Excavation Safety Awareness

Excavation collapses kill and seriously injure construction workers in the UK every year.
One cubic metre of soil weighs roughly one tonne — enough to crush and suffocate a person.
All excavations must be inspected by a competent person before each shift and after any event likely to affect stability.
The CDM Regulations 2015 and HSE guidance HSG185 set out legal requirements for excavation work.
Ground conditions can change rapidly due to weather, vibration, or nearby loading from plant or materials.
Buried services including gas, electricity, and water pose a serious strike risk during excavation.
Safe access and egress must be provided — workers must never jump into or climb out of trenches.
Excavations deeper than 1.2 metres generally require formal support such as shoring or battering back.
Spoil, materials, and plant must be kept well back from excavation edges to prevent collapse.
An excavation permit system should be in place to control who digs, where, and under what conditions.

Prevent burial alive	Trench collapses are almost always fatal — a person buried under soil has only minutes before suffocation.
Legal compliance	CDM 2015 requires excavations to be managed safely; HSE prosecutes and issues prohibition notices for non-compliance.
Protect from service strikes	Hitting a live gas main or electricity cable during excavation can cause explosions, electrocution, and major disruption.
Protect the public	Unsecured excavations near public areas can cause falls, injuries, and significant liability for your employer.

Do

Don't

Obtain an excavation permit before any digging work begins on site.
Check for buried services using service plans and a CAT and Genny scan.
Ensure a competent person inspects the excavation at the start of each shift.
Install adequate support, shoring, or battering for all excavations over 1.2 metres.
Provide safe ladder access within the trench so workers can exit quickly.
Keep spoil heaps, materials, and plant at least 1.5 metres from the edge.
Install edge protection and barriers around all open excavations immediately.
Stop work and evacuate if you notice cracking, bulging, or water ingress.
Use stop blocks or banksmen to keep vehicles away from trench edges.
Record all inspections in writing and keep records available on site.

DON'T enter any excavation until it has been inspected and declared safe.
DON'T dig without checking service plans and scanning for buried utilities.
DON'T work in an unsupported trench deeper than 1.2 metres.
DON'T place any load, spoil, or plant close to the edge of an excavation.
DON'T jump into or climb out of excavations — always use the provided access.
DON'T remove shoring or support without authorisation from the competent person.
DON'T leave excavations open and unprotected overnight or during breaks.
DON'T ignore signs of ground movement such as cracking or water seepage.
DON'T allow vehicles to track along excavation edges without stop blocks in place.
DON'T assume ground conditions are stable — they can change within hours.

See also: Trench Collapse Prevention | CAT & Genny Safe Use

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