The document outlines essential health and safety training related to excavations, including definitions, hazards, planning, and protection measures for workers. Key topics include risks of collapse, protective systems, and the importance of proper access and egress for worker safety. It emphasizes the need for hazard assessments, proper identification of underground services, and adherence to safety protocols to prevent accidents.

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ARCHIRODON
GROUP NV
Health & Safety
Training

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Introduction of Trainer
Evacuation of the Training Room
Welfare Facilities
Mobile Phones
No Smoking / Breaks

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Excavation

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Excavation-Definition
"Excavation / Trench" is any:
1.Man-made cut,
2.Cavity,
3.Depression in an earth
surface,
formed by earth
removal and producing
unsupported earth
conditions by reason of
the excavation

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• Trench – a narrow excavation. The depth is
greater than the width, but not wider than 5
meters (15 feet).
• Shield - a structure able to withstand a cave-in
and protect employees
• Shoring - a structure that supports the sides of
an excavation and protects against cave-ins
• Sloping - a technique that employs a specific
angle of incline on the sides of the excavation.
The angle varies based on assessment of
impacting site factors.
Other Definitions

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Collapse of the sides of the excavation
Contact with underground services
Falls of people or vehicles into excavation
Equipment or materials falling onto people within
excavations
Inert, Toxic or flammable vapours in excavation
Water inside the excavation
People being struck by machines
Access and egress to excavation
Vibration or Traffic close to the excavation
Collapse of adjacent structures
Excavation Hazards

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The likelihood of the sides of
an excavation collapsing is
dependent upon the
characteristics of the soil or
rock
The following factors
increase the risk of collapse
of excavation sides:
Excavation Collapse

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Spoil Pile Slide
The Problem The Outcome
Excavation Collapse

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Belly Slough (Slip Circle Failure)
Vibrations
The Problem The Outcome
Excavation Collapse

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Lip Slide
The Problem The Outcome
Excavation Collapse

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Loose, un-compacted, granular soils, i.e. sand
or gravel, or mixtures containing them
Excavations through different strata
The presence of groundwater, and the effect on
the excavation sides from surface water running
into the excavation
Made-up ground
Proximity to earlier excavations
Loose blocks of fractured rock
Excavation Collapse Factors

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Weathering
Vibration from plant, equipment, road or rail
traffic
Surcharging by spoil, stored materials or plant
including vehicles
Proximity of loaded foundations
Damage to the support system by personnel, or
when materials are lowered into the excavation
Excavation Collapse Factors

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A well-planned excavation
shall consider:
the type of Soil
any underground / above ground
utilities
any side protections needed
the correct design of protections
(sloping, benching, etc.)
attention to correct installation
and removal of the protection
Excavation Planning

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safe entrance / egress to the
excavation pit
appropriate handling of materials
and equipment
control of interferences with
machine / vehicles / people /
adjacent structures
proper area signage and
segregation (barricates)
Excavation Planning

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This excavation
has inadequate
support posts and
egress access
Inadequate protective system
Cave-in Hazard

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Protection of Employees
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
Excavation Protection

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A well-designed protective system
 Correct design of sloping and benching systems
 Correct design of support systems, shield systems, and
other protective systems
Plus
Appropriate handling of materials and equipment
Attention to correct installation and removal
Equals to
Protection of employees at excavations
Protective Systems

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Inadequate Protective System
with no protective
system,
that is not sloped
or benched and,
has no means of
easy and
immediate egress
Protective Systems
The worker in the picture is in a trench
deeper than 1.5 meters

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The construction department 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
Design of Protective Systems

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Some of the factors that should be taken into
account when designing a protective system:
Soil classification
Depth of cut
Water content of soil
Changes due to
weather and climate
Other operations in
the vicinity
Design of Protective Systems

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The most common
protective system
for excavations is
the use of timber
or metal sheeting
braced by timber
or steel struts
Design of Protective Systems

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Design of Protective Systems

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h h
h1
h1
h1 h1
h1
h1 < 1.0 m
Stepping
(Benching
)
Sloping
1
1
Excavated soil
Alternative systems to support the sides of an
excavation is the sloping or stepping of the sides of the
excavation. It depends from several factors, as the
depth and the dimension of the excavation
Design of Protective Systems

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Methods of support can be:
• Battering back sides of excavation to suitable angle.
• Timber framing.
• Trench box.
• Drag box.
• Slide Rail System.
• Vertical Shore.
• Waler Frames.
• Light Duty Bracing.
• Heavy Duty Bracing.
• Hydraulic / Mechanical
Struts.
Design of Protective Systems

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Underground Hazards
Underground services may include
Pipelines (water,
natural gas, fuel oil,
etc.)
sewers, drains
cables (electrical,
telecommunication,
etc.)

