Excavation Management Corporate Standard

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Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

Topic: EXCAVATION MANAGEMENT

Topic: Excavation Management Date Issued October 2008

Version No: 1.0 Date of Revision: October 2010

Document Location G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &High Risk Activities\Excavation\Excavation Management Corporate Standard.doc

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Corporate Standard

Excavation Management

Contents

Scope...............................................................................................................2

Purpose ...........................................................................................................2

Definitions........................................................................................................2

Hazards / Background .....................................................................................4

Specific Requirements .....................................................................................4

Contractor Management ................................................................................10

Responsibilities And Accountabilities.............................................................12

Review ...........................................................................................................13

References ....................................................................................................13

Attachments...................................................................................................13










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SCOPE

This corporate standard applies to all excavation and digging activities located within aBAC controlled area.

PURPOSE

To define the principles and minimum requirements for managing excavation hazardsand the processes by which safe excavation and digging works are controlled.

DEFINITIONS

Battering back – Means the process of removing material around a trench orexcavation such that the walls are sloped back at an angle rather than vertical.

Benching – Means the process of removing material around a trench or excavationsuch that the walls are stepped or benched back rather than vertical.

Buffer board – A board, railing or similar structure that is secured in place adjacentto an excavation that provides a guide to plant operators of the limit that they mayapproach an edge.

Caisson – A structure that provides an underground passageway or a passageway

through water.

Cofferdam – A temporary wall erected to exclude water from an area normally underwater.

Competent Person – A person who has, through a combination of training, educationand experience, acquired knowledge and skills enabling that person to performcorrectly the specified task.

Note: For the use, installation, inspection, and placement of sheeting or timbershoring for the shoring of a trench the competent person must be a person whohas specific experience and knowledge as detailed in Sections 310 & 313 ofthe WH&S Regulation 2008.










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Digging – Any activity involving the use of hand tools or the insertion of objects intothe ground, (eg driving a picket or boring of holes), whereby earth, rock, sand, soil orother material is moved or displaced.

Note: This does not include the movement of spoil piles, clearing of drains, orgardening tasks within established garden beds were services are known not toexist.

Excavating – Any activity that results in a hole in the earth or face of the earth after amaterial has been moved or removed.

Excavation – A hole in the earth, or face of earth, formed after rock, sand, soil or othermaterial is removed.

Geo-technical Engineer – Means a person who –

• is a registered professional engineer under the Professional Engineers Act1988; and

• holds a professional engineering qualification relevant to geo-technology(including a civil engineer).

Prescribed Information – About an underground service, means the informationabout the service necessary to safely do excavation work at or near the service,including:

• the location of the service;

• the type of the service;

• the depth of the service;

• for an electrical service – whether the service is or is not live; and

• the restrictions to be followed in doing the work.

Shoring – A system of temporary supports and sheeting material used to maintain thestability of the sides of an excavation.

Trench – An excavation where the maximum depth is more than the minimum width.

Underground Service – A cable, pipe or other thing laid or installed underground forthe transmission, transportation or storage of electricity, or a substance, including

telephone and gas service lines.










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HAZARDS / BACKGROUND

History has shown that fatalities have occurred in trenches as shallow as 1.2 metresfollowing a collapse of the excavation sides. The risk of death, as well as additionalrisks relating to: contact of underground services; falls into excavations and leachingof dangerous levels of gases from soils, mean that specific controls must beconsidered by BAC and contractors while working on site.

BAC recognise that a range of excavation and digging tasks are undertakenthroughout its operations and aim to implement effective excavation standards andprovide proactive means of controlling the related risks:

• underground services;

• the collapse of the excavation;

• objects or persons falling into the excavation;• nearby traffic hazards and hazards that the excavation work may cause for

road users;

• adjacent buildings, routes or roads that could become unstable as a result ofexcavation work;

• the placement of excavated material;

• a person inhaling or otherwise being exposed to, carbon monoxide or anotherimpurity of the air;

• contact with contaminated soil or excavated materials; and

• run-off of soil and materials onto roads and into drains and creek/catchmentareas.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Detection and Recording of Underground Service Locations An underground cable locator is to be used to identify the location and depth ofunderground services, prior to any excavation or digging activity >300mm deep,commencing within a BAC controlled area.

