Excavation site accidents are something that every responsible person wants to avoid no matter what.
Still, with people being people and external factors continuously popping out, this may be easier said than done, because accidents happen.
The best way to come to an end to excavation site accidents is to prevent them.
Here is how it can be done in three simple steps that are easy to implement and follow to prevent excavation site accidents.
Use The Right Gear Equipment
Excavation sites are always covered with heavy or less heavy equipment that helps enables the job to be completed within the promised deadline.
Experienced site managers know that the right gear is ‘’a must’’ and something that helps not only complete but also conduct a deal.
This is why vacuum trucks are a must on almost every site: they cut costs, they are efficient and time-saving, and vacuum trucks in Canada most versatile trucks in North America.
These trucks are not only efficient and versatile, but they come in both wet and dry modes, making them a financially wise decision.
Pro tip: Always keep any equipment, especially heavy ones, away from trench edges.
Unsafe Soil-Pile Placements
This is something that you should always think about. Unsafe soil-pile placements can not only destroy equipment but can also take lives.
Make sure that you check the soil and conduct the necessary steps to keep workers safe and equipment in the best shape possible.
Here is how you can do it:
- Set equipment at least 2 feet back from the excavation
- To prevent equipment or spoils from falling back into the excavation use some sort of retaining device, such as a trench box
- Keep heavy equipment far from trench edges *2 feet is a minimum
- Inspect trenches from the start
- Do not work under raised loads
Last but not least, make sure that workers understand why safety matters.
In other words make sure that they wear high-visibility or any other clothing when exposed to traffic or on the site, especially on days of poor weather.
There Must Be A Safe Entrance And Exit
OSHA requires employers to protect their workers by enabling safe spaces, such as ladders, ramps, or stairways.
These safe areas will often vary from site to site, but one remains the same – an entrance and an exit must exist.
Within the cave, a protective system must be well-implemented because survival depends on how quickly workers can get out.
In practice this means that there must be:
- A non-slip surface
- Areas must be of unrestricted space to avoid tripping
- Any possible scenario must be designed by a competent person
The Bottom Line
Protect workers from excavation, or any other challenge, by implementing a warning system, such as stop logs, when mobile equipment is operated, communicate rules on the site, and protect workers both on lower and higher levels.
Also important: ask workers to stand/stay away from vehicles while they are being loaded or unloaded – you will be surprised to learn how often people put their lives at risk in these ‘typical’ scenes.
