Type of hazard Effects of hazard Preventive measures

Provide guard rails / barricade with warning signal,

Falling into pit Personal injury provide minimum two entries / exits, Install escape
ladders

Employ suitable size of shoring and strutting if

required, keep soil heaps away from the edge
equivalent to 1.5m or depth of pit whichever is
Suffocation greater. Do not allow vehicles to operate too close to
Earth collapse /breathlessness, excavated areas. Maintain at least 2m distance from
Buried the edge of cut. Maintain sufficient angle of repose.
Provide slope not less than 1:1 and suitable depth of
excavation in all soils except hard rock. Battering /
benching sides.

Obtain permission from competent authorities prior to

Contact with
excavation if needed. Locate the position of buried
buried electric Electrocution, and
utilities Start digging manually to locate the exact
cable, Gas / Oil Explosion
position of buried utilities and thereafter use
Pipelines
mechanical means.

Table 1 types of hazards related to pit excavation with a depth of up to

3m plus their influences and prevention measures

Pit Excavation Beyond 3m

Type of hazard Effects of hazard Preventive measures

Hazards related to pits up

to 3m plus flooding due to
excessive rain /
underground water
Prevent ingress of water, Identify and
cause drowning
provide suitable size dewatering pump or
situation
well point system

Building / Obtain prior approval of excavation method

Digging in the vicinity of
structure may from local authorities. Use under-pinning
existing building /
collapse, Loss of method. Construct retaining wall side by
structure
health and wealth side.

Barricade the excavated area with proper

Movement of vehicles / cause cave-in or lighting arrangements. Maintain atleast 2m
equipment close to the slides, workers distance from edge of cut and use stop
edge of cut. may get buried. blocks to prevent over-run. Strengthen
shoring and strutting
 Narrow and Deep Excavations
Type of hazard Effects of hazard Preventive measures

Pits related hazards Cause severe

Battering / benching of sides. Provide escape
plus frequent cave-in injuries or prove
ladders.
or slides fatal.

Battering / benching of sides. Provide escape

Flooding due to hydro- Arise drowning
ladders. Bail out accumulated water. Maintain
static testing situation
adequate ventilation.

. Rock Excavation by Blasting

Type of hazard Effects of hazard Preventive measures

Ensure proper storage, handling and carrying of

Improper handling
May prove fatal explosives by trained personnel. Comply with
of explosives
the applicable explosive acts and rules.

Can cause severe Allow only authorized persons to perform

Uncontrolled
injuries or prove blasting operations. Smoking and open flames
explosion
fatal. are to be strictly prohibited.

Scattering of stone
Can hurt people Use PPEs like goggles, face mask, helmets etc.
pieces to atmosphere

May cause severe

Entrapping of Barricade the area with red flags and blow siren
injuries or prove
persons / animals before blasting.
fatal

May explode Do not return to site for at least 20min or unless

Misfire
suddenly announced safe by designated person.

Excavations and Pile Works

Type of hazard Effects of hazard Preventive measures

Failure of pile- Inspect piling rigs and pulley blocks before the
Can hurt people
driving equipment beginning of each shift/

Can cause deafness

Use personal protective equipment like ear
Noise pollution and psychological
plugs, muffs etc.
imbalance.
Extruding Barricade the area and install sign boards
Can hurt people
rods/casing Provide first aid

Keep sufficient distance from live electricity as

Working in the Can cause
per relevant standard codes. Shut off the supply
vicinity of live- electrocution /
if possible. Provide artificial / rescue breathing
electricity asphyxiation
to the injured.