COMPOSITE WORKS AT MANGLORE

FOR HPCL PROJECT

Project No. Rev. Page

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STANDARD OPERATIONG PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATION

STANDARD OPERATIONG PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATION

For
ALL TYPE OF FOUNDATIONS

0 30-09-2021 Issued for review

REV. DATE DESCRIPTION PREPARED BY CHECKED BY APPROVED BY PROJ. MANAGER
(Initials) (Initials) (Initials) (Initials)
DOCUMENT REVISIONS
Sections changed in last revision are identified by a line in the right margin
 COMPOSITE WORKS AT MANGLORE
FOR HPCL PROJECT

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STANDARD OPERATIONG PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT

2. DEFINITIONS

3. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

4. SAFETY IN EXCAVATION

5. EXCAVATION PROCESS

6. SCOPE OF PROCEDURE

7. TASK PLAN
 COMPOSITE WORKS AT MANGLORE
FOR HPCL PROJECT

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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 e x c a v a ti o n w i t h o u t u s i n g a n y p o w e r e d e q u i p m e n t o r
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.


 COMPOSITE WORKS AT MANGLORE
FOR HPCL PROJECT

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STANDARD OPERATIONG PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATION

3. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

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.
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.
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.

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 ensuring safety & integrity of the worksite.

Asset / Directorate HSE Teams

 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.
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STANDARD OPERATIONG PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATION

4. SAFETY IN EXCAVATION

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.

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
 Stability of adjacent structure.
 Position of any underground services (such as pipelines, cables, utilities)
 Sources of soil vibration
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STANDARD OPERATIONG PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATION

 Traffic condition on the adjacent road.

 Weather & soil moisture condition

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.

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.
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.
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FOR HPCL PROJECT

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STANDARD OPERATIONG PROCEDURE FOR 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.
5. EXCAVATION PROCESS

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.

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.

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.
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FOR HPCL PROJECT

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STANDARD OPERATIONG PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATION

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.

6. 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.
 COMPOSITE WORKS AT MANGLORE
FOR HPCL PROJECT

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STANDARD OPERATIONG PROCEDURE FOR EXCAVATION

7. TASK PLAN

RESPONSIBLE PARTY / Remarks/DWG

STEP TASK DESCRIPTION
EQUIPMENT no.
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 the
2
work.
Excavation in marked location and excavated soil to be loaded on
3 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.