EXCAVATIONS SHORING AND PROTECTION PROCEDURES

Introduction
Making excavations can involve various hazards. Many people are killed or seriously injury
when working in excavations. So proper work planning and complying with established safety
rules during performance of the work are essential to prevent accidents.
This guideline provides general advice in excavation work. Detailed guidance for excavation
securing methods are out of this document; reference is to be made to established safety
standards

Hazards Associated with the Works

Hazards in excavation works often can include (as applicable):

1) Hazards through structural collapse of the excavation
2) People, vehicles and materials falling into excavations
3) Collapse of or damage to nearby structures
4) Hazards through contact with underground services (pipelines, cables, etc.)
5) Hazardous atmospheric conditions (explosive or toxic vapours, oxygen defiance)
6) Hazards associated with the use of equipment such as shovels, picks, machinery, etc. (e.g.
people being struck by plant).
7) Occupational health hazards associated with noise and vibrations

General HSE Management Controls

Equipment Safety Features

1. All equipment used in excavation works has to meet proper industry standards and has to
be in a safe and sound condition.

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2. Work planning, also when using machines and operations, inspections shall ensure that
equipment meets and maintains the required safety standards.

Accident Prevention Rules

1. The accident prevention rules applicable for the operations shall be identified, reviewed,
implemented and handed over to the employees concerned.

Work Instructions

1. Work instructions should be used to support safety during the works as ordered by the
supervisor in charge of the operations.

Personnel Competence

1. All supervisors and employees engaged in the operations shall provide the necessary
vocational qualifications and certifications required for their job.

2. All employees involved shall be adequately instructed on the necessary safety rules and
precautions to be taken prior to start of the works.

PPE and Work Clothing

Supervision shall ensure that employees engaged in the works are provided with and wear /
use the proper PPE and work clothing as required for their specific task.

Planning of Works and Preparations

1. Before digging any excavations, it is important to plan against the following:

 collapse of the sides
 materials falling onto people working in excavations
 people and vehicles falling into the excavation
 people being struck by plant
 undermining nearby structures
 contact with underground services (pipelines, cables, etc.)
 access to the excavation
 fumes

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  Accidents to members of the public.

2. Personnel in supervisory function shall ensure that possible hazards have been identified
and safety procedures and safe practice rules are adequately considered.

3. All personnel involved shall be adequately instructed on the necessary safety rules and
precautions prior to start of the works.

4. The necessary equipment needed such as trench sheets props, balks, etc. shall be
available on site before work starts.

Supervision

1. A competent person must supervise the installation, alteration or removal of excavation

support.

2. A competent person must check / inspect excavations:

a. at the start of each shift before works begin;

b. after any event likely to have affected the strength or stability of the excavation;
c. After any accidental fall of rock, sand, earth or other material.
d. During and after period of rain

A written report should be made after most inspections. Stop works if the inspection shows the
excavation to be unsafe.

Safe Working Procedures and Practices

The following are general aspects of safe working procedures and practices that should be
observed and followed in excavation works.

To prevent People, Vehicles and Materials falling into Excavations

1. Take steps to prevent people falling into excavations. If the excavation is 1.2m or more
deep, provide substantial barriers, e.g. guard rails and safety cones.

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2. Keep vehicles away from the sides of excavations wherever possible. Use brightly painted
balks or barriers where necessary, or arrange for safety distances to be kept:. In general a
minimum safety distance of 2 m should be kept by vehicles .

3. Make sure the edges of the excavation are protected against falling materials. Provide toe
boards where necessary.
Where vehicles have to tip materials into excavations, use stop blocks to prevent them
from over-running. Remember that the sides of the excavation may need extra support.

5 Tools, materials, equipment, scrap or debris shall not be left on walkways nor braces or
spoil be left close to the sides excavations. Excavated material should be placed in a
sufficient distance of at least 1,5m (5 feet) from the edge of the trench.

