EXC/Hazards/TBT-EXC-015

Pipe Laying in Trenches

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Pipe Laying in Trenches

Toolbox Talk Record

Ref: TBT-EXC-015  |  Issue: 1  |  Date: March 2026
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What?

  • Pipe laying in trenches combines excavation hazards with manual handling, lifting, and confined space risks.
  • Trench collapse during pipe laying operations is a major cause of fatality — walls can collapse without warning.
  • Adequate trench support or battering must be in place before anyone enters the trench for pipe work.
  • Safe access and egress must be provided at regular intervals — typically every 15 metres of trench length.
  • Pipes are lowered into trenches using excavators or cranes — workers must be clear during lowering operations.
  • Bedding and sidefill material must be carefully placed and compacted without damaging the pipe.
  • Manual handling of pipes, couplings, and fittings in restricted trench space causes back and shoulder injuries.
  • Existing buried services must be located and marked before and during trench excavation for pipe laying.
  • Trench excavation near highways requires traffic management and may be affected by vibration from passing vehicles.
  • The trench must be inspected at the start of each shift and after rainfall by a competent person.

Why?

Trench collapseUnsupported trench walls can collapse onto workers in seconds — burial under soil is frequently fatal.
Struck by loadsPipes being lowered into trenches can swing, roll, or be dropped, striking workers below.
Manual handlingWorking in restricted trench spaces with heavy pipes and fittings causes high rates of musculoskeletal injury.
Do Don't
  • Install trench support or bat the sides before anyone enters the excavation
  • Provide safe access and egress points at maximum 15 metre intervals
  • Inspect the trench at the start of each shift and after any rainfall
  • Clear all workers from the trench before lowering pipes with plant
  • Use mechanical aids to handle and position heavy pipes where practicable
  • Locate and mark all existing buried services before and during excavation
  • Place bedding and sidefill material carefully to avoid pipe damage
  • Deploy traffic management where the trench is adjacent to a live highway
  • Brief the pipe laying team on the trench support type and inspection findings
  • Keep spoil heaps at least 1.5 metres back from the trench edge
  • DON'T enter an unsupported trench deeper than 1.2 metres under any circumstances
  • DON'T remain in the trench while pipes are being lowered by machine
  • DON'T stockpile spoil, materials, or plant close to the trench edge
  • DON'T work in a trench without a means of escape within 15 metres
  • DON'T dig without checking for buried services using CAT, Genny, and plans
  • DON'T compact backfill directly over the pipe crown without protective cover
  • DON'T lift heavy pipes manually without a handling assessment and aids
  • DON'T continue working in a trench showing signs of cracking or bulging walls
  • DON'T leave the trench open and unguarded at the end of the working day
  • DON'T skip the daily trench inspection even if conditions appear unchanged

See also: Trench Collapse Prevention | Safe Access and Egress From Excavations
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