Site welding on a busy pavement

[Thrashsmith]

Hello all, I've been asked to repair some railings next to a pavement & busy road. The simplest way to go about it is to do a bit of site welding. It's not a big job, hopefully less than a day, but I presume I'll have to contact the council to make them aware as it'll mean working on the pavement.
Does anyone have any experience of site welding like this & have any advice for things I might not naturally think of? Obviously I'm going to need screens, or even a gazebo for full coverage.
I've done site welding at private clients houses before, but in those circumstances it's just been a case of saying go away for an hour & don't look at what I'm doing. Never really had to deal with school children walking past or people watching from the top deck of a double decker bus.
Does site welding usually command a higher day rate than workshop based work?
Thanks in advance.

 

[cocker]

I don't know about pricing , but just put some screens up and crack on , one of them little bt tents with the side cut out will do . Or your gazebo , if you want to go large .
What ever you do you'll probably get some muppet sneaking a peek- then telling you " you've given me arc eye ".

 

[Agrismith]

Depends on the size of the pavement. If you leave 1.2m width then most councils will leave you be. If you can't leave 1.2m then you would have to apply for a footpath closure and provide a safe alternative

 

[Mark 2]

Someone on fire watching.?

 

[Robotstar5]

Hire a few actors to stage a mock argument, fight etc. on the opposite pavement, passers by will be more interested in watching, filming that than what you are doing

 

[redlig]

Just sing the Bernard Cribbins song "hole in the ground " as you weld and some smart alec will tell you all you need to know.

 

[Seadog]

Someone on fire watching.?

 

[Agroshield]

Anywhere you do commercial work near the public, you would be wise to have Public Liability Insurance. If you already have that as part of your business, check to see that the proposed work is included in its scope.

Read up on what is considered reasonable to stop people getting arc eye and have a reference to that document about your person in case you are questioned on the matter.

See:

https://aws-p-001-delivery.sitecorecontenthub.cloud/api/public/content/d36f94cece2e43b5ac1536cf26c50fff

 

[brightspark]

theres allways some smart assed git to tell you the regs and grass you up i had a teacher do it when i was rewelding the gate post .whinged about no shielding when they were all in class no windows and a big brick wall behind then said id left the welding rod ends on the deck and kids would think there sparklersand just to add might trip over the the welders lead along side the wall . i told em to stuff it next time and the kids could get run over with the gate been off

 

[Porkypine]

As someone mentioned above, I'd just put a bit of screening round the bit where you're actually welding and crack on..
The last time I did anything as exposed to Joe public like this was in the east end of London some pipe supplying hot water for heating a couple of tower block type things had sprung a massive leak, steaming water running down the road.
That was a case of it needs sorting ASAP or it simply fkg stays leaking until the end of time!.. their choice.
Needless to say we had no objections from "powers that be" or anyone else

Another time, again a luvly tower block scenario, I had to mass produce a load of lengths of 4" pipe with threaded tails welded on for a new heating system, this was done in a car park area under the flats, just cordoned off with Heras fencing, there was no screening and given the open location would've been a major faff to do so tbh, again no objections were raised.
However the scrotes way up in the flats discovered it was a good lark to start lobbing CDs out of the windows at us. My mate dryly observed "hmm, reckon we'll call this a hard hat area then"

 

[gaz1]

the amount of trades that dont put up walk arounds is stupid

easiest way tent up you welding someone outsidea walk around if possible but as ive seen many dont use them

even the ones with ladders right across the public footpath no barriers and no walk arounds just expect people to walk across the rd

had it in local town single walkway only big enough for a pram no walkarounds and no please use other path and there doing a store front even i walked past teh front and no one there to stop me from doing so and they had 3 guys on the job

 

[redlig]

theres allways some smart assed git to tell you the regs and grass you up i had a teacher do it when i was rewelding the gate post .whinged about no shielding when they were all in class no windows and a big brick wall behind then said id left the welding rod ends on the deck and kids would think there sparklersand just to add might trip over the the welders lead along side the wall . i told em to stuff it next time and the kids could get run over with the gate been off

You should have quoted him the old saying "" Those that can , do. Those that can't , teach.
Next time just double the fee in case of unexpected interference .
And as a gesture of goodwill volunteer to spend a bit of their time "helping " with his next lesson.

 

[winchman]

Public liability is a must then just make it look right Fire watcher screes high vis. If it looks professional you should be left alone.
But I would have a copy of your Risk Assessment to hand just incase.
Friends a builder and a nosy neighbour tried to make his life hell on one project so be ready

 

[brightspark]

Public liability is a must then just make it look right Fire watcher screes high vis. If it looks professional you should be left alone.
But I would have a copy of your Risk Assessment to hand just incase.
Friends a builder and a nosy neighbour tried to make his life hell on one project so be ready

a few jobs i go on they turn a blind eye they never saw me doing anything can get the job done in no time

 

[ahebron]

I had to a bit of electrical work wiring up business signs or replacing lights in them all all on reasonably busy footpaths.
I would start at 4am out with the ladders and some orange cones, do the job and be out before anyone knew.
Bit different as you will be there a full day and might need traffic control if its a busy road and you are working on it.

 

[Hitch]

Chuck a few cones up, bit of barrier tape, warning signs, and a screen.
Done a bit in the middle of London back along. Nobody batted an eyelid.
Get it done, and get out before the council wake up.

Everyone was too busy going about their day to even realise Dangerous Brian was grinding all over them as they walk past.

 

[Thrashsmith]

Thanks all for the replies. Just to update...
Council said that if I need to block the pavement then I've got to hire a traffic management company to install temporary traffic lights so pedestrians can be diverted.
I've told the client that that's a level of paperwork I don't want to get involved with & we'll have to find another solution.

 

[northwest]

Thanks all for the replies. Just to update...
Council said that if I need to block the pavement then I've got to hire a traffic management company to install temporary traffic lights so pedestrians can be diverted.
I've told the client that that's a level of paperwork I don't want to get involved with & we'll have to find another solution.

I would bet the firm that actually does the job won't do any of that, will get on site early and just crack on with a dozen cones and a bit of screen.

 

[cheb]

Some telecoms contractors working up here recently just bunged up a couple of 'Single file' signs and got on with using their mini digger with one track on the tarmac. Doesn't sound that bad really, but it was a on single track road.

The verge is now fairly well compacted.

 

[Agrismith]

Thanks all for the replies. Just to update...
Council said that if I need to block the pavement then I've got to hire a traffic management company to install temporary traffic lights so pedestrians can be diverted.
I've told the client that that's a level of paperwork I don't want to get involved with & we'll have to find another solution.

You don't have to have pedestrian controlled lights if you provide advanced warning at an existing crossing point. So if there are any crossing points put a footway ahead closed sign at them so people can cross in advanced