DEVELOPMENT OF KG-DWN-98/2

FOR ONGC AT ODALAREVU

Project No. Rev. Page

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STANDARD OPERATIONG PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATION

STANDARD OPERATIONG PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATION

For
FLARE TRESTLE

0 20.10.2019 Issued for review

PREPARED BY CHECKED BY APPROVED BY PROJ. MANAGER
REV. DATE DESCRIPTION
(Initials) (Initials) (Initials) (Initials)
DOCUMENT REVISIONS
Sections changed in last revision are identified by a line in the right margin
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT .................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

2. DEFINITIONS .............................................................................................................................. 3
3. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES ............................................................................................................ 4
4. SAFETY IN EXCAVATION .......................................................................................................... 5
5. EQUIPMENT SPREAD ................................................................................................................ 9
6. TECHNICAL INFO ....................................................................................................................... 9
7. SCOPE OF PROCEDURE ........................................................................................................... 9
8. TASK PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 10
APPENDIX A .............................................................................................................................................
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STANDARD OPERATIONG PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATION

1. PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT

The purpose of this procedure is to establish the precautions and conditions considered
necessary for safety of the personnel involved in excavation work as well as integrity of above
/ underground services &/or facilities where such excavation work shall be carried out. The
procedure is also aimed to define the roles & responsibilities of personnel associated with
requesting, approving and carrying out excavation.

The procedure is applicable to all activities & facilities where excavation is carried out for
maintenance, construction or inspection need. It is to note that requirement of work
permit for excavation work shall be dealt in compliance with “Permit to Work Procedure”.
2. DEFINITIONS

Excavation: Excavation is a man-made cut, cavity, trench or depression in an earth surface

formed by earth removal.
Manual Excavation: The excavation without using any powered equipment or
excavating machinery such as backhoe, loader, Jack Hammer etc.
Mechanical Excavation: The excavation work using powered equipment or excavating
machinery such backhoe, loader, Jack Hammer etc.
Excavation Notification: Excavation Notification is a document to notify concerned authorities,
who have responsibility and jurisdiction for safety & integrity of aboveground and / or
underground services existing at the proposed site of excavation.
Metal Detector: It is a device to screen the excavation area to mitigate the risk of damaging
unknown pipelines, cables and utilities.
Cave - ins: It is collapse of the trench side walls due to weight of the adjacent soil. A
cave – in can drop several cubic meters of soils on trench worker.
Sloping: Sloping is angling the sides of an excavation to prevent cave – ins.
Benching: It is also one of the measures to prevent cave – ins by cutting trench
sidewalls to form one or more steps.
Shoring: Shoring involves the use of engineering structures (such as cross braces, vertical &
/ or horizontal rail, polling boards etc) to support a trench side walls.
Backfilling: It is an activity to fill-in (with soil) a trench that is no longer needed and returning
the area around its original condition.
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STANDARD OPERATIONG PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATION

3. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 Permit Applicant / Initiator of Excavation Notification:

 Initiate Excavation Notification informing concerned authorities, who have responsibility
and jurisdiction for safety & integrity of aboveground and / or underground services existing at the
proposed site of excavation.
 Enclose drawings & sketches (with the Excavation Notification) marking the proposed site of
excavation.
 Identify the above / underg round services (such as pipelines, cables, sewage, flume, tunnel etc)
before excavating the area without damage to those services.
 Ensure risk assessment and mitigation of potential hazards associated with proposed
excavation work.
 Conduct Job Safety Analysis prior to applying the appropriate work permit (Cold Work Permit for
Manual Excavation and Hot Work Permit for Mechanical Excavation) for carrying out excavation
work.

3.2 Asset Owners for Above / Underground Services

 The respective asset owner for aboveground / underground services will indicate (in the
Excavation Notification); the required precautionary measures to be taken preventing any
damage to those services at the proposed site of excavation.

3.3 Permit Issuer

 Ensure safety & integrity of the worksite prior to issuance of appropriate permits (Cold Work
Permit for Manual Excavation and Hot Work Permit for Mechanical Excavation) for safe work
execution.

3.4 Worksite Supervisor

 Must not excavate without a valid excavation notification & authorized work permit.
 Ensure safety & suitability of the equipment & materials to be used for excavation.
 Conduct Tool Box Talk briefing the workers on potential hazards and precautionary measures to
be taken during excavation activities.
 Verify the existence of above / underground services before excavating the area.
 Barricade the site of excavation along with the warning notice, signs and flashing lights to alert
the people approaching worksite.
 Check the excavation safeguards (such as shoring, sloping & supporting system) daily before
starting the job & after every rain storm or other hazardous occurrence.
 Fill the excavation checklist (enclosed at Appendix - 1) ensuring safety & integrity of the
worksite.

