Spuds
During marine construction work deck barges are held in place by vertical steel shafts known as spuds. The spud equipment typically consists of forward and aft spuds and a diesel engine-powered spud winch.
Three methods are available to prevent the spud from accidentally dropping or slipping:
- latching the winch foot brake;
- engaging a steel pawl that fits into a notched ring on the outside of the winch drum; and
- inserting a steel securing pin directly through the fully raised spud, preventing it from free-falling if the winch or cable fails.
Preventing Accidental Deployment of Spuds
To ensure the safety of employees on construction barges and towing vessels, employers and employees need to take the following safety precautions:
Fire Aboard Spud Barge
- Before a barge is moved, the spuds need to be raised so that the pinhole is above the resting area of the securing pin. Each spud should be pinned in the raised position.
- The licensed master of a towing vessel, who is responsible for ensuring that the vessels under his or her control are safe to move, needs to ensure that spud securing pins are in place and have a means to prevent inadvertent disengagement before the tow is underway.
- If the spuds must be lowered to stop the barge in an emergency situation (for example, in case of a power failure of the tug or an imminent collision), a supervisor needs to direct the barge employees on how and when to lower the spuds.
- Before attempting to lower mooring spuds, ensure that spud securing pins are completely removed and that employees are clear of the immediate area. Such practices will help to avoid employees being struck by dislodged or falling pins, which can weigh up to 85 pounds and measure approximately 4-feet-long and 3 inches in diameter.
- Employers who own and operate barges need to develop standard operating procedures. Employers should provide initial and periodic training to employees on barges, including how to use securing pins to hold spuds safely in place before a barge is moved from one site to another.
Real World Accident
A deckhand was working on a spud barge helping a coworker raise the spud legs using a winch system. A 42-inch pin was to be inserted into the spud leg to prevent it from falling if the winch brake released. The spud leg was raised just high enough for the employee to insert about 4 inches of the pin into the hole, when the winch brake failed. The pin came up and the employee was pinned between the pin and spud leg, sustaining fatal crushing injuries to his chest.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
4-4. Which of the following is one of the three methods available to prevent the spud from accidentally dropping or slipping?
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