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Power Cable damaged
during mechanical
excavation
Underground Hazards

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Underground Hazards
An operator was using a post hole
digger to excavate without calling the local
authorities to locate the underground
utilities and obtain the necessary permit.
While excavating he hit an underground,
high-pressure cross country gas pipe,
causing an explosion.
Incident

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Excavation area
Nearby houses

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They never did
find the operator…
Took out 2
homes…

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Before starting an excavation the following steps must
be taken:
1. identify ALL underground services based on valid
and updated drawings
2. service-locating devices should be used to assist for
the exact identification of the position of the
underground services
3. identified underground services must be isolated and
de-energized where reasonably practicable
4. a Permit To Work must be prepared and issued for
the specific excavation
5. exploration trenching
Underground Hazards

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Aboveground Hazards
Similar with the underground hazards, aboveground
hazards should be identified and controlled (eliminated
or minimized)
Such hazards can be the
aboveground power cables
which are usually Medium
and High Voltage (can reach
up to 400,000 volts)
These hazards and the
precautions taken must be
described in the Permit To
Work, as well

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People falling into excavations is the cause of
many injuries.
All excavations must be securely fenced with a
guards, intermediate rails, toe boards,
barricades, etc.
Falling Hazards
Proper warning signs must
be placed around the
excavation area to warn all
pedestrians, vehicle driver’s
and equipment operators

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Crossing over a
trench can be
dangerous. Where
necessary access-
ways of at least
600 mm width,
with edge
protection, should
be provided.
Falling Hazards

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Falling Hazards
×

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4
0
Falls of Equipment and Materials
To prevent equipment and
materials from falling into
excavations, adequate systems
and precautions should be taken:
Traffic Control. Movement of
equipment should be away from
excavation areas
Barricades properly lit during
nights
Hand/mechanical signals/Flags
Grade soil away from excavation
Falling Hazards

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The weight and vibrations
of the vehicles and
equipment can seriously
affect the excavation
stability causing collapsing
of the slops
Falling Hazards

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Where people have to enter excavations to
carry out work consideration should be given to
the potential presence, within excavations, of
fumes, which can cause asphyxiation and/or
poisoning.
Work in excavations should be treated as work
in a confined space and the precautions
defined in confined space Safety Practice should
be complied with, where applicable.
Atmosphere Hazards

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 Oxygen deficiency
 High combustible gas
concentration (i.e. HC, etc.)
 High levels of other hazardous
substances (i.e. H2S, CO, etc.)
Test excavations more than 1.2m before
an employee enters the excavation for:
Atmosphere Hazards
If any of above elements is
present, then proper
precautions should be taken
(that may include ventilation,
etc.)

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There are occasions when excavation plant
(e.g. diggers /backhoes) and lifting equipment
has to be used. Such equipment can create:
additional risks from surcharging ,
damage to the supporting structure
injuries to people within the excavation
being struck by the excavating equipment or the
load being lifted over the excavation area
Struck-by Hazards

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The planning of such work should identify
where the plant is to be located to minimise:
the risk of surcharging
the risk of falling into the excavation especially
if the sides of the excavation collapse under the
weight of the plant and equipment
Struck-by Hazards

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Safe and proper-made means to enter and exit
from excavations must always be provided
before people enter the area and commence any
activities.
Supporting Structures for the excavation must
never be used as means of entry and egress
Access and Egress
Consideration must also be given on how an
injured person, who is unable to use the means
of access, will be removed from the excavation
in an emergency case

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Access and Egress

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Means of Access & Egress that can be provided:
Cerified Ladders
Ramps
Stairs
Certified scaffolding
Some of the rules that must be followed when setting
the means of access & egress
height to base ratio of 4:1
be securely lashed
maintain three-point contact
means of getting tools and equipment into and out of
the excavation
Access and Egress

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Access and Egress
×

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Water = Cave-in Hazard
These workers must be protected from cave-in. Note the water in the
bottom of the trench. This is an hazardous condition!
DO
NOT
ENTER !!!
Water Accumulation Hazard

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Whenever an excavation is
to be carried out close to:
services
existing buildings
structures and scaffolding,
care should be taken to
ensure that the services or
foundations are not
disturbed or undermined.
Collapse of Adjacent Structures

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Hazard assessment of the work site completed
by competent person.
A Permit To Work must be issued before the
commencement of any work
All underground hazards, eg. pipelines, electric
cables, etc. must be identified, isolated and
protected. Lockout – Tagout process must be
implemented. Special remark should be made in
the PTW
Safety Tips - Summary

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A confined space PTW must be issued if the
entry meets the definition
Adequate precautions should be taken to
ensure safety of the people working in and
adjacent to the excavation
Ground movement must be controlled and
collapse prevented by systematically shoring,
sloping, benching etc. as appropriate
Adequate access and egress structures must
be in place
Safety Tips - Summary

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Interference beetween workers and machines
shall be minimised, as well the precense of
workers inside the excavation
Excavation shall be barricated, materials shall
be stocked away from the edge, proper
access/egress to be ensured
Ground and environment conditions must be
continuously monitored for change
Protected sharp steel bar ends
Safety Tips - Summary

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FOLLOW ALL
SAFETY RULES
AND
PRECAUTIONS
IF YOU WANT TO
AVOID…

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RESTRICTED AREAS – DANGER DO NOT ENTER
!!!
REMIND THAT EXCAVATIONS ARE
……

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REMEMBER…
We want YOU to return
home SAFE!!!