HS-SWMS-003

PO Box 3226 Logan City DC, Qld, 4114

ABN: 21-627-796 435

Safe Work Method Statement: Trenching and Excavation

General Work Location: Logan City

Note: Specific work location to be detailed on JSEA

Note: Revision is required no later than 12 months from the most recent revision date

REV DATE DESCRIPTION Developed Checked Approved

2.0 11/07/2017 New Document Name: D.Ludlam S.Faber M.Goldsworthy
Name:
Name:
Name:

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Applicable OHS Legislation
Work Health & Safety Act, Qld 2011
Work Health & Safety Regulations, Qld 2011
Electrical Safety Act, Qld 2002
Electrical Safety Regulations, Qld 2013
Environmental Protection Act, Qld 1994
Environmental Protection Regulation, Qld 2008
Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act,
Qld 1995
Minimum Licence/Competency requirements for Task
Construction White Card / Blue Card
Traffic Management Design (TMD) Accreditation, where applicable
SWNELP (Safe Working Near Exposed Live Parts), where applicable
Excavation & Trenching Training (RTO)
Mobile plant operators must hold the relevant licence and verification of
competency (VOC)
Energex Authorised Person, where applicable
Applicable Hazard Control Standards for Task
The following directives, procedures, codes of practice and Australian
standards were reviewed in the development of this SWMS
Electrical Safety (Code of Practice), Qld 2013
Excavation Work (Code of Practice), Qld 2013
Trenching and Excavation Procedure (HS-PRO-003), Logan City Council
How to Manage Work, Health & Safety Risks (Code of Practice), Qld 2011
Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace (Code of Practice), Qld 2013
Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces (Code of Practice), Qld 2011
Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), Department Transport
and Main Roads, Qld
Construction and High Risk Work Directive (HS-DIR-002), Logan City Council
Traffic Management for Construction or Maintenance Work (Code of
Practice), Qld 2008
Working Near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines (Code of Practice),
Qld 2010

Preceding Works & Requirements

This section is to be used to specify any processes and/or standard requirements prior to conducting the activity and does not need to be repeated in the main body of the SWMS
All persons must report Fit for Work e.g. - Not affected by Drugs (includes prescription medication), Alcohol or Fatigue
A JSEA addressing the task and worksite hazards must be completed and signed by all personnel before work commences
Worksite traffic risks must be identified, assessed and controlled via JSEA or equivalent traffic guidance scheme
Emergency Plan – Detailed in JSEA, LCC Trenching and Excavation Permit (HS-FRM-003), and/or other applicable permits (Hot Work, Confined Space etc.)
A pre-start inspection must be completed on all items of mobile plant prior to first use each shift (log book) – All plant / equipment must be fit for purpose prior to use
Standard PPE to be worn for all steps included in this SWMS. This includes; hard hat / safety footwear / hi-vis long sleeve clothing (reflective for night works) / long pants / safety glasses / task suitable gloves
The following specialised equipment / emergency provisions must be readily accessible at the worksite prior to commencement:

• Dry chemical fire extinguisher (if applicable)
• Communication devices (Tablet, Phone, Radio
etc.).
Monitoring and Review of Risk Controls
• Pre-start meeting conducted with work crew
prior to commencement of each shift.
• Regular WHS Inspections & Safety
Conversations conducted by Line Management.
• Revision of SWMS upon change of legislation,
codes of practice, guidelines & standards.
• Atmospheric monitoring device, tested and within calibration (if • Barricades & signage.
applicable).
• First aid kit and minimum 1 trained first aider per 25 workers at the • Face Shield (Hydrovac Excavations).
worksite.
• JSEA prepared prior to commencement of task. JSEA reviewed daily by • Communication of relevant Safety Alerts from
work crew and immediately following any change impacting HSE. industry/LCC.
• SWMS reviewed on a minimum annual basis or
• Incident Reports (Intelex). following any material change to the task or risks.
• Hazard identification processes including Hazard reports and audits. • Personal Take 5 Assessments.

