One will usually wonder why excavation projects require all that permit, professional teams, auditors and council visits. Here are some of the things that help uncover the complexities of excavation.

1. Excavating Practices You
Should Know
CLASSIC HIRE
Address: 421 Carrington Street Hamilton Hill WA 6163
Contact Number: (08) 9336 2500
E-mail: hamilton@classichire.net.au

2. One will usually wonder why excavation projects require all that permit,
professional teams, auditors and council visits. Here are some of the things
that help uncover the complexities of excavation.
Risk Management and PCBU
As with all high-risk projects, a point
person with license, experience and
knowledge must plan and lead the
execution into safety. This role is given to
the person conducting a business or
undertaking (PCBU) where he is in charge
of managing risks associated with all
kinds of excavations, regardless of the
depth, at the worksite. One of the
documents he should prepare is the Safe
Work Method Statement.
SWMS
Before the actual work, the planning should
include preparation of Safe Work Method
Statement (SWMS). Any construction work,
including work connected with an excavation,
that is carried out in or near a shaft or trench
with an excavated depth of greater than 1.5- 2
metres, or a tunnel, is considered to be ‘high risk
construction work’.

3. Underground Essential Services
Another job of the PCBU is to take all
rational steps to obtain current or
underground essential services
information relating to the part of the
workplace where the excavation will
commence. This information must be
provided to any person engaged to
carry out excavation work.
Underground essential services
information tackle the piping,
sewerage and other possible
obstruction affected in the
excavation.
Earthmoving machinery
There are three kinds of acceptable excavation methods: trenching,
tunneling and shafts. To do this effectively, excavators, bulldozers and
scrapers are employed for the job. It is crucial for excavation projects to
work with powered mobile
plant, including Earthmoving
machinery depending on the
qualifications of the site being
accessed. Included in the
safety mechanisms for powered
mobile plant are access and
restrictions, overhead and
underground hazards, ground
condition, type and depth of
excavation, the volume of
material to be excavated and
transported, located or stored.
Excavation is a serious job and its practices are governed by strict work
safety rules that make the job a little more tedious than it already is.
Following these steps is important for successful and legal undertaking.

4. Resources:
http://www.classichire.net.au/equipment/earthmovers-and-trenchers/mini-
excavators/
http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/19572/exca
vation-work-code-practice-3840.pdf
http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/uploaded_files/FSCoPExcavationWork.pdf