In wrestling, the piledriver move is notorious for being dangerous. So much so, that for over two decades it has been banned by the WWE (though it is still seen on the mat). See, “What is a Piledriver and Why Did WWE Ban It?” written by Ella Jay and published by Wrestling, Inc. on December 17, 2024. The infamous wrestling piledriver takes its name from a construction installation process, where powerful equipment is used for repetitive, forced driving of heavy vertical posts (piles) into the ground to form structural foundation support.
Who are Pile Drivers?
Both the heavy equipment and the professionals responsible for its operation are referred to as “pile drivers” within the industry. Construction site pile drivers face their own share of risks on the job: this is very dangerous work. These workers will have special training and certification on this type of heavy and powerful equipment.
One job site describes the pile driver as a professional in charge of operating the pile driving machinery “…to install deep foundations for buildings, bridges, and other structures by driving piles into the ground. They measure and align piles precisely to ensure structural stability and compliance with engineering specifications. Regular inspection and maintenance of equipment are critical to maintain safety and operational efficiency on construction sites.”
The equipment itself is complex and varied, depending upon the needs of the project. The worker may be asked to work with vibratory hammers; diesel impact hammers; or steam hammers. Installation may involve pitch and drive (installing one at a time) or panel driving (several installed together as threaded piles). While calculations are made in advance, during the actual work, the pile driver may face a reality where more blows are needed to accomplish the task of driving the pile to the necessary depth, or issues arising from equipment or a change in the underlying soil.
With the nuances of working with various foundations combined with the power and speed of the pile driving equipment, the pile driver works each day with the risk of suffering severe bodily injuries in an unexpected accident on the job.
The physical and technical challenges the pile driver faces come with extremely high safety risks.
Dangers in the Pile Driving Process
Piledrivers must evaluate and understand the specific risks they face on their job site. They do so while relying upon employers and others with possession, custody, or control of aspects of that workplace to comply with their legal duties of care and safety so the pile driver is not hurt or killed on the job.
The hazards vary with each site. No pile driver is capable of protecting themselves from injury independently of others.
For instance, the piledriver is in danger of being injured in struck-by or crushing accidents involving cranes and falling piles on most construction sites. They can be hurt when there are equipment failures. Boom collapses can kill these workers, too. Excavation comes with the hazards of trench collapse as piles are being driven. Just the vibration of the pile driving equipment can cause serious harm to limbs that result in permanent disability. And, when working near water the pile driver faces the risks of falling from a height or drowning (think Illinois river work and bridge reconstruction).
Accordingly, there are all sorts of safety regulations and industrial standards in place to protect pile drivers from harm. Failures to meet these duties of care place the piledriver in danger and create liability for those who are found to be in breach of them.
These include the following (in addition to all the requirements for proper Personal Protective Equipment, from head protection to working over or near water, etc.):
- 29 CFR §1926.603: covers mechanical requirements, guards/overhead protection, pressure vessels, and safe operation of pile driving rigs;
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC / §1926.1439: regards crane related controls, anti-two blocking, load monitoring and other crane safety rules specific to dedicated pile drivers;
- FHWA NHI / FHWA Design and Construction of Driven Pile Foundations: practical procedures, dynamic monitoring, and acceptance criteria used on public works;
- ASTM D1143: standard for static pile load testing and acceptance; and
- USACE EM 1110 2 2504: guidance for sheet pile design/installation and marine/cofferdam works often used on river and port projects.
Injury Claims for Accidents: Pile Drivers in Illinois and Indiana
In our part of the country, construction workers expert in the pile driving process may be found not only in (1) the building of bridges, highways, and piers on our local rivers but in (2) excavation work to hold back soil on construction projects and in (3) the building of warehousing and distribution centers where load-bearing piles support the weight needed for storage floors and racking systems. For more, scroll through the job openings for pile drivers in Illinois and Indiana.
These workers may be on the job in large infrastructure projects as well as river/port/bridge work in Chicagoland, along the Illinois River corridor, or in Indiana’s steel or industrial facilities, as well as in the numerous construction projects underway in both states.
If a pile driver is hurt while at work, then they may not only have workers’ compensation benefits to cover their financial needs through their employer’s work accident liability policies, but they may have third party civil claims to assert against others who are legally responsible for what they have suffered.
Depending upon their independent investigation into the work accident performed by their accident reconstruction experts and legal advocates, pile drivers and their loved ones may have legal causes of actions against several different parties, such as:
- General contractor or construction project manager, who failed in duties involving things like overall site control and site safety, based upon things like negligent supervision; negligent hiring or retention of subcontractors, etc.;
- Subcontractors who failed in maintaining safety protocols (like rigging), based upon negligence law;
- Manufacturers, designers, or suppliers of the equipment itself, based upon product liability law or failure to warn;
- Contractors who failed in maintenance, repair, and inspection of the equipment, based upon negligence, etc.; and / or
- Suppliers of materials, where defective piles or improper fabrication caused harm, based upon product liability, etc.
Each case is unique. Liability can never be understood until accident expert analysis has reviewed all the facts, from the equipment to the site itself, to witness statements, videos, and even weather conditions at the time of the work accident. Pile drivers may have significant monetary damages available to them under state law that can only be fully comprehended after forensic experts form their opinions, as well, on things like long term medical care needs; lost earning capacity; pain and suffering estimates for the future, and more.
For more, read:
- Damages are Different: Workers Compensation vs. Third Party Personal Injury Claims
- Are There Civil Claims for Damages Against Third-Parties for Your Work Accident?
- Work Accident in Illinois or Indiana: Workers Compensation Claim vs. Personal Injury Damages
- Work Accident Injury Claims in Illinois and Indiana: Things to Know About Monetary Damages.
Pile driving is dangerous and necessary work. Those who are trusted to operate the pile driving machines are facing extreme risks of harm every day on the job, and deserve not only respect but protection from injury. Please be careful out there!
