2. Safe Working Procedure - Excavations Learning Objectives:
By the end of this program participants will be able to demonstrate their understanding of the control measures to be followed , as detailed in the safe working procedure, when working in and around excavations.
To begin we will consider the OAC model for managing safety

3. Safe Working Procedure - Excavations

4. Safe Working Procedure - Excavations
Set your work objectives to include;
“...tasks/ activities are to be completed on time and in a manner that does not cause harm to the employees, customers, other non-employees, or the company/ organisation.”
Three key questions to start with are…
What can cause harm?
What are you doing about it?
Is it enough?
Remember the process is simple but it is NOT to be considered simplistic.

5. Safe Working Procedure - Excavations
Know where the harm is;
Identify the key hazards associated with excavations and the outcomes of an excavation safety failure.
Source of Hazards (non-exhaustive list)
Access
Air quality
Collapse of sides or roof
Plant & equipment
Soil contaminants
Underground services
Weather conditions
Outcomes of exposure (non-exhaustive list)
Asphyxiation
Crushing
Electrocution
Explosion
Trips and falls

6. Insert eliminate image
Safe Working Procedure - Excavations
Controlling the Hazard - Options
In priority order;
Eliminate where possible,
Use control measures,
Protect all those exposed to the hazard
Insert eliminate image
Insert control
image
Insert
protective
Clothing
image

7. Safe Working Procedure - Excavations
Systems and Equipment
Proper design, construction and maintenance.
Employ competent staff.
Maintain competence.
Inspections and tests.
Pre-use visual checks.
REMEMBER to: Locate and mark any underground services in the vicinity of the excavation before the excavation work starts.

8. Safe Working Procedure - Excavations
Excavation Stability
Qualified and competent person to establish need for excavation supports before any excavation starts.
Consider the effects of the excavation on any nearby structures.
Excavation/ structure supports to be available before excavation starts.
Batter back the sides and ends of the excavation to a safe angle,
Qualified and competent people to install, alter and dismantle excavation support systems.
Use guards barriers and/ or stop blocks.
Store excavated material, plant, vehicles etc. away from the excavation.
Insert excavation
Support image

9. Safe Working Procedure - Excavations
Caissons and Cofferdams are to be…
Designed,
Constructed ,
Maintained ,
Altered, or
Dismantled by
suitably qualified and competent people.
Insert cofferdam
image

10. Safe Working Procedure - Excavations
Other Excavation safety considerations
Provide a suitable means of access to the excavation.
Qualified and competent persons to inspect excavations, caissons or cofferdams;
A)  At the start of each shift before anyone commences work,
After any event, including weather, likely to have had an effect on the strength or stability of the excavation,
After any accidental fall of rock, earth or other material.
Keep a record of every inspection.

11. Safe Working Procedure - Excavations
Air quality in Excavations
Provide a sufficient supply of fresh or purified air.
Prevent the ingress of hazardous fumes from engine exhausts or other sources.
Determine the likely effects of soil contaminants.
Monitor the air quality, as necessary. 
Provided an alternate breathable air source if the atmosphere in the excavation is found to be outside the breathable limits.
REMEMBER: Confined Spaces procedures will apply where an actual or potential IDLH 1 atmosphere exists
1 IDLH = Immediately dangerous or hazardous to health

12. Safe Working Procedure - Excavations
Duty Holders
Responsible for…
Managing Director
Ensuring compliance.
Safety Managers
Providing professional safety advice.
Business Activity Managers
Complying with the requirements.
Employees
Co-operating with the requirements.