For specific operating instructions regarding the use of BAC underground cablelocators, refer to the High Risk Activities Guideline.

BAC will undertake all necessary investigations regarding excavations andunderground services prior to excavation or digging work commencing on site. Thisincludes the requirement to:

• use an underground cable / service locator to identify the location and depth ofservices;

• undertake site inspections to identify underground services using site drawingsand other visual indicators;










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• review current and controlled site service maps, plans, and underground

service drawings;• contact local authorities and service location record holders, where appropriate;

• investigate potential environment effects of the excavation activity and soil run-off paths into drains and catchment areas;

• investigate potential weather conditions that may impact on ground conditionsand spoil run off; and

• where relevant due to the depth or complex nature of the excavation, organisefor a geo-technical engineer to prepare a report with respect to the proposedexcavation activities.

Following these investigations, prescribed information relating to all services relevantto the excavation or digging are to be given to the relevant Work Coordinator with the

requirement for that person to properly instruct any worker or contractor involved in thework. This information is to be in writing with records maintained on site.

Note: Where specific excavation and digging controls are within the scope of work ofan appointed Principal Contractor on site, the Principal Contractor isresponsible for achieving the outcomes stated above. BAC may however,undertake consultation and assist the Principal Contractor by providing BACsite-specific information.

Following any BAC controlled work or Principal Contractor project work involving themodification of existing services or installation of new services, BAC are to ensure thatrelevant steps are taken to update and approve existing BAC service drawings and

plans.

Excavation and Digging ControlsPrior to excavation work commencing, planning and relevant measures are to be takento ensure the stability of nearby buildings, adjoining structures, routes, roads and theedges of existing excavations, relative to the excavation work.










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As part of implementing excavation and digging controls, a Risk Assessment & Excavation Permit Form is to be documented in accordance with the following:

As part of pre-planning and completing the above form to ensure safe excavationworks, BAC personnel or contractors are to consider the following:

• underground service locations and depths;• the nature of the work location, including weather issues;

• the nature of the work activities to be undertaken in and around the excavation;

• earthmoving machinery operational issues;

• issues relating to the placement of excavated material / spoil;

• the need for safe access provisions in to and out of the excavation; and

• environmental issues relating to soil run-off onto roadways and footpaths andinto drains, creeks and other catchment areas.

Note: Consultation between the relevant Work Coordinator and BAC’s Environmentaland Safety Teams may need to be undertaken prior to excavation and

trenching activities commencing.

Prior to excavation work commencing, the ground is to be marked (eg pressure paintspray) to indicate safe areas where excavations can be undertaken and to clearly markin a different way/colour, any services traversing the general excavation area.

Is a specifiedexcavation

task required?

A Risk Assessment &Excavation Permit isto be documented as

part of the workprocess

Excavation or digging tasks at a depth of>300mm. This excludes the movement ofspoil piles, clearing of drains, or gardeningtasks within established garden beds whereservices are known not to exist.

Yes

The work is to be undertaken byBAC / the contractor in accordance

with their documented companysafety procedures, BAC site specific

rules / access requirements. Thismay include the need to develop a

Work Method Statement / Safe WorkPlan.

No

http://www.bne.com.au/files/doc/Excavation%20Risk%20Assessment%20and%20Permit.doc














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Wherever practicable, controls such as the following are to be erected to exclude entryto any excavation or trench where the public or workers not involved in the activity maybe at risk due to its location and accessibility:

• 900mm high barricades or hoardings; and

• signage (‘Danger – Do Not Enter’) hung independently or from barriers /hoardings.

All excavations and trenches over 1.5 metres in depth, where entry is required, are tobe either shored, battered back or benched unless a geo-technical engineer confirmsin writing it is stable.