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 CONTROL MEASURES: Residual Risk
1: Eliminate Hazards, 2: Substitution (Use a less hazardous method), 3: Isolation (Isolate the worker from the Score RESPONSIBLE
ACTIVITY - JOB STEP HAZARDS RISK Hazard), 4: Engineering (Change the design of the workplace), 5: Administration (Signage, Training etc.), PERSON
6: PPE (Use as a last line of defence) C L RR

Pre Start Inexperienced Physical Injury • Workers performing trenching and excavation work shall be adequately trained
personnel and competent in trenching and excavation work. Supervisor,
1 Property Damage • Powered mobile plant operators must hold the relevant licence and verification 40 5 45 Ganger,
Labour Selection
of competency (VOC). Team Leader
• Authorised person available to act as spotter when working around power lines.
Pre Start Plant/equipment used Physical Injury • Selection of appropriate plant/equipment for task.
for task not suitable • Plant and equipment to be used in accordance with manufacturers
Fatality recommendations/specifications.
Select
Plant/Equipment for Lifting system collapse Property Damage • Earthmoving equipment used in crane mode (where the rated capacity exceeds
Task (loss of hydraulic 1 tonne) must be fitted with burst protection on critical hydraulic systems.
pressure) • Pre-Start of plant to be completed before operating.
Environmental Supervisor,
• Current test/tag for electrical powered tools.
2 Harm 40 5 45 Ganger,
• Electrical powered tools shall be Residual Current Device (RCD) protected. Team Leader
On site
• Defective plant/equipment to be tagged out of service and reported.
plant/equipment
• Servicing/maintenance of plant and equipment as per manufacturer’s
breakdown
specifications.
• Spills to be cleaned up and disposed of appropriately.
Loss of
fluids/hydrocarbons
Pre Start Contact with essential Physical Injury • Verify location of all underground services (dial before you dig and other relevant
services drawings).
Fatality • Trenching and Excavation Permit completed.
Identification of
Essential Services • If Dial before you Dig plans are unavailable, the presence of underground services Supervisor,
Property Damage shall be assumed and non-destructive digging such as hydro-vacuum shall be 40 Ganger,
3 5 45
Team Leader,
performed.
Fire/Explosion • Unless authorised by the asset owner, the minimum distance / exclusion zone All Workers
from overhead powerlines that shall apply is three (3) metres.
• Carry out hand excavation as necessary to locate services with approved non-
destructive means such as hydro-vacuum systems.
Preparation Contact with Physical Injury • All applicable permits must be completed and approved prior to entering
pedestrians/public excavation/trench.
vehicles Stuck by vehicle • Works to be barricaded as required.
Work Area
• Pedestrian thoroughfare to be delineated with appropriate signage.
Supervisor,
• Traffic control devices e.g. signage, protective barriers, traffic management plan
Ganger,
4 etc. to be in place where applicable. 40 5 45
Team Leader,
• Access and egress to work area/site for construction vehicles to be planned All Workers
where applicable.
• Vehicles and other plant to be parked in accordance with exclusion zones.
• Parking and material storage areas established well away from plant operating
zone.

