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Caisson Operations

Industry Code: 42159

Compulsory
Industry Custom Pricing - ER

This industry describes pile driving, cast in place and caisson pilings, and foundation boring. The purpose and activity of this industry is to establish a solid footing for buildings, bridges or other similar construction projects.

Operation Details:

A pile foundation transfers the weight or load of a structure to the soil or rock below the earth's surface. A pile is used when upper layers of soil or earth are too soft to support the load of a superstructure (building, bridge, etc.) Piles are structural 'pins' that are driven into the earth by large mobile cranes that act as hammers. The simplest type of hammer is a steel weight raised above the pile by crane and allowed to fall by gravity, hoisted up again by the crane, and repeated until the pile is inserted to its desired depth. Another type of hammer is a diesel hammer. With this system, conducted repeatedly and quickly, the weight still falls by gravity onto the pile, and upon impact, a ram is fired by a diesel unit which hoists the weight back up. Other methods of pile-driving or foundation boring involve drilling a hole into the soil with an auger and filling the hole with concrete.

Caissons pilings are also used for construction foundations over bodies of water. This involves placing a watertight box or barrier, made of wood or steel, in the water. Water inside is pumped out, the area dried, excavated, steel pipes may be driven down and forms constructed, reinforcing steel may be placed, and concrete poured. Caisson operations like this are usually conducted in winter months when water levels are typically lower, and approaches are more manageable on frozen ground.

Pile driving operations have a large truck-mounted pile driver or mobile cranes to hoist the weight that drives the pile. Piles are usually made of steel, such as the same steel pipe used in oilfield drilling, sections of which can be screwed together.

Businesses may use pile drivers, cranes, equipment/tools for constructing wood/steel piles, scaffolding, mixers, and may employ iron workers, equipment operators, technical staff, labourers, sales/estimators, and office/administration staff.

All employers in this industry are members of the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA). Safety associations represent the interests of employers and promote workplace safety through education and other initiatives. Improved workplace safety can result in fewer claims and help lower premiums. A portion of premiums collected is allocated to the association to support these initiatives.

Underwriting Considerations:

Pile, caisson and foundation boring are all related to establishing a system of footings or a foundation prior to construction of large construction projects, where the soil or earth is not sufficiently stable to hold or support the finished weight of the completed structure. For instance, the Shaw Convention Center in Edmonton required horizontal footings being bored into the earth to give the structure support in its location in the side of the river valley.

Augering activity for drainage systems is classified in Horizontal/Angular Drilling, industry 42103.

Industry Custom Pricing: Modified Experience Rating

Employers in this industry voted to participate in Industry Custom Pricing (ICP) effective January 1, 2009, initially selecting the Waiving of Cost Relief option. Through a subsequent vote, effective for January 1, 2013, employers in the industry have chosen to withdraw from the Waiving of Cost Relief option however, in place, voted to participate in the Experience Rating Option of ICP. Effective for 2013 premiums, employers participating in the Experience Rating Plan for Large Employers, will be eligible for cost relief for costs related to the aggravation of a pre-existing condition and the following experience rating features will be used in determining the premium rates:

-Maximum Discount or surcharge of 60%
-Maximum participation of 100%
-Maximum experience used of 100%
-Participation rate of 1% for every $2000 in premiums

Premium Rate History:

Activities:

Boring, Foundation
Caisson Operations
Concrete Pilings Cast in Place, Piling Operations
Foundation Boring
Piling Operations Including Cast in Place Concrete

Rate Group History:

This rate group was established in 1992 in recognition of similar activities and loss exposures in the industries.

This industry describes pile driving, cast in place and caisson pilings, and foundation boring. The purpose and activity of this industry is to establish a solid footing for buildings, bridges or other similar construction projects.

Premium Rate History:

Activities:

Boring, Foundation
Caisson Operations
Concrete Pilings Cast in Place, Piling Operations
Foundation Boring
Piling Operations Including Cast in Place Concrete

Operation Details:

A pile foundation transfers the weight or load of a structure to the soil or rock below the earth's surface. A pile is used when upper layers of soil or earth are too soft to support the load of a superstructure (building, bridge, etc.) Piles are structural 'pins' that are driven into the earth by large mobile cranes that act as hammers. The simplest type of hammer is a steel weight raised above the pile by crane and allowed to fall by gravity, hoisted up again by the crane, and repeated until the pile is inserted to its desired depth. Another type of hammer is a diesel hammer. With this system, conducted repeatedly and quickly, the weight still falls by gravity onto the pile, and upon impact, a ram is fired by a diesel unit which hoists the weight back up. Other methods of pile-driving or foundation boring involve drilling a hole into the soil with an auger and filling the hole with concrete.

Caissons pilings are also used for construction foundations over bodies of water. This involves placing a watertight box or barrier, made of wood or steel, in the water. Water inside is pumped out, the area dried, excavated, steel pipes may be driven down and forms constructed, reinforcing steel may be placed, and concrete poured. Caisson operations like this are usually conducted in winter months when water levels are typically lower, and approaches are more manageable on frozen ground.

Pile driving operations have a large truck-mounted pile driver or mobile cranes to hoist the weight that drives the pile. Piles are usually made of steel, such as the same steel pipe used in oilfield drilling, sections of which can be screwed together.

Businesses may use pile drivers, cranes, equipment/tools for constructing wood/steel piles, scaffolding, mixers, and may employ iron workers, equipment operators, technical staff, labourers, sales/estimators, and office/administration staff.

All employers in this industry are members of the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA). Safety associations represent the interests of employers and promote workplace safety through education and other initiatives. Improved workplace safety can result in fewer claims and help lower premiums. A portion of premiums collected is allocated to the association to support these initiatives.

Underwriting Considerations:

Pile, caisson and foundation boring are all related to establishing a system of footings or a foundation prior to construction of large construction projects, where the soil or earth is not sufficiently stable to hold or support the finished weight of the completed structure. For instance, the Shaw Convention Center in Edmonton required horizontal footings being bored into the earth to give the structure support in its location in the side of the river valley.

Augering activity for drainage systems is classified in Horizontal/Angular Drilling, industry 42103.

Industry Custom Pricing: Modified Experience Rating

Employers in this industry voted to participate in Industry Custom Pricing (ICP) effective January 1, 2009, initially selecting the Waiving of Cost Relief option. Through a subsequent vote, effective for January 1, 2013, employers in the industry have chosen to withdraw from the Waiving of Cost Relief option however, in place, voted to participate in the Experience Rating Option of ICP. Effective for 2013 premiums, employers participating in the Experience Rating Plan for Large Employers, will be eligible for cost relief for costs related to the aggravation of a pre-existing condition and the following experience rating features will be used in determining the premium rates:

-Maximum Discount or surcharge of 60%
-Maximum participation of 100%
-Maximum experience used of 100%
-Participation rate of 1% for every $2000 in premiums

Rate Group History:

This rate group was established in 1992 in recognition of similar activities and loss exposures in the industries.