Toolbox talk for construction workers on Excavation Safety. Prepared by Chartered Safety Manager, Claire Sheehan of Infinite Safety Ltd, the Sub-Contractors Health and Safety Consulant

1. Toolbox Talk 2: Excavation Safety

2. Safety in Excavations is covered by:
The Health and Safety at Work Act
The Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations
The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations
The Working at Height Regulations are also applicable as a
deep excavation presents a fall risk

3.  If a trench or excavation
cannot be made safe by
sloping or battering the
sides to the angle of
repose, support must
be in place, such as
sheet piling or trench
No soil can be relied on to support boxes
its own weight, regardless of the
make up of the soil.  Loose/fractured rock
The Angle of Repose is the
also requires support as
steepest angle that a substance does wet sand and high
will always fall to. clay content soil.

4. The type of support
depends upon:
 The type of excavation
 The nature of the ground
 Ground water conditions
Sheet Piling
A survey of soil by a
competent person will
ascertain which type of
support is required. A
safe system of work must
be devised for
installing/removing
supports. Trench Box

5. ACCESS SERVICES
 Access must be by:  Service drawings MUST be
 - Ladder consulted before works
 - Stepped Earth commence
 - Steps
 - Sloping Ground  CAT scanning MUST also
be undertaken as a
precaution
 If servcices are found –
works must STOP
IMMEDIATELY!

6.  The edges of excavations must be barriered
to prevent persons, vehicles, plant or objects
falling in.
 Barriers
must comply with the Working at
Height Regulations and have a guard rail at
950mm.
 Stopblocks can be used to stop plant getting
too near the edge of the excavation as this
may cause collapse.

7.  Deep excavations
should be treated as
confined spaces and a
gas test undertaken
prior to entry.
 If the air monitor shows
an unsafe
atmosphere, respiratory
equipment must be
worn

8.  It is a legal requirement to inspect an excavation at the start of
every shift.
 Persons must not be set to work if the excavation shows signs
of cracking or if the sides have moved.
 Movement can be detected from supports moving or from
objects, like stones, falling.
 The angle of the supports should be checked and the edges.
 The report must be recorded on a statutory inspection form.

9. Infinite Safety Ltd is a Blackpool Health and Safety consultancy
covering the UK.
Founded in 2006 by Chartered Safety Manager, Claire
Sheehan, the company has grown on word of mouth and
recommendation alone. The practice is super busy with a team of
specialist advisors giving practical advice to help businesses
thrive. "We keep you busy so you keep us busy!" Get in touch
and hear our ideas.