Safety in Excavation

Sujit Saha EHSD-Kolkata Cluster

EXCAVATION
Reference Standard

IS 3764 : 1992

Excavation
Excavation. Any man made cut, cavity or depression in the earths surface formed by earth.

Excavation Hazards
Soil Collapse
Utilities Hazardous atmospheres Adjacent structures Falls / Falling loads Access / Egress Vehicle traffic Mobile equipment Water accumulation

Cave-in

..Excavation hazards
Cave-in / Soil collapse

Improper shoring.

Excavation hazards

Collapse of shoring

Falling loads

..Excavation hazards

Slip & fall of workmen

Utilities

..Excavation hazards

Vehicular traffic

Adjacent structures

..Excavation hazards
Mobile equipment.

Access / Egress

Soil collapse

So, What is required ?

Prior to Excavation
Obtain a work permit Check Ground / Soil condition Check Ground / Surface Water Check the Location of Water Table Check Under ground / Overhead utilities Adjacent buildings

Dynamic load / Traffic

Soil Classification
Type A : Clay, sandy clay, clay loam

Type B :
Angular gravel (similar to crushed rock), silt, silt loam, sandy loam Type C: Gravel, sand, loamy sand,Submerged soil or soil from which water is freely seeping; or Submerged rock that is not stable

Preventing Soil Collapse

Soil classification (Type a, b, or C)
Sloping Benching Placing a shield. Shoring(Timber / Aluminum shoring Sheet piling

Your choice of protection

Sloping
Benching Shoring Shields

Designed by a Registered Project Engineer

Simple Sloping
Stable Rock :

900

Type A - 3/4:1 530

Short term up to 12 -630
Note :Greater than 20 feet deep shall be designed by a registered professional engineer.

Simple Sloping -Type A Soil

Unsupported Vertically-Sided Lower Portion <8 ft

Unsupported Vertically-Sided Lower Portion <12 ft

Simple Sloping -Type A Soil

Supported or Shielded Vertically-Sided Lower Portion

Simple Sloping
Type B - 1:1 450

Type C - 1 :1

340

Note :Greater than 20 feet deep shall be designed by a registered professional engineer.

Benching
Type A

Type B
(cohesive)

Basic components of shoring

Shoring in Footing foundation

OUTWARD SLOPE ( 35* TO 40*) CONSIDERING ONGOING RAINY SEASON

Arrangements in Water Logged Area

SUPPORT TO THE WALL OF EXCAVATED PIT

Timber Shoring Installations

REFER TO DESIGN ENGR.

Utilities
Underground

PERMIT SYSTEM

EFFECTS OF UTILITIES
ABOVE GROUND UNDER GROUND

EFFECTS OF UTILITIES
EXPLOSION FIRE

UTILITIES
PREVENTION
Obtain work permit and get clearances from the concerned
Electricity Water & Sewage Pipeline Communication Oil & Gas Pipe Line

Use Detectors ( for More Reliable)

Water Accumulation

Ground water Surface water

Hazardous Atmospheres
Never Start Work if, Oxygen Level less than 19.5 % Permissible limit of the toxic gases exceeded. More than 20 % of Lower Explosive Limit. PRECAUTIONS Ventilation to over come the above said. Blocking the source, incase of toxic and flammable gases.
(Using other effective controls to reduce the level of atmospheric contaminants to acceptable levels)

Adjacent Structures
Ensure structure stability
Shoring Bracing Evaluation by Professional

FALLING LOAD
Gravity Weight of soil pile Weight of near by structures Weight of personnel &equipment Vibration PREVENTION Never operate a construction equipment within 2.5 m

from the edge of the excavation.

Stacking the material 1 Meter away from the edge of the excavation.

Access
Ladders
@ every 9.14 m Length
Normal Operations @ every 4.6 m length Hazardous operation

Ramps with slope not more than 15o Stairs cut on earth

Vehicle Traffic
Control Measures
Traffic Management Plan Traffic Control Traffic Safety Vests Fencing Illumination

Traffic Control Device & Vest

Fencing
Hard Barrication shall be provided, in the fall prone areas and if depth is more

Physical barricades required always Must be placed 2m away from excavation edge. Standard fall protection required for vertical falls over 1.3m Traffic diversions Pedestrian walkway diversions

Caution Signs
Reflective Cone Barricades

ILLUMINATION
Temporary Lightings: Sufficient Area Lighting. Emergency Lighting with Power back up.

Excavation Inspections
Daily Inspections by Competent Person
Start of shift, as needed, following rainstorms or other hazard-increasing event
Possible cave-ins Protective system failure Water accumulation Hazardous atmospheres

Beyond All

Safety awareness Supervision

Develope - personnel interested on Safety, Safe work procedures considering the ground realities. Awareness and motivating the supervisors concerned, Develop system to report, analyze and prevent Near-miss cases. Developing gang leaders and attitude,

Any Questions ?