All excavations and trenches less than 1.5 metres in depth, with unstable rock, soil orparticularly sandy locations, where entry is required, are also to be shored, battered

back or benched in a manner deemed appropriate by a Competent Person.

Installation and removal of shoring is to take place from outside the trench inaccordance with the requirements of the shoring manufacturer or engineer whererelevant.

Non-proprietary shoring is to be designed by a suitably qualified engineer, andinstalled by trained personnel only after a Competent Person has inspected the trench,assessed the shoring and approved the use of the shoring.

Note: Refer to additional information within the ‘Competent Person’ definition.

Battering is to be at an angle of 45° or less to the horizontal and start no higher than1.5 metres above the bottom of the trench or excavation, unless a geo-technicalengineer has approved a greater batter angle in writing.

Each bench cut into the side of the excavation or trench must be no higher than it iswide and step dimensions are to be no greater than 1.5 metres unless a geo-technicalengineer has approved a greater height or dimension in writing.

Covers are to be placed on unattended excavations where practicable on site.

Where practicable, barricades and signs are to be used at safe distances from edges(at least 2m back) to protect unattended excavations that cannot be practicallycovered. Barricading around an open excavation should encompass spoil piles andearthmoving plant in close proximity to edges where practicable.










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No person is to work alone in an excavation or trench that is greater than 1.5 metresdeep.

Note: The intent of this requirement is to ensure that personnel do not work withinthese potentially hazardous environments in isolation from other workers orpersonnel who could initiate emergency response.

For excavations greater than 1.5m requiring entry, a Competent Person is toundertake as a minimum, daily inspections of trenches and excavations prior to entry.Details of these inspections are to be recorded in an Excavation Log on site, refer to Attachment 1 for a blank extract.

A safe means of access and egress is to be provided into excavations and trenches

requiring access. Where a trench cannot simply be walked into by workers, laddersproviding a safe access and egress are to be placed in every 9 metre length of trenchwhere workers are required to work. Ladders should also extend at least one metreabove the edge of the trench.

Where a person may fall greater than 2m into an excavation or a lesser height where asignificant injury would be likely, working at height controls as per the Work at Heights Corporate Standard are to be implemented.

Machinery is not to be located in or near excavations and trenches where exhaustfumes may contaminate below ground atmospheres that workers are required toaccess.

Note: To a lesser degree, air tools connected into poorly maintained air compressorsmay also present an exhaust fume hazard, specifically, carbon monoxide.

Mobile plant, materials and spoil are to be kept at least 600mm from the sides of atrench or excavation or at distances that ensures they do not endanger a personbelow.

Note: Buffer boards or rails may be positioned adjacent to the edges of excavationsto provide a warning to mobile plant operators who may be required to positionplant in close proximity to the edge or for frequent loading and unloading tasks.

Where caissons and/or cofferdams are used, they are to be of a sound construction,secured in position to prevent movement and consist of a safe means of access.

If, during any excavation or digging work activity, a person identifies unstable rock orsoil or movement that could place themself or others at risk, they are to report thisissue to the Work Coordinator who is to ensure activities are temporarily stoppedand/or additional controls are implemented to ensure personnel safety, as deemedappropriate.

http://www.bne.com.au/files/doc/Excavation%20Log.doc

http://www.bne.com.au/files/pdf/Work%20at%20Heights%20Management%20Corporate%20Standard.pdf
















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Where a Work Coordinator identifies during the work planning and Excavation Permitprocess that a trench or excavation may contain, or has the potential to contain anunsafe atmosphere, specific controls are to be implemented to maintain a safeatmosphere with atmospheric checks made as deemed appropriate.

Note: Refer also to the Confined Space Corporate Standard for detail regardingatmospheric testing / monitoring protocols. Where a safe atmosphere cannotbe ensured, confined space controls are to be implemented.

Where new underground services are located on site or where the path of anunderground service is modified in any way, the following measures are to beimplemented to provide future warning to those who may excavate or dig in the area:

• the new services are to be entrenched in or filled in with sand; and

• colour coded marker tape and/or wire is to be located approximately 200mmabove the service.

