Health and Safety Policy Arrangements – Excavations
Excavations are common in construction and civil engineering projects but carry significant risks, including cave-ins, falling materials, and hazardous atmospheres. In the UK, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) require employers to manage these risks effectively. This involves conducting thorough risk assessments before any excavation work begins, implementing measures to prevent collapse, such as shoring, shielding, and benching, and ensuring that all excavation work is properly planned and supervised. It is crucial to identify and mark underground services to prevent accidental strikes, and to regularly inspect excavations for signs of instability or hazards. Proper training and information must be provided to workers to ensure they understand the risks and safe working practices associated with excavation work. Additionally, emergency procedures should be in place in case of an incident. Effective management of excavation safety not only ensures compliance with legal requirements but also protects workers’ health and safety, contributing to a safer working environment.
Take a look at the information below for things you might want to include in your own H&S policy…
Feel free to copy / paste this list, and you can find out more about our full H&S policy here.
The [Proprietor / Directors] of [My Company] will ensure that;
- An appropriate risk assessment is carried out to ensure that suitable and sufficient steps are taken to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, any person from being buried or trapped by a fall or dislodgement of any material
- The risk assessment will also take into account that certain excavations can and should be deemed as confined spaces, in such circumstances a detailed confined space risk assessment, detailed method statement, and a permit to work system will be imposed as/if applicable, related to the risks involved
- The risk assessment also takes into account the positioning of spoil an/or materials, and the access to the trench for plant and equipment so as not to increase the probability of collapse due to extra pressure being exerted close to the sides of excavations. Stop blocks must be used to prevent plant becoming too close to the excavation if appropriate.
- Reasonable precautions are taken to locate underground services etc. before any excavation work starts
- No excavation should be deemed safe until it has been investigated by a competent person
- Suitable access and egress are provided (see part 2j for the use of ladders)
- Precautions are taken to prevent access to the excavation by unauthorised persons, especially children
- Soil types are checked, and suitable supports are used or battering of the sides, where applicable. Where deep excavations are expected the soil should be inspected before excavation and adequate time allowed to enable support systems to be at hand when excavation commences
- All support systems should be positioned and removed by a competent person only. No supports, struts, etc. should be removed without authorisation by a competent person. No part of the support system is to be used for access, egress or the support of materials unless specifically designed to do so.
- All employees working in excavations will be provided with adequate supervision, training, instruction and information
Our minimum health and safety performance standards will be obtained from; but not restricted to;
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
- HSG 47 – Avoiding danger from underground services
- HSG 144 – Safe Use of Vehicles on Construction Sites
Did you find this useful? Sign up to our free compliance newsletter for insider tips, cutting edge strategies and tool recommendations.