Safe

Excavation
HSE TECHNICAL OVERVIEW

Version 1, 25-OCT-2021
 Hazards in Excavation

• Improper Access
• Soil Collapse
• People and vehicles falling into the excavation
• Materials falling onto people working in the excavation
• Use of transport
• Flooding Undermining nearby structures;
• Underground and overhead services; and
• The inflow of ground and surface water.
• Buried services
 Barrication

• Hard barrication or soft

barrication should be
provided at a distance of 2
m from the excavation pit.
 Access and Egress

• Ladders should be placed

for normal operations for
every 30 ft. length of
excavation, and 15 m for
hazardous operations.
 Slope

• Sloping has to be provided

depending on the type of
soil.
 Benching

• Sloping has to be
provided depending
on the type of soil.
 Shoring

• Shoring must be done to protect the side of an excavated

trench against collapse. If sloping and benching is not
practicable
 Shielding

• Shielding systems include trench boxes,

steel plates, and/or combination of
protective systems.
• Shielding does not protect against soil
failures.
• They are intended to protect workers,
not support the excavation.
 Trench box

• Based on the soil condition,

the trench box has to be
placed based on the size of
the trench, as in the vertical
sides should extend 30 cm
above the pit.
 Overhead and Ground Clearance

• During excavation, maintain

a safe distance from utilities
located above and below
the site.
Overhead Clearance from Power Line
Overhead Clearance from Power Line
 Underground Utilities

• Underground utilities such

as pipeline, electrical cables,
gas lines etc. shall be
located and protected
during the excavation. As a
preventive measure,
consider taking an
excavation permit.
 Workplace Environment

• Ensure that dewatering is

done, illumination is
sufficient, and ventilation is
provided during the
excavation.
 Adjacent Structure Stability

• Ensure structure stability by

providing the shoring or
bracing until the trench or
excavation pit remains
open.
 Storage of Excavated Soil

• Stacking material should be

done away from the edge of
the excavation by 1/3rd of
final depth or as per design,
or 1 m in special cases.
Shoring should be designed
for additional load. Toe
boards should be provided
to prevent roll back.
 Traffic Control

• For traffic control, one

signal man, informatory
signage boards with
adequate lighting, and
danger lights at night should
be maintained.
 Competent Person

• Only competent persons

should perform the
excavation task.
 Certified Equipment

• Equipment should be
certified as fit for work
before start of activity.
 Permit-to-Work

• Don’t start excavation

without the relevant
permits and excavation
authorization.
 Confirmation of Underground Utilities

• Don’t excavate without

clarifying position of
underground pipelines and
cables.
 Storage of Soil Close to Edge

• Don’t dump the excavated

soil within 1.5m or half the
depth of pit from the edge
of the pit.
 Unauthorized Person

• Don’t allow unauthorized

persons to wander near the
excavated area.
 Personnel and Vehicular Movement

• Don’t allow
personnel/vehicular
movement around the area.
 Without Access and Egress

• Don’t start work without

providing ladders and
access points.
Depth of Excavation Adjacent to Structure

• No excavation should be
permitted below the level of
a building.
 Horseplay

• Don’t indulge in horseplay

while shifting material.
Provide hard barrication
wherever possible.
 Avoid Manual Handling of Soil

• If possible, avoid manual

handling of excavated earth
from mounts. It should be
removed by mechanical
means.
 Operation of Construction Equipment

• Never operate construction

equipment within 1 m from
the edge of the excavation
due to falling of load by
weight of soil pile, weight of
nearby structures, weight of
personnel, and equipment
and vibrations.
Thanks!