Excavation Inspection Requirements

Excavation inspections are a legal requirement under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 Schedule 3 and CDM 2015.
Inspections must be carried out by a competent person with sufficient training, knowledge, and experience in excavation hazards.
Every excavation must be inspected before any person enters it for the first time on any working day.
Inspections must also occur at the start of every shift where work is ongoing and after any event affecting stability.
Events triggering an additional inspection include heavy rain, flooding, frost, vibration from plant, and any ground movement.
The inspection must check the excavation support system, ground conditions, access and egress, and edge protection.
Water ingress, cracking of the ground surface, and bulging of trench walls are signs of imminent collapse requiring immediate action.
Inspection results must be recorded in writing and kept available on site for review by the HSE or client.
Reports must be completed before the end of the working period in which the inspection was carried out.
The competent person has the authority to stop work and evacuate the excavation if conditions are unsafe.

Prevent burial	Inspections catch deteriorating conditions before they cause collapse — ground conditions change faster than most people expect.
Legal requirement	Work at Height Regulations Schedule 3 requires inspection before first use, every shift, and after adverse events — with written records.
Authority to stop	The competent inspector has the authority and responsibility to evacuate the excavation if any concern about stability exists.

Do

Don't

Inspect every excavation before any person enters it at the start of each day.
Carry out additional inspections at every shift change during continuous operations.
Re-inspect after heavy rain, flooding, frost, vibration, or any ground movement.
Check the support system, ground conditions, access, egress, and edge protection.
Look for water ingress, surface cracking, and wall bulging as signs of instability.
Record inspection results in writing before the end of the working period.
Keep inspection reports on site and available for HSE or client review.
Use only competent persons with excavation knowledge to carry out formal inspections.
Stop work and evacuate the excavation if any unsafe condition is identified.
Brief the excavation team on the inspection findings before they enter.

DON'T allow anyone into an excavation that has not been inspected that day.
DON'T skip the shift-change inspection on continuous excavation operations.
DON'T enter an excavation after heavy rain without a re-inspection by a competent person.
DON'T limit the inspection to a glance — systematically check supports, walls, and access.
DON'T ignore cracking, bulging, or water seepage — they indicate imminent collapse.
DON'T delay recording the inspection — complete the report before the shift ends.
DON'T lose inspection records — they must be available on site for review.
DON'T allow unqualified persons to carry out formal excavation inspections.
DON'T override the inspector's decision to stop work — the excavation must be evacuated.
DON'T assume yesterday's inspection is valid today — conditions change overnight.

See also: Excavation Safety Awareness | Trench Collapse Prevention

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