shared workplace (eg a building site), where more than one PCBU and its workers control and influence the work on site.Where this happens the PCBUs have overlapping duties. More than one PCBU can have a duty to the same matter. For example, before leaving the site unattended for the night, make sure it and any plant and equipment are safe and secure. Monitoring workers’ health and conditions at the workplace to prevent injury or illness.Ī PCBU that manages or controls a workplace must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the workplace, the means of entering or exiting the workplace, and anything arising from the workplace are without health and safety risks to any person. 1.2 What is excavation work?Įxcavation work generally means work involving the removal of soil or rock from a site to form an open face, hole or cavity, using tools, machinery or explosives.Įxcavation work can occur anywhere, including:
#IN SOUND MIND SAFE CODE HOW TO#
When deciding how to do a job safely, make sure to check any industry specific guidance. Some industries have guidelines that deal with specific problems faced in their working environments, such as the electricity sector or plant and machinery hire. This guideline does not apply to shafts associated with mining operations, or tunnelling operations, which are regulated under the Health and Safety at Work (Mining Operations and Quarrying Operations) Regulations 2016 (the MOQO Regulations).įor more information on the specific regulations relating to excavation work, see Appendix A: Legal framework. This guideline is for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs), workers, upstream PCBUs, and competent people involved in excavation work.Īll work involving excavations must comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) and all relevant regulations, including the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations 1995 (the HSE Regulations) and the Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016 (the GRWM Regulations). The consequences are significant as the falling earth can bury or crush any person in its path resulting in death by suffocation or internal crush injuries. The speed of an excavation collapse increases the risk associated with this type of work. Prevent people and materials falling in – with barriers strong enough not to collapse if someone falls against them.Įxcavation failures are particularly dangerous because they may occur quickly, limiting the ability of workers (and in some cases others nearby) to escape, especially if the collapse is extensive.Do not assume ground will stand unsupported. Prevent collapse – shore, bench, or batter back.Check the excavation each day before starting work and after any event that may affect its stability.Avoid underground services and make sure not to undermine nearby structures – use safe digging practice and dig away from them.
Excavation safety (PDF 5 MB) Summary Key points