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Safety – Init iative

03 Excavations March 2011

CONTENTS 1. Objective of the initiative 2. Overview. 3. Implementation 4. Planning 5. Support 6. Workplace Inspections 7. Access and Egress 8. Guarding. 9. Signage 10. Good Practice

1. Objective of the initiative To ensure that all employees and subcontractors are aware of the risks associated with working in and around excavations, and implement the necessary controls.

2. Overview. Almost all construction work involves some form of excavation, for foundations, drains, sewers, etc. These can vary greatly in depth and may only be a few centimeters deep or be very deep and very dangerous. Every year, on average, seven people are killed in excavations, some being actually buried alive, in collapsed tunnels and trenches. Many others are injured and there are hundreds of reportable accidents. A relatively small collapse might only involve about a cubic metre of soil, but a cubic metre weighs over a tonne. Deep trenches look dangerous; however, trenches less than 2.5 metres deep are where most related deaths occur, in fact, most accidents occur in ground conditions with no visible defects; the trench sides seem clean and self-supporting. Neither the shallowness of an excavation nor the appearance of the ground should be automatically taken as indications of safety.

3. Implementation All sites are to promote this initiative through a toolbox talk and display on the site health and safety notice board.

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4. Planning Pre planning is essential to identifying and controlling the risks. Plans/drawings should be checked for underground services. The area should be checked for overhead services and the ground should be scanned and trial holes dug. All services identified should be labeled and drawings should be updated to accurately reflect the location of the services identified. A permit to break ground will be required. The soil type should be checked to determine the method of excavating and the control methods to be selected and the possibility of contaminated soil. The traffic management plan needs to eliminate / reduce the requirement of plant and equipment travelling or being stored close to any planned excavations; also planning pedestrian routes around the site to avoid walking close to or crossing open excavations. Identify the depth of excavations and select the appropriate control measures e.g. battering, proprietary support systems, means of access and guarding methods to prevent persons, vehicle / equipment, or any accumulation of earth or other materials from falling into an open excavation. Identify if the conditions of the excavation may be indicative of a confined space or effected by local environmental conditions e.g. water courses. Produce emergency plan as necessary

5. Support Many deaths and serious injuries have resulted from the collapse of an unsupported excavation. These accidents could have been prevented if the sides had been supported, the type of support system must be selected or designed by a competent person remember

• There is no minimum depth at which an excavation must be supported, it depends on the type of ground

• The installation, modification and removal of any support system must only be carried out by persons who have been trained and are competent to do so; without putting the safety of these people at risk

• Generally, the longer that an unsupported excavation is open the more chance there is of it collapsing; ground that was previously stable can become waterlogged or dry out

• In some cases it will be possible to detect at an early stage that the sides of an excavation are becoming unstable.

• Risk assessments and method statements must be in place and briefed to the workforce prior to any works being carried out within any excavations

• Only authorised persons may be permitted to enter excavations.

6. Workplace Inspections The operations management team should ensure that inspections and examinations of excavations including methods of access are documented (HS&E-FRM-E02-04) and that the inspections are carried out as follows:

• Before work commences in an excavation • At the start of every shift by a competent person • After any event likely to have affected the strength or stability

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7. Access and Egress Access and egress must form part of the risk assessment with consideration for emergency situations. Staired access should be a priority where it is reasonably practicable to install. Where ladders are utilized ensure that they are close to the landing platform and extend one meter above the platform unless other hand holds are available. Be careful of slipping when using ladders in trenches, especially in wet and slippery conditions.

8. Guarding. Appropriate guarding should be applied around the perimeter of every excavation, guarding should be fixed and sturdy so that it prevents persons, equipment and materials from falling into the excavation; crowd barriers and netlon are not effective barriers for excavations or other working at height activities. Deep excavations should have fixed barriers, with a mid rail and netlon applied; access should be via gated or other suitable control methods. Shallow excavations should be enclosed in herras fencing. When excavations are not being worked in access should be prevented.

9. Signage Water and wastewater treatment works are regularly frequented by trespassers, such people are not as aware of the risks on site. Employers have a duty to ensure that all persons are given sufficient warning of the risks. Warning signage should be applied to all sides of excavation barriers, ensuring it is of suitable size and visible upon approach.

10. Good Practice

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Safety Initiative – 03 Excavations

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