HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

RISK ASSESSMENT GROUNDWORK: EXCAVATION

TASK: GROUND WORK EXCAVATION
1. ANTICIPATED SITE HAZARDS
EXISTING ENVIRONMENT
Access / Egress

Adjacent Areas

Adjacent to Water

Asbestos

Biological Hazards

Confined Spaces

Contaminated Ground

Laser / RF Fields

Means of Escape

Needles / Sharps

Occupied Premises

Overhead Services

Stability of Structure

Underground Services

Others (Please State)

CONSTRUCTION PHASE
Access / Egress

Adjacent to Water

Confined Spaces

Contact with Services

Asbestos

Falling Objects

Fire

Site Security

Struck by Traffic / Plant

Tools and Equipment

Working at Height

Others (Please State)

(Electricity, Gas, Water)

Collapse of Excavation

Collapse of Structure

COSHH

Dust

Extreme Temperature

Fragile Materials

Manual Handling

Noise / Vibration

Trip on Level

Vehicles Overturning

Official Visitors

Others (O)

General Construction Activities

2. WHO MAY BE HARMED?

Employees (E)

Sub-contractors (S)

General Public (GP)

3. RISK EVALUATION AND CONTROL MEASURES

Significant Health and Safety
Risks

Risk

Control Measures

Falls into excavation

Excavation collapse

Struck by falling earth /

materials

Contact with services

Struck by plant

Fumes

Contamination

Where possible sides of excavations to be battered back to a safe

freestanding angle
Excavations require fencing, backfilling or covering, at night as well as
day
Suitable warning notices required to warn of excavations
Guard rails and toe boards around any excavation
Lighting to be used where required
Access routes into excavation to be adequate
Excavation walls dug at a safe angle (depending on soil type)
Sheeting, propping or trench boxes to support the excavation
Workers not to enter an unsupported excavation
Materials storage to be away from the top of excavations (as a rule of
thumb, materials to be equi-distance away as to the depth)
Workers provided with adequate PPE
Service location plans for the area checked
CAT scan used prior to excavating
Traffic and pedestrian routes segregated
Barriers or stop blocks to protect all excavations
Hi-Visibility clothing to be worn by operatives
Operatives trained and inducted onto site

Mechanical plant to be positioned where there is no risk of fumes

creating a hazardous atmosphere in excavation

Soil investigation or similar reports to be consulted and appropriate

precautions taken
Operatives to be warned to report any discovered residues at induction

4. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Safety Helmet
Hearing Protection

Safety Boots

Goggle / Visor

Overalls

Gloves

Respiratory Protective Equipment

5. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS / INFORMATION

Deep excavations will require a specific risk assessment
Refer to HSE Guidance: HSG 47 Avoiding Danger From Underground Services
Check competency of operatives

RISK ASSESSMENT KEY

Risk Assessment = S x L
3 = Likely
L = likelihood
2 = Possible
1 = Rare

S = Hazard Severity
1 = Slight
2 = Serious
3 = Major
Medium (3)
High (6)
High (9)
Low (2)
Medium (4)
High (6)
Low (1)
Low (2)
Medium (3)

HS6-19
Risk Assessment Date: January 2012
Groundwork: Excavation

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