About this critical risk
Trenching and excavation are high-risk by nature. This critical risk exposes our teams to collapse, buried services and unstable ground conditions that can lead to life-changing outcomes.
OUR GET-SET PRACTICE:
Take a breath, spot the risks, make a plan
Lock in your controls
Get it done, safely
Our categories of controls
Planning and Permits
- Excavation work must be planned and risk assessed before work starts.
- A Trenching & Excavation Permit must be issued when excavations are:
- greater than or equal to 1.5 metres deep
- less than 1.5 metres deep and ground conditions require stabilisation methods (benching, battering, shoring, etc.).
- Any works within 10 metres of a live service must be carried out in accordance with the Live Services Minimum Standards.
- A geotechnical engineer must confirm excavation stability if ground support controls (shoring, benching or battering) are not in place or effective.
- Possible water sources must be identified and controls implemented to prevent flooding or soil instability.
Excavations and Ground Stability
- Excavations and surrounding structures must be inspected regularly, after any change in conditions, and recorded using the appropriate checklist.
- Plant, spoil and materials must be kept outside the zone of influence unless ground support has been designed for those loads.
Access and Egress
- Safe and suitable access and egress must be provided for all excavations.
- Ladders must be secured, extend 1 metre above the surface of the excavation and have a load rating of at least 120kg.
- Where ladders are used in a trench more than 1.5 metres deep, a ladder must be installed every 9 metres along the length of the trench.
Physical Separation and Protections
- Open penetrations, excavations and trenches must:
- Have edge protection appropriate to their depth and location
- Be securely covered or protected at all times when not in use
- Be adequately sign posted.
- Restricted and Exclusion Zones are to be established in accordance with the Mobile Plant & Equipment Minimum Standards.
- All workers and mobile plant must comply with the Vehicle Movement Plan and Spotter requirements as outlined in the Mobile Plant & Equipment Minimum Standards.
THE BMD FUNDAMENTALS THAT RELATE TO THIS RISK:
We always keep away from moving plant
We always follow permit procedures
We always stay clear of an excavation until it is made safe