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 Preparation Uneven ground Muscle • Demarcate safe area around work site (witches hats and signage etc.).
Hoses and equipment Strains/Sprains • Layout equipment and hoses to be used and eliminate trip hazards where Supervisor,
possible. Ganger,
5 Vacuum 40 5 45
Operations/Non- Traffic and pedestrian Slips/Trips/Falls • Position truck as close as is safe to the work area. Team Leader,
Destructive Digging interaction • Remove all trip hazards from the work area (where practical). All Workers
• Manual handling training provided.
Vacuum/Hand Stored Energy: Physical Injury • Face shield to be used during vacuum excavation.
Excavating - High pressure • Nozzle is to be nonconductive (neoprene rubber or equivalent) vacuum (suction)
water jet Strains/Sprains hose.
• Continually adjust lance angle to avoid excessive splash back.
Splash back in rocky Slips/Trips/Falls • Never aim lance at another person or yourself.
soil • Always point nozzle at the ground prior to activating.
Property Damage • Never use high pressure lance to wash down persons.
High pressure suction • Confirm pressure settings to avoid damage to coating of pipes and other
line: services.
- Kick back, Supervisor,
Allow the water pressure to dig the hole – DO NOT apply excessive force to
- Negative pressure Ganger,
6 push spear into ground. 40 5 45
Team Leader,
• Keep body clear of vacuum hose – DO NOT place hand over end to clear All Workers
Manual Handling
blockages.
• Turn off suction before attempting to clear blockages.
Excavation / hole:
- Saturated soil, • Engage correct manual handling techniques when moving equipment.
- Unstable ground • Position body to allow for unexpected movement.
• Stand on level ground where possible and remove any obstacles that could
create trip hazards.
Maintain good housekeeping standards.
• Monitor edge of excavation – water may have changed ground integrity /
stability, watch for surface cracking around edges of hole.
Operate Powerlines Physical Injury • Energex authorised person to monitor overhead power exclusion zones.
• Plant operator to maintain awareness of exclusion zones and breaches.
Excavate Plant collisions
Fatality • Flat edged buckets to be used on excavators where underground services are
present.
Property Damage • Powered mobile plant shall not operate near the edge of an excavation unless
Plant & Equipment the ground support system installed has been designed by a competent person.
falling into Hearing • Ground conditions to be assessed and monitored – work to immediately cease
excavation/trench impairment / Loss where there is an immediate risk of injury or plant damage. Supervisor,
of hearing • Reversing alarms/beacons activated on plant at all times. Ganger,
7 40 5 45
Team Leader,
Personnel struck by • Operators of mobile plant shall wear seatbelts at all times (where fitted).
All Workers
plant • High visibility (PPE) to be worn by all workers (reflective for night works).
• Minimum of one (1) metre exclusion zone from mobile plant.
Exposure to excessive • When persons other than the work crew immediately involved in the task require
noise entry into the exclusion zone of Powered Mobile Plant, the Plant Operator is to
acknowledge the entry and ensure all powered operable items are positioned
safely (Implement grounded and Plant isolated) prior to the persons
approaching the Plant.

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 • Personnel to wear hearing protection at all times while working within a 10m
radius of high-noise plant and equipment.
• Other high noise tasks to be identified and controlled via the JSEA process.
Operate Engulfment Physical Injury • Strictly no entry into any excavation greater than 1.5m deep unless one or more
of the following controls are implemented:
Fatality o Benching (Must not exceed 1.5 Metres).
Working in/near Falls
Trench/Excavation o Shoring; (Must extend 300mm above trench).
Trench collapse
o Battering (Must be less than 45 Degrees).
• Safe means of access/egress provided into all excavations (Ladders 4:1 ratio
Water inrush
where practical), Ladders to rise 1 metre above trench.
• Ladders shall be used for accessing excavations deeper than 1.5 metres.
Inadequate • Ladders used for access must be no more than nine (9) metres apart.
Access/egress • Ladders are to be secured against displacement.
Supervisor,
• Maintain three (3) points of contact when ascending/descending ladders. Ganger,
8 • Identify hazards that may create an unsafe atmosphere within the excavation 40 5 45
Team Leader,
Unsafe atmosphere/s (e.g. exhaust emitting plant, hazardous substances, welding, cutting etc.) – If All Workers
such hazards exist, confined space entry controls apply (including completion of
Confined Space Entry Permit).
• Pumps or other dewatering systems to remove water and prevent build-up (if
applicable).
• Continually assess ground conditions and stability – ensure mandatory JSEA
review following any changes (e.g. rainfall) and cease work if hazards exist.
• Ensure all stockpiles / spoil is kept a safe distance away from the excavation
and that it does not affect the safe working height of the excavation (1.5 metres).
• Pre-start check/continuous monitoring of atmospheric conditions (applicable if
deemed a confined space).
• Signage (deep excavation etc.).
Pack up / Leave site Unauthorised use of Physical Injury • Ensure all plant and equipment are secured at the end of each day.
plant and equipment • Ensure blades are on the ground prior to switching off plant.
• Open excavations shall be protected prior to leaving site with one or a
Poor housekeeping Environmental combination of the following methods – Backfill, Barricading (at least 900mm Supervisor,
Harm high), Signage, Penetration Covers, Warning Flags etc. Note: Barriers must be Ganger,
9 Open excavations suitably robust for excavations located in an area readily accessible by 40 5 45
Team Leader,
unauthorised people. All Workers
• All waste to be removed from site and disposed of correctly.
• All persons to be accounted for before leaving site.

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