EXCAVATION SAFETY

EXCAVATION SAFETY
INTRODUCTION
 Excavation is always important part of the
construction works and mining, i. e,
excavation of building and bridge
foundations, trenching for buried pipelines
and electrical poles, tunneling, etc.
 Strategic plan should be tabled &
implemented while engage for this work.
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
 Accident due to cave-in occurs for
excavations that are not shared or otherwise
supported. Even rock that looks solid from a
cursory inspection can collapse without
warning. The sides of an excavation may
need to be suitably shored, benched or
sloped back to a safe angle of repose, depth
and soil classification. (to see cave-in
illustration Go to APPENDIX “V-1”)
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
 Other types of excavation accident are
caused by contact with above and
underground pipes and cables, by falls of
equipment and person, by persons being
struck by excavating equipment, and by
hazardous atmosphere. (To see contact with
cable illustration Go to APPENDIX “V-2”)
 EXCAVATION SAFETY

TERMINOLOGIES
 EXCAVATION:
– any man-made cavity or depression in the
earth’s surface, including its sides, walls, or
faces, formed by earth removal and
producing unsupported earth conditions by
reason of the excavation.
 EXCAVATION SAFETY

 TRENCH EXCAVATION:
– a narrow excavation made below the
surface of the ground. In general, the depth
is greater than the width, but the width of a
trench is not greater than 4.5 M (15 ft)
 EXCAVATION SAFETY

 PROTECTIVE SYSTEM:
– Methods used to protect employees from
cave-ins, from materials that could fall or
roll the excavation onto the workers or from
collapse of adjacent structures. Protective
systems include supports, sloping and
benching, shields and other means to protect
workers.
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
 SHORING:
– hydraulic, timber or mechanical systems
that support the sides of an excavation
designed to prevent cave-ins.
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
 HYDRAULIC SHORING:
– a pre- engineered support system of
aluminum hydraulic cylinders (cross-
braced) used with vertical rods (uprights) or
horizontal rods designed specifically to
support side walls of an excavation to
prevent cave-in.
 HYDRAULIC SHORING
 Vertical aluminum hydraulic shoring in a
trench dug in soil Type B. The vertical
shores and 2 inch diameter cylinders are
placed 5.5 o.c. horizontally and 4 feet o.c.
vertically. Plywood is used behind the
shores to prevent local raveling between
shores.

TIMBER SHORING
This illustrates timber shoring in a trench approximately
13 feet deep and 5 feet wide in Type B soil. Using OSHA
specifications described in Table 4, the 6 x 6 cross braces
have been placed at 6 feet horizontally and 5 feet
vertically; the 8 x 8 wales are positioned at five feet
vertically; and the 2 x 6 uprights are placed every two feet.
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
 BENCHING:
- a method of protecting employees from
cave-ins by excavating the sides of an
excavation to form one or more series of
horizontal steps, with rise between steps.
 BENCH EXCAVATION
 Benched excavation in Type A soil with a
maximum slope of 3/4H:1V.
 BENCH EXCAVATION
 Multiple benched excavation in Type B
soil with a slope of 1H:1V. This bench
allowed in cohesive soil only.
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 SLOPING:
– method of excavating in which the sides
of an excavation are laid to a safe angle to
prevent cave-ins.
 SLOPE EXCAVATION

 Simple slope of 1-1/2H to 1V; Suitable for

all soil types in excavation less than 20
feet in depth
 SLOPE EXCAVATION

 Simple slope excavation in Type A soil

with a 3/4H:1V
 SLOPE EXCAVATION

 Simple slope excavation in Type B soil

with a 1H:1V slope
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GENERAL REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO
EXCAVATION
 Carry out joint site safety inspection with
client/ owner, consultant & company
representatives.
 Identify & locate underground facilities /
utilities, i.e. water / oil / gas pipelines,
electric power lines, telephone lines,
sanitary sewer lines.
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
(Gen. requirements. Contd.)
 Excavation Plan

 Verify existing utilities

 Refer to as built plans

 Emergency Plan

 Public safety
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
(Gen. requirements. Contd.)
 Proximity of adjacent structures