3.5 Asset / Directorate HSE Teams

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 Conduct periodical inspection of excavation site to assure the procedural compliance.

 Advise the Permit Applicant & Permit Issuer for corrective measures in case discrepancy
is noticed at the site of excavation.

4.0 Safety in Excavation

4.1 Hazards of Excavation: The following hazards may be encountered while

excavating or working inside a trench:
 Cave – ins or collapse of soil / earthwork
 Buried alive under earthwork / collapsed soil
 Underground obstruction or damage to buried pipelines & services
 Accidental fall of personnel or equipment inside a trench
 Struck / hit by excavating machinery
 Flammable & / or toxic gas release
 Fire & explosion
 Electrical shock due to contact with energized electrical / telecom cable.
 Drowning due to water seepage into trench
 Soil vibration due to machinery / heavy vehicles operations in the vicinity.
 Possible presence of explosive devices
 Lack of Oxygen or asphyxiation
 Damage to shallow underground services due to weight of heavy equipment such as mechanical
excavator.
 Observing wet soil (mixed with water) or reaching water table.
 Observing contaminated soil

 The above – mentioned list is not exhaustive and it is recommended to carry out a site specific
risk evaluation to identify additional hazards as well as to incorporate mitigation accordingly.

4.2 Control of Excavation Hazard

Excavation accident can only be prevented by identifying & controlling their inherent hazards by:
 Evaluating the site before and after excavation
 Site Specific Risk Assessment & Job Safety Analysis
 Approval and authorization through Excavation Notification & Work Permit
 Based on the site specific risk evaluation; it is advisable to develop an excavation plan addressing
the following aspects:
 Size and purpose of excavation
 Proposed excavation method (i.e. manual or mechanical)
 Nature of soil being excavated.
 Nature of soil surrounding the excavation
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 Stability of adjacent structure.

 Position of any underground services (such as pipelines, cables, utilities)
 Sources of soil vibration
 Traffic condition on the adjacent road.
 Weather & soil moisture condition

4.3 Excavation Notification & Work Permit

Excavation Notification & appropriate work permit(s) are essentially required for all excavation
work regardless of its depth. The following considerations shall be taken into account in this
regard:
a) Prior to raising an Excavation Notification, the proposed site of excavation must be
thoroughly inspected to assess any underground / aboveground obstructions such as
pipelines, cables, manholes, fire hydrants etc.
b) The excavation notification must accompany a clear drawing of the proposed
excavation site to help specifying precautions prior to its endorsement.
c) The excavation notification shall be endorsed by concerned authorities, who have
responsibility and jurisdiction for safety & integrity of above / underground services existing
at the proposed site of excavation.
d) The excavation notification has to be endorsed by Fire Team / Area Fire Station prior to
digging / excavating / cutting.
e) In addition to excavation notification, a hot work permit shall be required for any excavation
work involving mechanical excavator; whereas cold work permit is needed for manual
excavation.
f) The excavation notification as well as work permit must be cross referenced with the other
live permits & excavation activities in the vicinity of proposed excavation site.

4.4 Precautionary Measures for Excavation

The following precautionary measures must be taken to ensure safety of the personnel as
well as integrity of the worksite:
a) No excavation work area shall be taken without ensuring clearance for that location.
b) Ground conditions shall also be assessed to confirm additional protection for shallow
buried services prior to deploying any mechanical excavator at site.
c) Excavations adjacent to buildings or other obstructions may require temporary support, and
accordingly the relevant safety instruction must be stated in the Excavation Notification
before taking up excavation activity.
d) Any walkway across trench shall have scaffold type platform with handrails to protect
personnel from falling into it.
e) All trenches shall have barrier (such as fixed guardrails) and warning notices clearly
displayed. Flashing lights are mandatory during poor visibility.
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f) Excavated material shall be placed at a distance not less than 1m from the edge of the
excavation for depth up to 1.2 meter. Accordingly placement of excavated material shall be
increased proportion to the depth of excavation.
g) Heavy equipment, material or excavating machinery shall be kept clear from the excavation
area by at least 3 metres away.
h) The access to plant, equipment and emergency services must not be obstructed by the
trenches.
i) Personnel carrying out excavation work must use PPE.

