Outline control measures needed to ensure safety during excavation work on a construction site.
Hazards:
Collapse of sides.
Fall of a persons.
Material or vehicles into the excavation.
Weakening of adjacent structures.
Contact with buried services or contaminated soil.
Build of fumes.
Ingress of water and contact with mechanical plant.
Control measures:
Shoring, benching etc (support of sides).
Detection of services (e.g. from plans, use of cable /pipe detectors etc).
Storage of materials, equipments and spoil away from edge.
Means of preventing vehicles falling into the excavation or causing collapse (i.e. stop, blocks).
Means of preventing peoples falling in (guard rails, barriers, crossing points and covers).
Means of preventing collapse of adjacent structures.
Sage means of access & egress.
Testing for, and ventilation of, noxious fumes.
Pumping out water facility.
Procedures for working with mechanical plant.
General issues such as ‘IT IS’ & use of PPE protection against contaminants).