ACTION INTERNATIONAL SERVICES

Excavation and Trenching

PURPOSE:
The purpose of this SWP is to define the arrangements, requirements and responsibilities to protect
personnel against falls of materials, contact with services and other hazards associated with
excavation and other activities that break ground

SCOPE:
This practice applies to all employees including independent contractors, working at ACTION
designated sites.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY
Supervisors are responsible to facilitate and/or provide proper instruction to their workers on
protection requirements and to pre-plan trench/excavation soil condition

WORKER RESPONSIBILITY
The responsibilities of employees include but are not limited to the following

1. Employees shall notify the management any work situation which present a risk to themselves or
to others or any matters which affect the health and safety of themselves or other person.
2. All employees shall wear PPE as directed by a competent person
3. Bring to the attention of management any unsafe/ hazardous condition or practices that may
cause injury to themselves or other employees
4. Report any incident which may cause injury to self or co-worker
5. Do NOT alter any safety considerations that have been implemented i.e. guards
6. Follow this SWP.

HAZARDS

The Potential hazards and control measures associated with excavation activities include but not
limited to the following

1. High water table (Drowning)

2. Falling into an excavation
3. Being trapped by the collapse of excavation (Cave In)
4. Accidental flooding
5. Lack of required oxygen concentration
6. Presence of flammable / toxic gases
7. Dropped objects from excavation edge
8. Poor access and egress
9. Presence of underground utilities
10. Presence of highway traffic near excavation
11. Presence of nearby structures or facilities
12. Work without approvals and or /Supervision
13. Loose/unstable soil
14. Spoils / Barriers on the edge of the excavation
15. Limited walkways near the excavation
16. Untrained /incomplete workers

Doc. Ref.: : AC-SWP-13 Rev : 1 Date : 23/08/2022 Page 1 of 2

 ACTION INTERNATIONAL SERVICES

Excavation and Trenching

CONTROL MEASURES

If any excavation activity is executed near or over live electric cables/ Waterline then construction
contractor shall follow all the safety measures implemented by relevant authority.

If the depth of the excavation is lower than the water table of the area, Construction contractor shall
provide / install a dewatering system prior to starting excavation which shall be retained until the
excavation is backfilled

Electronic cable detector shall be used to identify the presence of underground utility services prior to
starting any excavation activity. Hand/ Manual digging shall be done to identify nonconductor utilities.

Heavy mobile plant shall not be operated closer than 2.5 meters of unsupported excavation edge at
any time.

No employee shall be allowed to enter a trench or tunnel unless toxic, explosive gases and oxygen
tests are conducted prior to each shift.

Mandatory warning sign with text “DANGER DEEP EXCAVATION” shall be installed near the
excavation at conspicuous areas.

If any excavation is deeper than 1.5 meters follow all local regulations on trench shoring and
construction.

Protective systems such as shoring, shielding, sloping and benching shall be designed and installed
to protect workers from cave in of material/ collapse of adjacent structures.

Water filled plastic and concrete barriers shall not be placed within 1 meter from the edge of
excavation

All excavation shall be barricaded to protect workers from falling into an excavation.

All rocks and spoil materials shall be removed from excavation and stored not les than 1.5 meters
from the edge of excavation. Proper access and egress should be provided.

Doc. Ref.: : AC-SWP-13 Rev : 1 Date : 23/08/2022 Page 2 of 2