EXCAVATION SAFETY

Assoc. ASEAN ENGR. JAY MARK A. CAMBUSA,

M.Eng, ECE
 DEFINITION

 EXCAVATION – a man-made cut, cavity, trench,

or depression formed by earth removal.
 DEFINITION

 TRENCH – a narrow excavation. The depth is

greater than the width, but not wider than 15
feet.
 Excavation Hazards

 Cave–ins
 Water accumulation
 Hazardous atmosphere
 Access/Egress
 Falls
 Mobile equipment
 Excavation Hazards

 Cave–ins - collapse of excavation’s wall.

 Methods to prevent CAVE-INS:
 Shielding
 Shoring and timbering
 Sloping
 Benching
 Excavation Hazards
Cave - Ins

 SHIELD – refers to the literal use of a pre-constructed

box that acts as a shield. shielding functions as a
shield from collapse, while not always supporting the
trench wall itself.
 Excavation Hazards
Cave - Ins

 SHORING - a structure that supports the sides of

an excavation and protects against cave-ins.
 Excavation Hazards
Cave - Ins

 SLOPING - a technique that employs a specific angle

of incline on the sides of the excavation. The angle
varies based on assessment of impacting site
factors.
 Excavation Hazards
Cave - Ins

 BENCHING – a method of protecting employees

from cave-ins by shaping the sides of an excavation
to form one or a series of horizontal levels. Making a
form of bench.
 Excavation Hazards
Water Accumulation

 Requirement:
 Every excavation over 1 m. (3 ft.) shall be kept free of
water at all times.
 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Requirement:
1. When harmful dusts, gases and fumes are present in
an excavation to such a degree hazardous to the
safety and health of the workers, all measures shall
be taken either by exhaust ventilation or by other
means to free the area of such contaminants.
 Trench and Excavation depth of 1.2 meters or greater is
considered as confined space.

2. Internal combustion engine shall only be operated in

an excavation when provision is made to ensure that
the exhaust gases and fumes are rendered harmless
or discharged to a point away from the excavation.
 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Confined Space is identified as any area with

 Limited means of access / egress and the area is
subject to oxygen deficiency or oxygen enriched,
accumulation of flammable vapors ,
 And is not specifically designed for human
occupancy.

 ENTRY - The act by which a person

intentionally passes through an opening into a
permit required confined space. Any part of the
body passing through the opening is
considered entry.
 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Confined Space
 Tanks  Vaults
 Manholes  Pipes
 Boilers  Trenches
 Furnaces  Tunnels
 Sewers  Ducts
 Silos  Bins
 Hoppers  Pits
 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere
 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Potential Hazards in Confined Space

 Oxygen Deficiency < 19.5 % or 21.5% > Oxygen

Enriched

 Combustibles – Methane, Hydrogen, Acetylene,

Propane, Gasoline Fumes

 Toxic Materials – Carbon Monoxide (CO), Hydrogen

Sulfide (H2S), Welding Fumes, Corrosives, etc.
 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Toxic Gas Density and Gas Monitoring

 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Toxic Gas Density and Gas Monitoring

 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Oxygen Deficient / Enriched

 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Combustibles – less than 10% of the LEL

 The lowest concentration at Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) vs. Upper explosive
Limit (UEL)

which a gas can ignite is

called lower explosive limit
(LEL). Concentrations below Too Too
this limit are too lean to burn.

AIR, cubic meter

Lean Rich
To To
 The highest concentration that burn burn

can be ignited is its upper

explosive limit (UEL). Above
that concentration, the mixture
FUEL, cubic meter
is too rich to burn
LEL UEL
 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Toxic Gases – above permissible exposure

limit (PEL).
 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Toxic Gases – Effects of Carbon Monoxide

(CO)
 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Toxic Gases – Effects of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)

 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Ventilation
 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Confined Space Entrant - The employee who

will physically enter the confined space to
perform the work.

 Confined Space Attendant - The employee who

remains outside the confined space and
monitors the entrant(s); guards the space
against unauthorized entry; warns the entrants
of any unusual conditions; and summons the
rescue personnel if needed.
 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Confined Space
Entry Permit
 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Confined Space
Log – IN/OUT
 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere

 Confined Space Rescue Plan

 Rescue Team
 Rescue Equipment
 Written Procedure
 Must practice to
retain the
=knowledge
 Excavation Hazards
Hazardous Atmosphere
 Excavation Hazards
Access / Egress

 Requirements:
 Safe means of access and egress must be provided.
 One (1) access and egress in every 16.6 m. (50 ft.) of
length.
 Excavation Hazards Falls

 Requirements:
 Fall of Excavated Soil and Material
 Excavation Hazards Falls

 Requirements:
 Fall of Worker , Tool and Machinery
 Excavation Hazards Falls

 Berm (Level Space, Border Barrier)

 One third (1/3) of the depth of the excavation
 If area is limited, berm can be reduced to not less than
one (1) meter.

Berm
2 meters

6 meters
deep
 Excavation Hazards Falls

 Provision of Barricades
 The top of the walls of an excavation shall be barricaded
to a height of at least 1 m. (3 ft.) .

Safe Access / Egress

Hard Barricade

Safety Signage
 Excavation Hazards Falls

 Fall on Protruding Rebar:

 Excavation Hazards Falls

 Fall on Protruding Rebar:

DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN!!!!!!