CONSTRUCTION SITE SAFETY

STANDARDISATION IN PROJECTS

CSSS Standard
A. Excavations
 The CSSS standards have been developed to improve everyone’s safety on our construction
sites. The standards re-enforce the Control Framework and are based on the best practice that
takes place in many of our projects already.
 The standards are applicable to all sites in which HSSE & SP Risks are managed under the
Company HSSE & SP Management System; or The Contractor’s HSSE & SP Management
System, unless the Contractor is not required to report in line with Part 3 Appendix 1 of the PMR
in the Control Framework (Mode 1 or Mode 2 sites).
 This document lays out the standards. The intent is not to list all requirements possible for the
activities or the Control Framework requirements, but rather, to provide a list of the practices that
must be our bare minimum expectations for these activities. This is how we do projects at Shell.
 For a definition of terms used in this document please refer to the Control Framework.
 For associated materials, visit the Construction Site Safety Standardisation SharePoint site.

Version Date: June 1, 2017

A. Excavations

A.1. Appropriate permits are in place before excavating. Drawings are checked to identify all potential
underground obstructions and hazards, which are exposed by non-mechanical means.
A.2. Guards and hard barricades are installed and fall protection is provided as required, to prevent people
and objects falling into excavations.
A.3. A competent person has verified probing and hand digging, and inspected and technically assessed the
trench/ excavation for stability.
A.4. Access/egress ladders and stairs are installed no more than 25 feet laterally at locations that require
people inside the excavations. Do not use benching (cuts into sides of excavations) for access or egress.
A.5. The excavation is protected against cave in (sloping, shoring or benching).

A.6. Nearby operating equipment and stored materials does not present a potential hazard to occupants in the
excavation. Safe distances must be clearly defined.
A.7. Pre-clearance requirements prior to any mechanical excavation are established:

A.7.1. Table top review of pipeline drawings

A.7.2. Table top review of all underground drawings
A.7.3. Hand probe prior to machine digging

A.7.4. Hydro-trenching to locate underground obstructions

A.8. Excavations are checked by a competent person daily and after any change in conditions (such as excess
water, weather). The Permit is renewed before resuming work.

REVISION HISTORY LOG

Title Version Revision Date Custodian Revision Description

Hazardous 1 December 17, Elaine Cooke First version

Activity Standard 2013

2.Excavations

Hazardous 2 May 1, 2015 Elaine Cooke 1. Revised the general introduction

Activity Standard to the Standard.
2. Un-bolded the text that was
2.Excavations previously bolded in order to
signal alignment with the Control
Framework.
CSSS Standard 3 June 1, 2017 Bill Perkins 1. Amend Title and description to
CSSS Standards
A. Excavations 2. Amend title and bullet
numbering from ‘2’ to ‘A’.