutes before using. Page 3 of 8

4 3) Inspect Water Wagon/Truck Mounted Tank NEVER fuel your equipment while HOT. Allow your equipment to cool down for 10 minutes before fueling. a) Look over tank mounts for loose, broken, or cracked bolts and mounting hardware. b) Check fuel and oil level for the pump motor. If low, ensure fuel and oil are added before using. c) Inspect all valves and fittings. Valves should operate smoothly and there should be no damaged handles. d) Inspect hose and reel. Look for damage done to reel and handle. Check for cuts or severe damage to the hose. e) If water tank levels are low, you may either fill it up at an appropriate fill station or have the water truck deliver to your job site. When climbing onto the truck and while filling tank, it is required that 3 points of contact be made the entire time. Always connect the ground cable to a suitable grounding source before filling. Hook up fill hose and open the fill valve to begin filling the tank making sure all connections are tight. When full, turn off fill valve and unhook ground cable. Remove fill hose and return it to secure position. Page 4 of 8

5 4) After inspection of equipment is complete proceed to evaluate and prepare the soil for backfilling. a) Inspect the soil for large debris and objects such as large rocks for example. Consistent soil type and size is crucial for compaction. Work the material to be backfilled to break down material to a consistent size with chunks no bigger than 2 inches. It may require that other material be imported/delivered to complete backfill. b) Check the soil for the proper moisture content. Soil should be cohesive enough to be compressed by hand without cracking or crumbling. If soil is too wet it will not compact. If soil is too dry it will not compact as well. If the soil is too wet it will require dry material to be added. If the soil is too dry it will require water to be added. The use of fresh water is required (NO LEASE WATER) to attain the correct moisture content in the soil to be used for backfilling and compacting. 5) Properly mix material to be backfilled. a) Add dry material as needed. b) To add water to material: Open the appropriate valves and ensure that the correct ones are closed. To relieve pressure on the pump keep the recirculating valve slightly closed/open. Do not force valves or pull plastic fittings these actions may result in damage to equipment. Start pump motor. Apply desired amount of water to material and mix material with the front bucket on the backhoe. Once desired amount of water has been added, shut off pump motor as to not wear out parts on the pump prematurely. Page 5 of 8

6 6) Begin backfilling electrical trench. SEE TASK 13 for wellheads. a) Add dirt until there is enough material to create a compacted lift of at a minimum of 18 inches. b) Once enough material has been added, using TEAM LIFT lower the whacker packer into the trench and begin compacting this first lift. Required PPE: hearing protection and steel toe guards. Those in close proximity and in the same trench must also use the same PPE, not just the operator. Always be aware of the path of travel for the whacker packer and keep feet and hands away from hot components, in between the equipment and hard/immovable objects, and the pad of the whacker packer. Never operate the whacker packer walking backwards. It is acceptable to use the front bucket of the backhoe to move the whacker packer around on location. 7) Once first lift has been compacted to 18 inches above the electrical service,it is required to be tested with Compaction Test Probe and documented on the Compaction Verification Form. a) Metallic burial tape shall be added. Metallic burial tape will need to be tied to the electrical service at the surface. At the AOJ/Jog post, ASD, and panel box. Metallic burial tape must be flat in bottom of trench. Metallic burial tape must be one long piece, it cannot be cut or tied. This will not allow the tape to be traced by line locating equipment as it is intended. This tape is also a warning for operators excavating or any crew digging. Page 6 of 8

7 8) Continue to backfill trench by adding material to a level that is overfull of the trench for the second lift. a) Use the sheepsfoot on the backhoe to compact this lift. The use of a spotter is required by the wellhead and other areas as deemed fit. The use of a QUALIFIED spotter is acceptable to use the sheepsfoot within the first 10 feet of the power pole, however the backhoe is not allowed to encroach the 2 foot boundary designated by the delineators. The backhoe is NOT ALLOWED at any point within the area as designated by the delineators or any of the exposed electrical service, such as by an ASD. 9) Add material and compact the third lift. a) Use the sheepsfoot to start the compaction for the third lift. b) To complete the compaction on the third lift it must also be compacted using the whacker packer as well to achieve the desired level of compaction. 10) Dress location. a) Once location has been dressed refer to SOP 01 and remove locks and tags. Page 7 of 8

8 11) Test the compaction of the trench. Use the Compaction Test Probe and document all readings on the Compaction Verification Form. All readings need to be at a minimum of 95,000 pounds per square foot. Page 8 of 8