What Are Some Of The Hazards Associated With Trenches And Excavation?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  • Cave-ins. Trench collapses kill an average of two workers every month, making this a serious threat to worker safety. …
  • Falls and falling loads. Workers and work equipment can fall into an excavated area. …
  • Hazardous atmospheres. …
  • Mobile equipment. …
  • Hitting utility lines.

What are the hazards in trench excavation?

The hazards of excavations include:

striking buried services; people, objects or materials falling in; collapse of sides; collapse of adjacent structures

; flooding; contaminated ground; toxic and asphyxiating atmospheres; and mechanical hazards. Consideration should be given to overhead hazards, including power lines.

What are some hazards associated with trenches?

  • Cave-ins or collapses that can trap workers.
  • Equipment or excavated soil falling on workers (e.g., equipment operated or soil/debris stored too close to the excavation).
  • Falling into the trench or excavation.
  • Flooding or water accumulation.

What is the most common hazard during an excavation?

Probably the most common hazard at any work site is

the threat of cave-in

. A cave-in occurs when walls of an excavation collapse. Cave-ins can be deadly. Wall failures often occur suddenly, with little or no time for the worker to react.

What are the safety precautions for excavation?

  • Inspect trenches daily before work begins. …
  • Check weather conditions before work, be mindful of rain and storms.
  • Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges.
  • Be mindful of the location of utilities underground.
  • Always wear proper protective equipment.
  • Don’t work beneath raised loads.

What are the safety precautions in excavation work?

Excavations shall have at least one ladder per 15 m of length in case of hazardous work and per 30 m of length in case of less hazardous works. Every part of a trench, in public areas, fences, guards or barricades shall be provided to prevent any accidents.

Excavation areas shall be adequately lighted for night work

.

What is the primary concern for excavation?

The main hazards associated with excavation work include:

Surface encumbrances

.

Excavation collapse

.

Loose rock or soil

.

What are the types of excavation hazard?

  • falls into trenches or excavations.
  • tripping over equipment, debris and spoil.
  • excavated material or other objects falling on workers.
  • exposure to underground services or overhead electrical cables.
  • unstable adjacent structures.
  • mishandled or poorly placed materials.

What are the methods of excavation?

  • Archaeological Mapping.
  • Archeological mapping.
  • Archaeological Sites.
  • Archeological sites.
  • Survey and Excavation.
  • Artifacts and artifact classification.
  • Stratigraphy (Archaeology)
  • Marine Archaeology.

What is hazard in excavation?

The hazards and risks are usually:


Collapse of the sides of the excavation

. Materials falling onto the people working in the excavation. People and vehicles falling into the excavation. … Damage to underground services during excavation work causing electrocution, explosion, gas escape, flooding etc.

How deep can you excavation without shoring?

How Deep Can a Trench Be Without Shoring? Trenches with a

depth of 5 feet (1.5 meters) or

greater need a protective system unless the entire excavation is in stable rock. If there is anything less than 5 feet, it is up to a competent person’s discretion to determine if there is a need for a protective system.

What is the difference between excavation and trenching?

What is the difference between an excavation and a trench? OSHA defines an excavation as

any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the Earth’s surface formed

by earth removal. A trench is defined as a narrow excavation (in relation to its length) made below the surface of the ground.

What are two safety concerns regarding excavation work?

  • Cave-ins or collapses that can trap workers.
  • Equipment or excavated soil falling on workers (e.g., equipment operated or soil/debris stored too close to the excavation).
  • Falling into the trench or excavation.
  • Flooding or water accumulation.

What are the important precautions for confined space?

  • any hazardous fumes or material.
  • access and exit locations.
  • the lighting to properly conduct the task.
  • and the types of safety alarms and rescue procedures in the event of a problem.

What is scaffolding in safety?

A scaffold is a

temporary structure erected to support access or working platforms

. Scaffolds are commonly used in construction work so workers have a safe, stable work platform when work cannot be done at ground level or on a finished floor. … Scaffolding is classified as plant under Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act.

How do you protect deep excavation?

Those methods are

sloping, benching, and shoring or shielding

. Sloping: Sloping is a viable option as a protective system. Sloping is often the most cost-effective way to protect employees from potential trenching and excavation hazards.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.