1. End Prep/Facing Crew Safety and Shaving
Management
Management of metal shavings cut
from the pipe bevel by prep
machines is recommended. A
procedure should be developed to
ensure recovery of the larger
shavings as well as the smaller pieces
scattered on the ground and to
control Health and Safety and
Environmental risks. These shavings
present a hazard to workers, the
public and livestock.
http://www.pipe-line-safety.com

2. A great number of these razor-sharp steel shavings are generated at and on
either side of the pipe ends. These shavings are subject to being run over and
driven into the sand or soil, or blown off R.O.W. into adjacent pasture and
private land.
Poor Practice
http://www.pipe-line-safety.com

3. Drop
cloth
canvas
Pipe end
securely
chocked
Best Practice: Use of drop cloth/canvas,
immediate recovery and removal from the
ROW.
http://www.pipe-line-safety.com

4. • Prior to the prep/facing machine being inserted into the pipe joint, a piece of
canvas, ideally 48” canvas about 96” in length is placed at the end of the pipe,
in the form of a “T”, with about 1/3 of the width under the pipe. Two or three
canvas tarps should be available for each facing machine so that production is
not hindered.
• The facing machine is then inserted, the milling completed, the machine
removed and tractor proceeds to the next joint.
• Once the pipe end is clear and the facing machine no longer poses a hazard,
the canvas is picked up in such a fashion that it forms a “V” and then tipped
into a common plastic dustbin. The dust bin should hold the shavings from 3-4
pipe ends. Depending the size of the pipe, a bin no larger than 100 liters
should suffice.
• Care should be taken to ensure that any small pieces of steel are not driven
into the sand or soil by being stepped on. A quick sweep with a magnet catches
any stray pieces of metal on the ground and these are wiped by kevlar-gloved
hand into the bin.
• As required the 100 liter plastic bin, when full is tipped into one or more larger
containers mounted on each prep/facing tractor. As the containers are filled,
they are taken and dumped at a skip, located at an access road, central to
several days facing operations, or in an assigned dump truck.
• Note: The drums should be mounted on the front of the tractor if it is backing-
up and attached at the rear if the tractor is moving forward.
http://www.pipe-line-safety.com

5. Shavings should not be left behind after the passing of the prep crew,
overnight or longer, on the ground or in sacks along the ROW.
Shavings should be recovered and removed from the ROW
immediately.
http://www.pipe-line-safety.com

6. The shavings/swarf will be scattered well beyond the drop cloth. Magnets in
the form of a circle or a bar about 20” long by 1.5” attached to a 60” metal
handle in the form of a rake are ideal for recovering the shavings. Maximum
strength magnets are most important for the shaving recovery to be
successful.
Workers need to be provided with meat cutter’s gloves or heavy duty
welding gauntlet gloves with a kevlar lining. Freeing shavings with a
gloved hand is a common cause of serious hand injuries on this crew. A
strong leather glove alone does not provide adequate protection. Cuts from
shavings are deep and always serious debilitating injuries.
http://www.pipe-line-safety.com

7. Operators must be trained to not attempt to free shavings with a metal file or
other metal tool, which can be ejected forcefully by the rotating machinery
injuring the worker. Use of a wooden tool is a preferred practice
Use of safety glasses and
face shield is the
preferred practice
Never use
hands,
fingers or
a metal
object to
clear
shavings
from the
beveling
face.
http://www.pipe-line-safety.com

8. Prep/Facing Machine must be fitted with guard on the machine.
|The prep machine and side boom operator must wear face
shields. The shavings will be ejected as far as the side boom
operators seat. Cuts to the side boom operators face from
airborn shavings are not uncommon.
http://www.pipe-line-safety.com

9. Boom operators packing
prep machines must be
cautious when
climbing or descending
steep hills – the weight
of end prep machine
hanging off at an angle
to the boom can pull
tractor over.
http://www.pipe-line-safety.com

10. • Don't get between the pipe and prep machine when the prep machine is being set in
and pulled out of the pipe joint.
• Prep machine operators wear face shields – history of facial cuts from ejected
shavings.
• Use a wooden tool or stick for freeing shavings in prep machine - do not use gloved
hands or a metal tool.
• Don’t expect gloves to protect your hands. Shavings will cut right through gloves -
only the bones in your fingers will stop the sharp cutting edge of the shavings -
Never pull with gloved hand on a long shaving that is stuck or restrained in any
way. Cuts from shavings are always serious injuries which require stitches and
subsequent surgery to reconnect tendons- be careful.
• Be careful freeing shavings from magnetic pickup - restrained shaving will cut
through your glove.
• Do not run bare hands around lathed pipe ends.
• The best gloves to use are filleting gloves, with 10%-15% stainless woven into it,
inside a leather glove; Leather staple gloves; gloves with interwoven kevlar such as
hand guard 11 by Whizard Protective Wear.
• Wear protective clothing on forearms.
• Use a glove with a high cuff, to protect arteries in wrist. Cuts from shavings are
always serious injuries which require stitches - be careful.
• Ensure pipe joints are securely chocked prior to setting prep machine into end of
joint.
• Take precautions to prevent pipe joint from sliding downhill when setting prep
machine in the end of joint on the uphill side
http://www.pipe-line-safety.com