To prevent Accidents to Members of the Public

1) Openings to which the public may be exposed shall be fenced off or barricaded regardless
of the length of time the openings are expected to exist. Where barricades are not required,
openings shall be suitably roped off.

2) Warning signs shall be posted where necessary. Excavations should be marked by e.g.
strobe lights or other suitable devices, if in the near vicinity of a road or sidewalk.

To prevent Excavation Collapse

a) Prevent the sides and the ends from collapsing by battering them to a safe angle of 45
degrees or supporting them with timber, sheeting or proprietary support systems. This
applies to all trenches dug more than 1,2 m in depth and not supported by use of another

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 suitable system. When field conditions so require, also less deep trenches should be
shored or sloped or stepped to prevent material collapse into the excavation .

Note:
a) soft and cohesive soil: angle should be 45 degrees; rigid or semi-solid cohesive soil: angle
should be 60 degrees; rock: angle should be 80 degrees.
b) Even work in shallow trenches can be dangerous. It may be needed to provide support if
the work involves bending or kneeling in the trench.
c) Employees shall never work ahead of the support.
d) Provisions shall be made to intercept or control rain and ground water

When Undermining nearby Structures

1. Make sure excavations do not affect the footings of scaffolds or the foundations of nearby
structures. Walls may have very shallow foundations, which can be undermined by even
small trenches.

2. If the excavation endangers the stability of adjoining buildings or walls, necessary shoring,
bracing or underpinning shall be provided to ensure their safety. A competent person
should frequently inspect such precautionary measures and the protection effectively
maintained.

3. Excavations near to or reaching the footing level of an existing structure shall have shoring
adequate to support the additional load transmitted by the structured foundation. If shoring
will not provide adequate support, of if the excavation is too near the structure to allow
shoring, adequate underpinning of the existing structure shall be provided. The presence
of hydrostatic pressure must not be overlooked .

Contact with Underground Services (Pipelines, Cables, etc.)

1. The person supervising the excavation work shall have service plans where underground
services are to be expected. Everyone carrying out the work should know about safe
digging practices and emergency procedures.

2. Look around for obvious signs of underground services, e.g. valve covers or patching of
the road surface.

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3. Use locators to trace any services. Mark the ground accordingly.

4. The use of hand tools until the exact depth and location of the utility line shall perform
excavations over or near buried utility lines or conduits or conduit is determined.

5. If hand excavation is being performed, adequate warnings and safeguards shall be ex-
ercised so that hand picks or pneumatic paving breakers do not come in contact with un -
derground electrical power circuits.

6. When unidentified underground pipelines or cables will be found or damaged during the
operation the work shall be interrupted immediately to establish the necessary safety
precautions or take all steps to minimise loss.

To prevent People being struck by Plant

1. Keep employees separate from moving plant such as excavators. Where this is not
possible use safe systems of work to prevent people being struck.

2. Plant operators shall be competent and licensed where applicable.

3. Excavating or hoisting equipment shall not be allowed to raise lower or swing loads over
workers in the excavation without substantial overhead protection

Access to the Excavation and Working in an Excavation

1. When personnel are required to be in trenches of 1 m (3 feet) deep or more, adequate

means of access and exit (e.g. ladder, steps), shall be provided and strategically located.

2. Personnel using picks, shovels, bars or similar tools in excavations or trenches shall keep
sufficient distances apart so they cannot injure each other. The use of safety boots with
steel toecap shall be mandatory.

3. Trench width shall allow for ample working room. Undercutting to provide working shall not
be permitted.

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4. Where applicable confined excavations should be tested for explosive or toxic vapours, or
oxygen defiance if deeper than 1,2 m (4 feet).

5. Exhaust fumes can be dangerous. Do not site petrol or diesel-engine equipment such as
generators or compressors in, or near the edge of, an excavation unless fumes can be
ducted away or the area can be ventilated.

6. Air exchange by an exhauster or blower shall be provided where there is a hazard of toxic
or flammable vapours. If vapours are flammable, exhausters or blowers shall be of non-
sparking type. Exhaust shall discharge to a safe / remote area.