HSE Bulletin PETCHEM/HB/2019/06

23th Sep,2019

TRENCHING & EXCAVATION SAFETY

Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction operations. OSHA
defines an excavation as any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth’s
surface formed by earth removal.
Excavation work presents serious hazards to all workers involved. Cave-ins pose the greatest
risk and are more likely than some other excavation-related incidents to result in worker
fatalities.
Soil Classification Categories
Soil can be classified as ■ Type C soil: Cohesive soil with an
■ Stable rock: Natural solid mineral matter unconfined compressive strength of 0.5 tsf (48
that can be excavated with vertical sides and kPa) or less, granular soils (including gravel,
remain intact while exposed. sand, and loamy sand), submerged soil or soil
■ Type A soil: Cohesive soils with an from which water is freely seeping,
unconfined compressive strength of 1.5 tsf Soil Resistance Resistance Force Slope
(144 kPa) or greater. Type (kg/cm2) (tsf) (kPa) angle
Examples include: clay, silty clay, sandy clay, A 1.61 1.5 144 53 deg
and clay loam.
B 0.53 0.5 48 45 deg
■ Type B soil: Includes cohesive soil with an
unconfined compressive strength greater than C < 0.53 < 0.5 <48 34 deg

0.5tsf but less than 1.5tsf and granular

cohesionless soils (like silt loam, sandy loam)
Protective System

In order to protect workers from cave-ins,

employers have to ensure:
Sloping (3/4):1 Sloping 1:1 Sloping 1(1/2):1
■ Sloping and benching the sides of the
excavation;
■ Supporting the sides of the excavation; or
■ Placing a shield between the side of the
excavation and the work area.
Trench Shields

Application of Geo-technical Data for Excavation in Petrochemical

 Based Upon the Geotechnical Report; In DFCU area at SCPT-11 the first section of 0.6 m
depth excavation is consist with fill up material which could be consider as class B-C soil; so
a slope angle of 53 degrees is advisable. From 0.6 m to 5-7 m depth the material is consider
class A with more than 35 kg/cm2 ( Class A Soil 1.61 Kg/cm2). In this type of soil straight
angles could be used without a problem and the soils is consider very stable.
 HSE Bulletin PETCHEM/HB/2019/04
28h May,2019

Geo-technical Data Results for DFCU area

Excavation Work Flow

1. Check Geotechnical Report of the petrochemical project by area.

2. Identifying the soil class present at different depth.
3. Check whether soil was previously been disturbed or subjected to vibration.
4. Determine excavation Implementation in accordance with the soil type.
5. Excavation more than 1.2 m consider as Confined Space.
6. Egress and Access must be provided every 15 m.
7. Material must be placed away 1.5 m from the edge.
8. Barrier or barricade must be provided.
9. Check soil conditions after raining.

Note: Refer HMEL Excavation procedure 9111-000-HSE-006-00010 and ensure the

requirements are in place