Things To Consider Before Excavating

When it comes to excavation work, there are a few other things to consider prior to opening an excavation in order to make sure that everything flows smoothly and safety.

One thing to consider when planning excavation is the location of utility installations like sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water lines, or any other underground installations that one might encounter during excavation work. Information regarding such can be obtained through utility companies. However, if the company cannot provide information within the required amount of time, or cannot define the exact location of the installations, excavation may still push through with caution. Also, detection equipment or other means of determining utility installations can be used, provided that the method is safe and acceptable.

For excavations that are 4 feet or more in depth, employees should be provided with safe means of exit. Employees should also not travel laterally more than 25 feet to reach an exit. Also, in places where there is accumulated water, employees should not be allowed to work unless there are adequate precautions for employees. Necessary precautions include support and shield systems to protect from cave-ins, water removal to control the level of accumulating water,and use of a safety harness and lifeline.

In the case of heavy equipment operation that is operated adjacent to an excavation, an operator must have a clear and direct view of the edge of the excavation or a warning system should be put into play. A few examples of warning systems would include stop logs, barricades, and hand or mechanical signals.

When adjacent structures are evident in excavation sites, stability of those structures or buildings should be well established. If there is possibility of endangering buildings or walls by excavation operations, support systems such as shoring, bracing, or underpinning are required to be provided to ensure the permanency of such buildings.

Also, daily inspections should be done by knowledgeable individuals to make sure that protective systems are being utilized properly. Evidence of a situation that could result in possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions should be quickly identified and managed.