 Weather & moisture conditions

 Sources of the vibrations

 Adjacent road footpaths

 Methods of excavation

 Other possible considerations

 EXCAVATION SAFETY
SOIL TESTING
 Soil testing shall be done by accredited Soil
Testing Firm for the following reasons:
 soil type
 pre-planning
 type of sloping / shoring required
 Compilation of Test Certificate
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
SOIL TYPE
 Type A:

- cohesive soil with an unconfined

compressive strength of 1.5 tons per square
foot (TSF)… Clay / Clay Loam / Cemented
soil.
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
 Type B:
- cohesive soil with an unconfined
compressive strength greater than 0.5 TSF
but less than 1.5 TSP. Granular Cohesion
less Soils including angular gravel (similar
to crush rock) Silt, Silt Loam, Sandy Loam.
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
 Type C:
- cohesive soil with unconfined
compression strength of 0.5 TSF or less…
Granular Soils including Gravel, Sand &
Loamy sand.
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SLOPES:
Soil / Rock Ratio
Slope
Type (Deg)
 Stable Rock Vertical 90°
 Type A ¾: 1 53°
 Type B 1:1 45°
 Type C 1 ½: 1 34°
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
METHODS OF EXCAVATION
PROTECTION:
 Sloping – please see table for maximum allowable slopes
 Benching

 Shoring / Timbering

 Sheet Piles

 Concrete Piles

 Micro piles

 Diaphragm
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
STANDARD PRACTICES
 The walls of every excavation over 1 M (3
ft) deep shall be supported by adequate
shoring and timbering to prevent collapse
that shall not apply to an excavation:
– in which worker is not required to enter for any
purpose.
– cut in solid rock.
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
 The walls are sloped to 45 degrees angle
from the vertical or cut to the angle of
repose.
 In which a worker is engaged in timbering
or other work for the purpose of compliance
with this Rule if precautions are taken to
ensure his safety.
 Shoring or timbering in excavation over 6.6
M (20 ft) deep and those installed to prevent
the movement, collapse of an adjacent
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
 If excavation remains open for a certain
(long) period, barricade and warning
signs are necessary to inform and to warn
passersby also, provision of working
lights and flasher lights at night are
required.
 The top of the walls of an excavation
more than 2 M (6 ft) deep shall be
barricaded to a height at least 1 M (3 Ft.)
to prevent the fall of workers.
 Excavated materials shall be impounded
at least 1 M. away from the edge of the
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
 Excavation or trench more than 4 Ft. in
depth shall be provided with ladders to
facilitate safe entrance & exit. The ladder
shall extend from the bottom of the
trench to at least 3 Ft. above the ground
surface for every 50 Ft. in length.
 Keep excavation area free of water.
 Whenever excavation is near to any
structure, it is mandatory to provide
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
 Tools and materials shall be kept a
minimum of 1-M. (3-Ft.) away from the
edge of the excavation to prevent there
knocked down into the excavation.
 No vehicle or other machinery shall be
driven operated or located near the edge of
an excavation at least a distance 1/3 of its
depth.
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
CONTRIBUTARY FACTORS IN
EXCAVATION COLLAPSE:

 Water (i.e., rain, natural ground water, near

the water sources)
 Improper sloping technique.
 Improper impoundment of excavated soil.
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
(CONTRIBUTARY FACTORS contd.)
 Wrong parking of heavy equipment,
machines & vehicles.
 Improper barricade, light, sign, etc.

 No regular monitoring or inspection.

 No adequate training.
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
EQUIPMENT & HANDTOOLS
EQUIPMENT:
– Backhoe
– Bulldozer
– Wheel Loader
– Grader
– Rock Breaker
 EXCAVATION SAFETY
HANDTOOLS:
– Shovel
– Pick axe
– Pneumatic hammer
– Etc.
BACKHOE HEAVY EQUIPMENT
PNEUMATIC HAMMER
MOBILE CRANE-Telescopic
 HEAVY
EQUIPMENTS
TYPICAL EXCAVATION SITE
CONTACT WITH CABLE WIRE
The End