Class code 6003 — Pile Driving

This classification covers pile driving contractors who install deep foundation piles for buildings, docks, bridges, and other structures built on unstable or soft soil. Crews position pile-driving rigs, hoist and align piles (wood, steel, or concrete), and use hammers or vibratory equipment to drive them to the required depth. This work typically happens early in a project, before other foundation work begins.

Payroll includes rig operators, crew members who guide and position piles during driving, and riggers who handle the piles as they're hoisted into place. Because pile driving requires specialized heavy equipment, crews are usually smaller and highly focused on this single task rather than performing other site work.

The repetitive impact and vibration from driving equipment creates noise exposure and whole-body vibration concerns, while the process of guiding a suspended pile into position exposes workers to struck-by and crush hazards if a pile swings unexpectedly or a hammer misfires. Working near water for dock and bridge piling adds drowning risk to the mix, contributing to this classification's high-risk rating.