The underground services are to be identified via the marker tape/wire colours andrequirements as detailed in Attachment 2 – Underground Marking Tape Guide.

Training and Competency ConsiderationsOnly competent BAC personnel or contractors are to coordinate or supervise worktasks within excavations, operate specific earthmoving plant or decide on specificshoring and/or excavation collapse controls.

As there are a range of excavation scenarios and activities performed by BAC

personnel and competency is not only achieved via training, not all personnel will berequired to be trained to the same level.

http://www.bne.com.au/files/pdf/Confined%20Space%20Management%20Corporate%20Standard.pdf











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Following is a summary table that may be used as a guide throughout BAC todetermine training needs for its personnel.

Training Type Target Group / Excavation Activities

Excavation BACsystemawarenesssessions

Personnel who undertake basic excavation activities such as:

• low depth digging tasks that do not require the use ofearthmoving plant; and

• fence erection or minor excavation at depths exceeding300mm but less than 1.5m,

Personnel required to use equipment to undertakeunderground service location and depth detection tasks.

Personnel required to authorise contractor excavation anddigging works.

Prescribedoccupationtraining andcompetencyassessment

Personnel required to operate and have a licence forearthmoving plant, including:

• dozers, graders, scrapers; and

• excavators, front-end loaders, backhoes, rollers, skid steerloaders – with an engine capacity of more than 2 litres.

Records of training, attendance at BAC excavation awareness sessions or otherspecialised earthmoving plant training, (if applicable) are to be maintained and readilyaccessible.

CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT

Contract Documentation & Provision of Information As part of establishing contractual arrangements for contractors to access BAClocations and undertake excavation works, BAC is to provide the following informationto contractors as appropriate for the scope of the work:

• this Excavation Management Corporate Standard;

• access to a copy of the Risk Assessment & Excavation Permit Form;

• access to necessary drawings, plans / maps relating to underground services andother prescribed information (as defined); and

• the identity of relevant BAC personnel who may authorise specified excavationtasks that require a Permit.










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As part of OH&S related documentation typically requested of contractors procured toundertake work for BAC, contractors are to provide the following details with respect toexcavation and digging:

• content confirming that all personnel involved with earthmoving plant operation areadequately trained and posses the correct prescribed occupation licence toundertake the type of plant operation required;

• content confirming that all earthmoving plant, shoring controls and other relevantequipment, etc have been adequately maintained, inspected and tested;

• content confirming that all personnel involved with excavation and digging worksare aware of the intended scope of work, nature of the work locations, and BAC’sexcavation management and work expectations; and

• content relating to specific excavation and collapse methods (for excavationsdeeper than 1.5m) that will be undertaken.

Excavation and Digging WorksContractors must obtain BAC access authority prior to undertaking a specifiedexcavation or digging task, outlined below:

This authority is to be recorded within the Risk Assessment & Excavation Permit Form

once the contractor has completed relevant pre-work planning. The identity of theBAC person responsible for authorising such access is to be communicated to thecontractor prior to access preparations or work commencing.

Contractors may use the content within this section of this document to ensure thatthey:

• have undertaken adequate planning;

• have prepared suitable control methods; and

• do not overlook any minimum requirements that BAC have established for safemanagement of excavation works.

Following excavation work, completed Risk Assessment & Excavation Permit documentation is to be returned to BAC excavation authorising personnel.

Excavation or digging tasks at a depth of>300mm. This excludes the movement ofspoil piles, clearing of drains, or gardeningtasks within established garden beds whereservices are known not to exist.










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RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

BAC Management

• Ensure adequate resources (time, equipment, personnel) are allocated for theeffective implementation of this Corporate Standard.

Occupational Health and Safety Manager

• Maintain the currency and accuracy of this Corporate Standard, reflective oflegislative requirements and BAC needs.

• Review performance of BAC and contracted personnel with respect to thisCorporate Standard.

• Ensure adequate training is afforded and maintained for BAC personnel involvedwith managing excavation work.