4.5 Inspection of Trenches

To identify and control hazards a competent person must inspect all parts of a trench and its
safeguards every day in consideration to following issues:
a) All materials to be used in shoring & support must be inspected for its suitability
b) The timbering and shoring must be checked for any strain or slackness before
commencement of daily work. Moreover timbering and shoring must also be checked
carefully after heavy rains and or exposure to high temperature.
c) All excavations must be carefully inspected following heavy rains, collapse of trenches or fall
of equipment or materials inside.
d) If an unsafe condition is found or suspected, work in trenches must stop until the necessary
precautions have been taken to control the hazards.
4.6 Excavation Process:
4.6.1 Excavation in Good Soil
a) For excavations in good soil, shoring is not usually required, provided the excavations depth
does not exceed more than one metre
b) If the surface area permits, greater depth can be made by sloping the side down to an angle
of 45°.
c) If surface area is limited and needed excavation depth is more than one metre, then
polling boards must be placed approximately two metres apart with horizontal brace
(support), whereas horizontal brace should not be more than one metre apart.
d) Where a long trench is being made, the mechanical digging must be limited to
approximately two metres ahead of shoring to give a protected position.
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4.6.2 Excavation in Medium Soil

a) If the depth of the excavation exceeds one metre, shoring must be used. The polling
boards should be placed not more than 750mm (30") apart facing the wall, whereas
horizontal brace should not be more than one metre apart.
b) Extra polling boards should be inserted across if the condition of the ground
deteriorates.

4.6.3 Using Excavation Machinery

The use of excavating machinery (such as backhoe, hack hammer, loader etc) near above
/ Underground services will require a Hot Work Permit. The following precautions are to be taken
while using mechanical means of excavation:
a) Extreme care shall be taken to prevent any damage to above / underground services or power
lines while using mechanical excavators.
b) A mechanical excavator shall not be used until all underground obstructions have been
uncovered through manual excavation.
c) The machinery operator shall take extra care and follow banks man instruction while
reversing or turning the excavator to prevent any accidental strike to the workers or
equipment at location.
d) The bucket must always be lowered to the ground if the tractor is not in operation.
e) The machinery operator shall take necessary care to prevent exhaust gases entering the
nearby trench or pit, in case personnel are working inside it.

4.6.4 Prevention of Accidental Fall inside a Trench

Adequate fencing, barriers and warning notices are to be provided around any excavated area to
alert and prevent accidental fall into it. Posting flaggers and / or watchman will be required if the
trench is in a heavy traffic area. It is also recommended to illuminate the excavated area in the
night and provide flashing hazard light. Any person entering the barricaded area must follow
safety procedures to eliminate fall from height hazard in line with requirements.
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STANDARD OPERATIONG PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATION

5. EQUIPMENT SPREAD

ITEM CAPACITY
Excavator - 1 Nos Ex110
Tractor -1 nos 1 unit capable

6. TECHNICAL INFO

ITEM # ITEM DESCRIPTION DETAIL

1 Length of Footing AS PER DRAWING
2 Width of Footing AS PER DRAWING
3 Height of Footing AS PER DRAWING
3 No of Footings AS PER DRAWING

7. SCOPE OF PROCEDURE

Initial Status
 Markings as per drawings made.
Preparation Works

 All material and equipment are prepared for the operation.

 Tool box talk carried out and to be attended by all the crew and other involves parties
 Shifting of equipment’s and tools and tackles to work area.
Task Summary
 Movement of excavator to work location.
 Placement of excavator.
 Excavation in marked portion.
 Loading of excavated soil on to the tractor.
 Disposal of excavated soil.
Weather limitations

 No Work if it is raining.
 No work if excavated area is not fully visible.
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8. TASK PLAN

RESPONSIBLE
Remarks/DWG
STEP TASK DESCRIPTION PARTY /
no.
EQUIPMENT
Tool box talk prior to the work. Need to explain roles &
1 HSE
responsibilities of crew involved in operation.
Ensure the markings as per the drawings or not before start of
2
the work.
Excavation in marked location and excavated soil to be
3 loaded on to the tractor and same should be shifted to safe
place/ not in excavated area
Excavation to be as per pre-plan and sloping/ bench type
4
excavation to be done as per the site condition Site Engineer
After finishing of desired measurements need to check with
5
levelling instrument.
If dressing needed for inside excavated area to be done upon
6
checking the safe work conditions.
If the excavated footing area required shoring then need to be
7
arrange.