Do you plan to conduct excavation work? Oversights when preparing the site and operating the plant equipment could cause accidents at the site. Read this article for some vital safety measures when conducting excavation works. 

Site Inspection

Site inspections are an essential aspect of excavation works. Typically, the assessment helps you determine how safe it is to conduct the excavation. The site inspection should cover the following.

• The soil conditions at the site. For instance, you might need a tracked excavator when digging on clay or silt soils.
• The site risks. For example, underground utilities such as gas lines could get damaged as you excavate. Moreover, the excavator arm could get caught by electric lines.
• A geological survey will help you establish the presence of toxic underground gases and the location of underground reservoirs.
• The effect of the excavation work on nearby buildings. For instance, a foundation could sink if the excavation works are too close to it. 

Dealing With Cave-Ins

Cave-ins are a significant risk when conducting excavation works. Protective systems are a sure way to prevent cave-ins. For instance, sloping is an excavation technique where the side walls are cut at an angle to keep them stable as you excavate. On the other hand, benching creates small terraces or steps as you excavate. It keeps the walls strong during excavation. You could also shore the sidewalls with timber or hydraulic systems to keep them in place as you excavate. 

Site Safety 

The site must be safe for your employees and any other third parties who have access. Barricade the excavation area and install safety signage to warn people about deep excavations. Moreover, equip your employees with personal safety equipment. Safety harnesses are a must-have if employees have to access the hole. 

You must be cautious when using plant equipment at the site. Consider these safety measures.

• Choose an appropriate excavator. For instance, the excavator's arm should be longer than the depth of the trench or hole you intend to dig. This way, you do not have to operate the excavator close to the trench.
• Hire spotters or riggers to inform the plant operators about their blind spots.
• Inspect the plant equipment after every shift. It allows you to conduct repairs and maintenance at the earliest opportunity.
• Develop a traffic control plan to prevent collisions. For instance, you could prohibit trucks from entering the site when the excavators are in use. 

Excavation safety tips include site inspections, preventing cave-ins and observing the recommended site safety tips. 

For more information on excavation, contact a professional near you.

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