{"id":574,"date":"2025-05-04T09:40:48","date_gmt":"2025-05-04T09:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hazardco.com\/nz\/?p=574"},"modified":"2025-05-05T23:39:06","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T23:39:06","slug":"managing-the-health-and-safety-risks-associated-with-excavation-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hazardco.com\/nz\/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 time to plan things out. Planning means identifying the hazards, assessing the risks, and deciding suitable controls – with input from the team. Make sure an emergency plan is in place in case something goes wrong. Every site is different, so take its unique features into account when planning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Watch out for these common excavation risks:<\/b><\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Securing the area<\/b>
    \n<\/b> Keep excavations securely 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’s a chance someone could fall into the excavation, that\u2019s considered working at height. Make sure you\u2019ve got the right safety controls in place such as edge protection, guardrails or barriers.<\/span> Click here<\/span><\/a> to see guidance on how to reduce fall risks.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Ground collapse<\/b>
    \n<\/b> This is one of the biggest dangers. Don\u2019t assume the ground will stay stable. Use shoring, shielding, benching, or battering appropriate to the soil type and excavation depth to prevent it from caving in. Make sure a competent person inspects the excavation daily and after any event that could affect stability e.g. heavy rain.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Safe ways in and out<\/b>
    \n<\/b> Make sure workers have safe access and egress at all times. Keep ladders, ramps, stairs in good condition and ensure the bottom of the excavation is clear to allow a quick and easy exit if needed.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Underground and overhead services<\/b>
    \n<\/b> Always check for underground and overhead services before you dig. Use tools like <\/span>    beforeudig<\/span><\/a> to locate underground services. Hidden services if struck can cause serious injury or worse.<\/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 such as dewatering methods, and a competent person has checked the excavation stability<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Do you need to notify WorkSafe?<\/b>
    \n<\/b>Some excavation work must be notified to WorkSafe NZ before you begin. If that\u2019s the case, fill out the <\/span>    Particular Hazardous Work notification form<\/b><\/a> at least 24 hours before work begins.<\/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 time to plan things […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":575,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[11],"class_list":["post-574","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-en-nz","tag-safety"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDig Smart: How to stay safe around excavation work - HazardCo NZ<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Digging into the ground might seem straightforward, but it\u2019s 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\/nz\/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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