Safety First – Excavation and Trenching

When dealing with an excavation or trenching, safety must be of the highest importance. The following article discusses the dangers and protection when working with excavations or trenches.

Firstly we will discuss what the difference is between an Excavation and a Trench:-

Excavation

An excavation is a man-made cut, land clearing or trench in the ground when removing earth.

Trench

A trench is a long narrow ditch or hole dug in the ground, it is usually rectangular. Normally, the depth is greater than the width, but the width of a trench should be no longer than 4.5 meters measuring from the bottom.

Methods of Protection

There are various methods and protective systems in order to ensure the safety of the trench workers. Shoring is the installation of aluminium hydraulics or other supporting materials to stop movement and fall ins. Trench boxes use the shielding method which again gives good protection against earth falling in. When designing a protective system there are many different factors to consider:-

• Soil Classification
• Depth of Excavation
• Surcharge Loads
• Weather Conditions
• Water Soil
   

Dangers

In general all trench workers must ensure that there are suitable ways to access or escape from the trench - either by use of a ladder, ramp or stairs. A cave-in is the most perilous risk when in a trench, however there are many more hazards that can be just as damaging; trips and falls, harmful atmospheres, and falling loads.
 

Groundforce Increase their Safety Range

Groundforce have recently improved their product range to include further protection when working on a site. Along with ground support solutions they are now able to offer further protection to increase health and safety measures. The Groundforce Safety First product range includes:

EdgeSafe: Providing edge protection for sheeted excavation with a kick board to prevent debris dislodging.

LadderSafe: Allows ladder access to trench applications, box systems and excavations.

TrenchSafe: This is a handrail system for their core trench boxes.

SurroundSafe: Allows the safe placement of concrete surrounds to PCC chambers. (Previously known as the Manhole Safety Platform)

FallSafe: Fall protection and rescue system for excavations.

StepSafe: StepSafe is a temporary, self-levelling, site stairway for use on embankments, or suspended from Premier LadderSafe, that provides a safe and controlled point of entry to the work place where conventional ladders or other means are unsuitable or undesirable.

SledgeSafe: Heavy duty mobile barrier unit which utilises EdgeSafe mesh panels

View the SiteSafe Range