Pre-Job Planning for Excavations
Pre-job planning is essential to prevent accidents during trenching and excavation work. Safety measures cannot be improvised during excavation; they must be established before work begins.
A competent person is responsible for conducting pre-job planning and addressing the following concerns:
- Evaluate Soil Conditions: Assess the soil type and stability, and select appropriate protective systems.
- Construct Protective Systems: Build sloping, shoring, or shielding systems according to OSHA standards.
- Locate Utilities: Contact utility companies to identify underground gas, electric, or other utility lines.
- Plan Traffic Control: Establish traffic control measures if excavation work is near roadways or high-traffic areas.
- Consider Nearby Structures: Determine the proximity of buildings, walls, or other structures that could impact the choice of protective systems.
- Test for Hazardous Atmospheres: Check for low oxygen, toxic gases, or hazardous fumes, especially when gasoline-powered equipment is in use or soil may be contaminated from leaking tanks or lines.
- Provide Safe Access: Ensure ladders, ramps, or other safe means of entering and exiting the excavation are in place.
- Daily Inspections: Inspect the site at the start of each shift, after rain, or following any event that could increase hazards.