• Ensure adequate contract management arrangements, including the provision ofprescribed information, are in place for contracted activities involving excavationworks.

Permit Authorisers

• Review the planning component of Risk Assessment & Excavation Permits.

• Authorise the commencement of excavation work in accordance with the PermitRequest.

Work Coordinators

• Coordinate excavation and digging in accordance with Risk Assessment &Excavation Permit requirements.

• Implement all planned and necessary controls to ensure safe excavation anddigging work.

• Monitor excavation hazards and control methods throughout the work, includingthe need to maintain an excavation log where applicable.

• Ensure that only trained / competent personnel who have been instructed aboutthe excavation hazards and safety requirements undertake the excavation / diggingwork.

Personnel undertaking Excavation or Digging Works

• Undertake excavation or digging as per Risk Assessment & Excavation Permit requirements, excavation management corporate standard requirements and the

instructions of Work Coordinators.










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REVIEW

The content of this Corporate Standard, inclusive of referenced attachments, recordsand forms, is to be reviewed at a period not exceeding two years from the issue date.

This review is to be undertaken to ensure that the content is still relevant with respectto legislative requirements and BAC’s management of excavation hazards. It is to becoordinated by the Occupational Health and Safety Manager or specified designate,and involve BAC personnel who manage excavation works.

REFERENCES

QLD Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 – Part 20 AS 1345: Identification of the Contents of Pipes, Conduits and Ducts AS 2700: Colour Standards for General Purposes AS/NZS 2648.1: Underground Marking Tape, Part 1: Non-Detectable Tape

Confined Space Corporate Standard Work at Heights Corporate Standard High Risk Activities GuidelineRisk Assessment & Excavation Permit Form Excavation Log

ATTACHMENTS

1. Excavation Log Extract2. Underground Marking Tape Guide

http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/W/WorkplHSaR08.pdf





http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/W/WorkplHSaR08.pdf














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At tachment 1 – Excavat ion Log Extract

Note: This is an extract only, simply to provide context to the reader with respect to thelayout of the Excavation Log.










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At tachment 2 – Underground Marking Tape Guide

Underground Service Identification ColoursFrom AS/NZS 2648.1: Underground Marking Tape, Part 1: Non-Detectable Tape –Table 1

Underground Service Tape Colour

Electricity Orange

Gas Yellow

Water Green

Communications White

Fire-fighting Red

Sewerage Cream

Reclaimed Water Purple

Note 1: Identification colours for other underground services should be of a brightcolour. Guidance may be obtained from AS 1345: Identification of theContents of Pipes, Conduits and Ducts and AS 2700: Colour Standards forGeneral Purposes.

Note 2: The use of the colour canary yellow to identify pipelines containing gases isadopted in AS/NZS 2648.1, as this is the colour commonly used in Australiato identify gas pipes by gas supply authorities and users. It should be notedhowever, that AS 1345: Identification of the Contents of Pipes, Conduitsand Ducts specifies a colour of light beige for this purpose, this being theinternationally agreed colour.

Additional Underground Service Marking Tape RequirementsFrom AS/NZS 2648.1: Underground Marking Tape, Part 1: Non-Detectable Tape

Detection Wire lines or traces may also be located with marker tape to enableeasy service detection as well as a visual marker to identify servicelocation.

Tape Width The minimum nominal width is to be 75mm.Preferred nominal widths are 100mm and 150mm.

Marking Warning lettering printed in the tape is to be black in colour and of a

minimum size of 25mm.The text is to be repeated at intervals of not more than 1m.

TearResistance

Longitudinal direction – not less than 3.0 N.Transverse direction – not less than 3.5 N.

Note: Additional requirements in relation to tape properties are included within AS/NZS 2648.1.










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AMMENDMENT SHEET RECORD

Issue Rev Date Initiator Reason Section Summary of Amendments

HARDCOPY DISTRIBUTION RECORD

Location of Controlled Hard Copy Copy No.

Excavation Management Corporate Standard

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