Safety Spotlight
Ground Protection impact how the equipment responds during operation.
Laydown or staging areas are used to establish a uniform surface for positioning materials prior to use. These areas are often subject to static loads over extended periods. In addition to supporting weight, they must allow for safe rigging and handling. In some cases, materials are elevated using cribbing to allow access for slings or rigging hardware.
Each of these applications introduces different loading conditions and operational requirements. Treating them the same often leads to performance issues or increased risk.
Selecting Ground Protection
Once the application, equipment and ground conditions are understood, the focus shifts to selecting site access mats that provide the required support for equipment, ground conditions and duration of the project.
For applications involving repeated traffic or longer durations, stability is critical. Access mats must remain in place and function as a continuous surface, minimizing movement and reducing the need for ongoing adjustment. Mats that connect to each other become an important consideration, which improves consistency and can reduce localized stress.
On uneven or variable terrain, the ability of mats to conform to the surface improves contact and minimizes scenarios where the mat is unsupported, and not in direct contact with the ground. This helps prevent localized failures. Mats help distribute loads, but they may not be able to compensate for all unknown subsurface conditions.
When working in ground that is water saturated such as marshes and swampy areas, selecting mats that connect and are buoyant is a critically important consideration. In many cases several layers of mats are required to provide the necessary support for equipment where there is little to no support from the ground. In these cases, creating a continuous interlocking surface is essential. Buoyancy helps provide additional support which prevents mats from getting stuck in the mud.
Traditional materials such as timber mats and steel plates are often used for site access. Timber can lack uniformity, resulting in
DICA is a provider of outrigger pads, crane pads and cribbing blocks for a range of applications.
inconsistent support. Steel plates can deform and do not transfer loads between plates, causing each piece to act independently. Engineered mats provide consistent and predictable performance.
Common Missteps
One of the most common misconceptions is that employing ground protection or site access mats automatically resolves ground-related challenges. In reality, effectiveness is limited by the conditions beneath them and how they function together as a system.
Access mats that are not connected may shift and will behave independently under load. This becomes particularly important with tracked equipment, where turning forces can cause individual mats to move or slide out of position if they are not connected.
Another common issue is assuming uniform conditions across a site. Ground conditions often vary, especially on construction sites where excavation and backfill create inconsistencies. Identifying these variations early and selecting the right products for each area is essential to avoid unexpected instability.
Handling and installation also present safety risks. Mats can be large, heavy and awkward to handle due to their size and shape. Improper lifting techniques, inadequate support during transport or unbalanced loads can lead to injuries. Proper equipment selection, controlled handling procedures and clear work zones are essential for safe installation and removal.
Integrating Lift Planning
Site access should be addressed as part of the overall lift planning process, not as an afterthought. Evaluating ground conditions, understanding equipment requirements and selecting appropriate site access mats before arriving on site allows crews to establish the conditions needed for safe operation. Industry guidance emphasizes the importance of firm, drained and level surfaces— conditions that often must be created rather than assumed.
Integrating site access into lift planning improves consistency, reduces uncertainty and helps maintain safe operating conditions from start to finish. Planning also requires situational awareness. Conditions may change over time and ongoing evaluation is necessary to ensure that the supporting surface continues to perform as expected throughout the duration of the job.
Safe crane operations depend on more than the crane itself. Cranes must be able to access the lifting area, must have a stable working area and be able to reach materials in a laydown yard. Defining how the site will be used is the first step in selecting the right site access mats based on how they will perform under real conditions.
Proper planning and informed decision-making improve stability, reduce risk and support safe, efficient operations across the jobsite.
Kris Koberg is the CEO of DICA, a provider of outrigger pads, crane pads and cribbing blocks.
14
June 2026 • www. cranehotline. com