Excavations Safety

Training

Presentation Outline
Purpose of Safety Management Guides
Overview of Excavations and Shoring Guide
Excavation Hazards and Mitigation
Contact with Underground Utilities
Sidewall Cave-in
Other Excavation Hazards
Entry and Exit
Excavation Safety Checklists
Summary

Safety Management Guides

Assist the company properly implement the SMS
Based on industry-wide best practices
Establish minimum level of safety performance
Proponent organizations may use the guides:
directly as is, or
as a basis for their own local safety procedures
Provided local procedures meet or exceed the minimum
practices set forth in these guides

Excavations & Shoring Guide

Safety Management Guide for Excavations
and Shoring
Minimum expectations for excavation,
trenching, and shoring activities
At all Saudi Aramco facilities and project sites

Replaces the Excavations, Trenching, and

Shoring chapter of the Construction Safety
Manual (CSM)
Handout copies and review contents of guide

Underground Utilities
Electricity Cables
Hydrocarbon Oil/Gas Pipes
Water Pipes and Sewers
Telecommunication Cables

Always assume such obstructions

may be present when excavating

Underground Utilities
Work Permit Coordinator and site supervisor is to
ensure underground utilities and installations
have been located and marked before excavation
begins
Company to contact appropriate SA departments
such as:
Utilities, Communications, Power Distribution
Department (PDD), Pipelines

For work sites not covered by the work permit

system, proponent to implement procedures in
accordance with this guide

Underground Utilities
Locate by reference to drawings,
discussion with relevant departments,
hand digging, use of cable/pipe locators
Company must ensure any non-Aramco
underground cables or utilities are located
and marked prior to excavating

Sidewall Cave-In
Cave-in is a major
hazard
Protective Systems:
Benching
Sloping
Shoring (bracing)

Benching
Soil Type A

Soil Type B

Soil Types
Stable Rock
Solid, can excavate with vertical sides
Sandstone, granite

Type A Soil
Cohesive or cemented soils
Clay, marl

Type B Soil
Less cohesive soil
Mix of sand, rocks, clay

Type C Soil
Non-cohesive soil
Sand, gravel, any type of fill

Sloping
Soil Type A

Soil Type B

Soil Type C

Shoring

Trench Shields

Design Responsibilities

* CSD review of excavation plan is required

Competent Person
Has and is able to demonstrate:
1. Documented training, experience, and
knowledge of:
a.

soil analysis

b.

use of protective systems

2. Ability to detect:
a. conditions that could cause cave-in
b. failures in protective systems
c. other hazards including those associated
with confined spaces, dewatering; and has

3. Authority to take corrective measures

Whats Wrong Here?

This excavation has
inadequate shoring
and personnel access
Note cars driving
close to the edge
No personnel or
vehicle barricades

Other Excavation Hazards

Heavy loads near edge can cause collapse
Vehicles/cranes/heavy equipment > depth of
excavation away (2 m [6.5 ft] minimum)
Scaffold posts > 1.5 times depth away
Unless precautions taken (e.g., shoring)
Whats wrong here?

Other Excavation Hazards

Falling and tripping hazards
Spoil piles > 0.6 m (2 ft)
from edge
Pedestrian barricades > 1 m
(3 ft) from edge

Improper access and egress

Ladders, travel distance <
7.5 m (25 ft)
Is this ladder, etc., OK?

Entry and Exit

Stairway, ladders, ramps and/ or other safe
means of egress are to be located in
excavations that are 1.2 m (4ft) or more in
depth so as to require no more than 7.5 m
(25ft) of lateral distance for personnel (i.e.,
ladders need to be spaced at least 15m
(50ft) along the trench.

f4

Other Excavation Hazards

Respiratory Hazards
Suffocation due to lack of oxygen
Inhalation of toxic gases
H2S heavier than air & collects in excavations

Confined Space Entry Permit and gas testing

Required if excavation > 1.2 m (4 ft) deep

Uncontrolled water accumulation

Dont work in excavation unless water is
controlled by dewatering, etc.

Excavation Safety Checklists

Three checklists in Attachment A2
1. Pre-Excavation Checklist
For planning, locating utilities, etc.

2. Daily Excavation Inspection Checklist

For recording daily inspections
By Competent Person

3. Excavation Safety Pocket Card

For use by anyone else at any time
Review checklist items in detail

Summary
Locate and mark underground utilities
Use Pre-Excavation Checklist

Cave-in is a major risk in an excavation

Workers to be protected by benching,
sloping, or shoring
Engineer for excavations deeper than 6 m

Other hazards include oxygen deficiency,

toxic fumes, falls, and vehicles/equipment
Confined Space Entry Permit & gas testing
Barricades

Competent Person do daily inspection

Pre-Excavation Checklist

Daily Excavation Inspection

Checklist
It should be done daily
by competent person
and verified by SAPMT
together by Safety
Personnel

Excavation Safety Pocket Guide

Use this safety

inspection card
when planning
constructing,
entering and
restoring
excavation and
trenches

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Questions?

Thank you