Powered Post Drivers
Post drivers set fence posts, sign posts, guardrail posts and stakes much faster than a sledgehammer. They range from hand-held gas, air and hydraulic drivers to skid-steer and tractor attachments and trailer-mounted rigs. They bring impact, overhead work, noise and vibration, and a real risk of hitting buried or overhead utilities.
- Fence Installers
- Highway & Sign Crews
- Farm & Ranch Workers
- Solar Installers
Types
- Hand-held post drivers: a pipe-like sleeve with a hammer weight you lift and drop over the post (manual, often called a post pounder), or powered by gas, compressed air or hydraulics.
- Skid-steer, tractor and excavator attachments use hydraulic hammers or vibratory heads. See Skid Steers and Equipment Basics.
- Trailer- and truck-mounted drivers for guardrail, highway signs and solar pile driving.
- Post hole augers and diggers are separate tools. See Power Augers and Digging Bars & Post Hole Diggers.
Main hazards
- Overhead work: driving posts requires holding the driver above your head. Falls from ladders, truck beds and tailgates, and strain injuries to the shoulders, neck and back, are common. See Ladder Basics.
- Crush and pinch injuries: a falling driver weight or hammer can crush fingers and hands between the weight and the post or the sleeve handles.
- Struck-by: posts can split, shatter, kick or slip, driver parts can come off and posts can fall over. Bystanders can be hit.
- Utilities: driving into buried gas, electric, water, communication or sewer lines can cause explosions, shock, outages and injuries. Overhead power lines are a danger when raising tall drivers, masts or posts. See Call 811, Utility Strikes and Overhead Power Lines.
- Noise and vibration: impact tools are loud and shake hands and arms. See Noise and Hand-Arm Vibration.
- Machine hazards: tip-overs, mast failures, hydraulic hose bursts and moving parts on mounted drivers. See Hydraulic Hazards and Equipment Rollovers.
- Fuel, exhaust and fire: gas-powered drivers use engines that need ventilation and safe refueling. See Flammable Liquids.
- Heat, sun and uneven ground on long fence lines. See Heat Illness.
Before you drive
- Call 811 before you dig or drive posts, and wait for utilities to mark their lines. Keep clear of marks as required, since posts driven into the ground can still hit buried lines. Note private lines with a locator. See Private Utility Locating.
- Look up. Keep tall posts, drivers and masts at least 10 feet from overhead lines (more for higher voltage). Assign a spotter when raising anything tall.
- Read the manual and get trained. Check the driver’s weight, stroke, post sizes, fuel and hydraulic settings, and safety devices. Use only posts and attachments the driver is designed for.
- Inspect the tool: check the sleeve, handles, hammer or weight, hoses, fittings, fasteners and guards. Check for cracks and leaks. Take damaged tools out of service. See Tagging Out Damaged Tools.
- Prepare the post and the site: check the post for splits, nails and burrs, dig or auger a pilot hole if the soil is hard, and clear rocks, debris and trip hazards. Check for tree roots and rock that can cause kickback.
- Set up a work zone, and keep people, pets and equipment clear of the swing area and the post’s fall path.
- Wear PPE: hard hat, safety glasses or a face shield, hearing protection, gloves, steel-toe boots and long sleeves. See Hard Hats, Hearing Protection and Foot Protection.
Driving posts safely
- Use a stable platform. Work from the ground or a rated work platform. Don’t stand on truck beds, bucket edges, rails or unsteady ladders. For tall posts, use a post-driving rig or a platform designed for it. See Platform Ladders.
- Hold the post securely with a helper or a post holder, and keep hands off the top of the post when the driver is in use. Set the driver on the post squarely.
- Hand-held drivers: keep your hands on the handles, not between the weight and the post. Lift with your legs, use smooth strokes and don’t overreach. Don’t drop the weight with a hand under it.
- Powered drivers: start with the driver properly seated and pointed straight down. Don’t drive at an angle that can cause the tool to slip off the post. Keep your body out of the line of any bounce.
- Mounted drivers: park on firm, level ground, set outriggers or stabilizers, lower the mast and attachments when moving, and keep bystanders out. Keep hoses and cables protected. Never drive posts under overhead lines.
- Stop if the post splits, tilts or won’t drive. Don’t force it. Pull it and drill a pilot hole, or reposition.
- Take breaks and rotate tasks to reduce vibration and strain. See Musculoskeletal Disorders.
Maintenance and refueling
- Turn off the engine or disconnect power before cleaning or servicing, and relieve hydraulic pressure. See Lockout/Tagout.
- Let engines cool before refueling, use approved fuel cans and don’t smoke nearby. See Equipment Fueling.
- Lubricate and tighten parts as directed. Replace worn striker plates, sleeves, caps and hoses.
- Store drivers in a dry place, with weights lowered and locked, and out of the reach of children.
Post driver checklist
- 811 was called, and utilities are located; I checked for overhead lines
- The driver is the right size, inspected and in good condition; I have been trained
- I wear a hard hat, eye, hearing and foot protection, and gloves
- I work from a stable platform and keep hands clear of the weight and the post top
- Bystanders are kept out of the swing and fall zones; machines are on firm, level ground
- The tool is shut down and locked out before service; I take breaks to limit strain
Standards & references
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