{"id":640,"date":"2025-05-04T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-04T07:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hazardco.com\/au\/?p=640"},"modified":"2025-05-05T23:52:05","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T23:52:05","slug":"managing-the-health-and-safety-risks-associated-with-excavation-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hazardco.com\/au\/blog\/managing-the-health-and-safety-risks-associated-with-excavation-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Dig Smart: how to stay safe around excavation work"},"content":{"rendered":"

Digging into the ground might seem straightforward, but excavation work is actually one of the most dangerous parts of construction. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to plan ahead and put the right safety measures in place to keep everyone safe on site.<\/span><\/p>\n

Start with a solid plan<\/b><\/h3>\n

Before you get started, take some time to plan things out. Planning involves identifying the hazards, assessing the risks, and deciding suitable controls \u2014 all with input from the team. Every site is different, so take its unique features into account.<\/span><\/p>\n

Watch out for these common excavation risks:<\/b><\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Securing the area<\/b>
    \n<\/b> Keep excavations fenced off with sturdy barriers that won\u2019t give way if someone leans or falls against them. If you\u2019re not actively working in or near the trench, cover it up or backfill it as soon as possible.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Falls from height<\/b>
    \n<\/b> If there\u2019s a chance someone could fall from one level to another, it\u2019s considered working at height. Make sure you have effective controls in place to prevent falls.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Ground collapse<\/b>
    \n<\/b> This is one of the biggest dangers. Don\u2019t assume the ground will stay put. Use shoring, benching, or battering to prevent it from caving in.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Safe ways in and out<\/b>
    \n<\/b> Make sure workers have safe access at all times. Keep the bottom of the excavation clear so nothing blocks a quick exit in an emergency.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Underground and overhead services<\/b>
    \n<\/b> Always contact<\/span> Before You Dig Australia<\/span><\/i>. Know what\u2019s under and above you \u2014 hidden services can be a major hazard if you hit them.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Water in the trench<\/b>
    \n<\/b> Never let workers operate in a trench that has water pooling in it unless you\u2019ve got the right safety controls in place.<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Do you need to notify construction excavation work?<\/b>
    \n<\/b>Some excavation work needs to be reported to WorkSafe Victoria before you begin. If that\u2019s the case, you will need to notify at least three days before work starts.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Keeping yourself and your team safe is what matters most. Make sure you\u2019re clear on your responsibilities when it comes to managing excavation risks.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Need a hand? The <\/span>HazardCo App<\/b> has helpful resources for site reviews and risk controls. And if you\u2019ve got questions or need support, just reach out to the HazardCo team<\/a> \u2013 we\u2019re here to help.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Digging into the ground might seem straightforward, but excavation work is actually one of the most dangerous parts of construction. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to plan ahead and put the right safety measures in place to keep everyone safe on site. Start with a solid plan Before you get started, take some time to plan […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3846,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[12],"class_list":["post-640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-en-au","tag-safety"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDig Smart: how to stay safe around excavation work - HazardCo AU<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Digging into the ground might seem straightforward, but excavation work is actually one of the most dangerous parts of construction.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hazardco.com\/au\/blog\/managing-the-health-and-safety-risks-associated-with-excavation-work\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dig Smart: how to stay safe around excavation work - 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