Excavations Risks &

Safety
Safety Talk Presentation Mon Sep 06, 2010

Every year more than

1000
excavations
related accidents occur
in USA - out of which 75
are fatal.
The greatest risk in an
excavation is a cave-in.
Other Hazards related to Excavations are;
Water accumulation
Oxygen deficiency
Toxic fumes
Access/Egress
Falls
Mobile equipment

Injury and Death

Excavating is one of the most
hazardous construction
operations
Most accidents occur in trenches
5-15 feet deep
There is usually no warning
before a cave-in
Employees should be protected from

cave-ins by using an adequately

designed protective system

Protective systems must be

able to resist all expected loads to
the system
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Excavation Hazards
Cave-ins are the greatest risk
Other hazards include:
Asphyxiation due to lack of oxygen
Inhalation of toxic materials
Fire
Moving machinery near the edge of the
excavation can cause a collapse
Accidental severing of underground
utility lines

Protection from Vehicles

Install barricades
Hand/mechanical signals
Stop logs
Grade soil away from excavation
Fence or barricade trenches left
overnight

Design of Protective Systems

The employer shall select and construct
:
slopes and configurations of
sloping and benching systems
support systems, shield systems,
and other protective systems
Shield - can be permanent or
portable. Also known as trench box
or trench shield.
Shoring - such as metal hydraulic,
mechanical or timber shoring system
that supports the sides
Sloping - form sides of an excavation
that are inclined away from the
excavation
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Hazardous Conditions
The weight and vibrations
of the crane make this a
very hazardous condition.
They should not be
working under this crane.

Hazardous Atmosphere:
Test excavations more than 4 feet
before an employee enters the
excavation for:
Oxygen deficiency
High combustible gas
concentration
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High levels of other

Means of Egress & Access

A stairway, ladder, or ramp
must be present in excavations
that are 4 or more feet deep,
and within 25 feet of the
employees

This ladder does not meet the

requirements of the standard

The ladder should extend 3 feet

above the excavation

Competent Person
Must have had specific training in and be knowledgeable
about:
Soils classification
The use of protective systems
The requirements of the standard
Must be capable of identifying hazards, and authorized to
immediately eliminate hazards
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Excavation Guidelines
Note: These guidelines apply to Fertilizer Site, Raw Water Pumping Station, and Natural as
line, water lines (raw water and plant effluent) and power transmission lines owned and operated
by the company.
The following guidelines shall be adopted for excavations atFertilizer Complex.
1.

It shall be responsibility of the JOB EXECUTOR (Civil contractors and subcontractors or

area owners in certain cases) to have consent from plant/area owner, projects and
electrical on the prescribed format (Excavation Certificate) before the execution of Job.

2.

He shall make available drawings for the area to be excavated when taking consent of
electrical, Projects and Plant owners. Already available drawings / sketches with relevant
units / section to be utilized. In case a drawing / sketch is not available he shall make a
Hand sketch indicating some land marks of area and will mention clearly the extent of
excavation, showing area to be excavated and prominent landmarks.

3.

In case there are some underground cables exist, electrical and instrument shall clearly
mark or highlight the route of these cables. Same shall be applicable in case of
Underground piping; in that case marking shall be done by Projects and/or Area Owners.

4.

Plant area are defined, in case there is some confusion regarding UG piping services, this
may be checked with Projects (O&U)
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5. On the basis of area marked in the drawing, he shall have consent of electrical and area
Maintenance Engineers (In current situation, area maintenance engineers can also be
area/plant owners).
6.

Area/Plant owners shall also brief executor about any special hazards or potential hazards
with which he can come across during excavation. (e.g. shoring, contamination, what
precautions are necessary to avoid excavated material falling back and the walls of an
excavation collapsing.)

7.

Job executor shall cordon off the area with preferably hard barricades (if possible)
otherwise shall use warning tape for that purpose. Safety shall ensure the cordon-off area
before and during job execution.

8.

All those sections of certificates, which area owners think are not applicable, shall be
marked as N/A.