ROUTE 

2020 METRO PROJECT 
Weekly Toolbox  
  Excavation Protruding steel bars and Venomous Reptiles Management    
 
Excavation, Protruding Steel Bar Safety 
 EXCAVATION SAFETY    
 Comply with Expo Link Safety Excavation Permit procedures.  
 Before beginning excavation, establish the locations of underground and overhead utilities and 
services 
 Remove or support all surface encumbrances, as necessary, to safeguard employees.  
 Employees working in trenches should have an adequate and safe means of access/ egress or ramps 
 Employees exposed to public vehicular traffic must wear suitable garments marked with or made of 
reflectorized or high‐visibility material  
 control the atmosphere to prevent exposure to harmful levels.  
 Removable‐type steel casings, and individually manned lifelines and harnesses are needed to  
protect employees in bell‐bottom pier holes. Follow confined‐space entry procedures.  
 Employees must not work in excavations in which there is accumulated water unless they follow  
necessary safety precautions.  
 Additional underpinning, shoring or bracing may be required when adjoining utility lines,  
foundations, walks and footings are endangered.  
 Excavation adjacent to vehicular traffic will be protected with concrete barriers and suitable warning 
lights and signs. Banksman will be posted during the operation time. 
 
 PROTRUDING STEEL BAR   
 Guard all protruding ends of steel rebars with rebar caps or wooden troughs 
 Bend rebar exposed ends are no longer upright 
 Fall protection /prevention is the first line of defense against impalement 
 Always wear gloves and eye protection when handling and tying rebar 
  
Routinely pick up scrap rebar to prevent trip hazards 
 Tuck in shoestrings and pant legs to prevent hang‐ups when walking through flatwork  
 

Venomous Reptiles and Response

- Maintain continuous visual observation for occurrence of any fauna
including snakes at site always. Report immediately if you observe
any animals to the HSE department.
- It is prohibited from engaging activities harmful to local
habitat/wildlife e.g. hunting, trapping or harassing wildlife.
- Do not approach or handle any snake or lizards, even if it appears to
be dead.
Venomous Snakes in the Area:
  
 
 
                                      
Saw-Scaled Viper
Recommendations to prevent and manage snake
sighting & bite:
- Adequate illumination at all areas such as work areas, rest areas, waste
management areas, stores, etc.
- Use of gloves whilst manual handling waste and materials.
- Regular housekeeping and prevention of storage of any kind of waste
directly on the ground, specially food waste.
- Schedule regular pest control including snake repellents.
- All the Nurses and First aiders in the work area shall be trained to carry
out first aid for any reptile bites.
- Appropriate fencing around the work area to prevent any gaps in the
bottom of the fencing, where possible provide other measures as
recommended by the specialist company.
- Provide awareness campaign to the whole work force for action to be
taken in the event of sightings, bites or interaction with snakes.
- Subject to the likelihood of sighting, provision of trained competent snake
handlers to be provided for each shift.
If bitten:
- Immediate first aid shall be provided.
- Call ambulance immediately.
- Immediately report to ExpoLink HSE Emergency Number

Few facts about Saw-scaled and Arabian Horned Vipers:

- Armed with a powerful venom and lightning reflexes, the saw-scaled viper
is the country's deadliest snake.
- Compared to the Arabian horned viper, the venom of the saw-scaled viper
is more toxic.
- Saw-scaled vipers like to hide under trash and at the base of hedges
Arabian Horned Viper  obscured by leaf litter.
- The saw-scaled viper is a nocturnal creature and it rests by day in cool
places.
- Horned viper is nocturnal creature. It is active from dusk until dawn.