Excavation Management Corporate Standard

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard
Topic:
EXCAVATION MANAGEMENT
Corporate Standard
Excavation Management
Contents
Scope...............................................................................................................2
Purpose ...........................................................................................................2
Definitions ........................................................................................................2
Hazards / Background .....................................................................................4
Specific Requirements .....................................................................................4
Contractor Management ................................................................................10
Responsibilities And Accountabilities.............................................................12
Review ...........................................................................................................13
References ....................................................................................................13
Attachments...................................................................................................13
Uncontrolled if Printed
Topic:
Date Issued
October 2008
Version No:
1.0
Date of Revision:
October 2010
Document Location
G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

High Risk Activities\Excavation\Excavation Management Corporate Standard.doc
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SCOPE
This corporate standard applies to all excavation and digging activities located within a
BAC controlled area.
PURPOSE
To define the principles and minimum requirements for managing excavation hazards
and the processes by which safe excavation and digging works are controlled.
DEFINITIONS
Battering back Means the process of removing material around a trench or
excavation such that the walls are sloped back at an angle rather than vertical.
Benching Means the process of removing material around a trench or excavation
such that the walls are stepped or benched back rather than vertical.
Buffer board A board, railing or similar structure that is secured in place adjacent
to an excavation that provides a guide to plant operators of the limit that they may
approach an edge.
Caisson A structure that provides an underground passageway or a passageway
through water.
Cofferdam A temporary wall erected to exclude water from an area normally under
water.
Competent Person A person who has, through a combination of training, education
and experience, acquired knowledge and skills enabling that person to perform
correctly the specified task.
Note: For the use, installation, inspection, and placement of sheeting or timber
shoring for the shoring of a trench the competent person must be a person who
has specific experience and knowledge as detailed in Sections 310 & 313 of
the WH&S Regulation 2008.
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Digging Any activity involving the use of hand tools or the insertion of objects into
the ground, (eg driving a picket or boring of holes), whereby earth, rock, sand, soil or
other material is moved or displaced.
Note: This does not include the movement of spoil piles, clearing of drains, or
gardening tasks within established garden beds were services are known not to
exist.
Excavating Any activity that results in a hole in the earth or face of the earth after a
material has been moved or removed.
Excavation A hole in the earth, or face of earth, formed after rock, sand, soil or other
material is removed.
Geo-technical Engineer Means a person who
is a registered professional engineer under the Professional Engineers Act
1988; and
holds a professional engineering qualification relevant to geo-technology
(including a civil engineer).
Prescribed Information About an underground service, means the information
about the service necessary to safely do excavation work at or near the service,
including:
the location of the service;
the type of the service;
the depth of the service;
for an electrical service whether the service is or is not live; and
the restrictions to be followed in doing the work.
Shoring A system of temporary supports and sheeting material used to maintain the
stability of the sides of an excavation.
Trench An excavation where the maximum depth is more than the minimum width.
Underground Service A cable, pipe or other thing laid or installed underground for
the transmission, transportation or storage of electricity, or a substance, including
telephone and gas service lines.
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HAZARDS / BACKGROUND
History has shown that fatalities have occurred in trenches as shallow as 1.2 metres
following a collapse of the excavation sides. The risk of death, as well as additional
risks relating to: contact of underground services; falls into excavations and leaching
of dangerous levels of gases from soils, mean that specific controls must be
considered by BAC and contractors while working on site.
BAC recognise that a range of excavation and digging tasks are undertaken
throughout its operations and aim to implement effective excavation standards and
provide proactive means of controlling the related risks:
underground services;
the collapse of the excavation;
objects or persons falling into the excavation;
nearby traffic hazards and hazards that the excavation work may cause for
road users;
adjacent buildings, routes or roads that could become unstable as a result of
excavation work;
the placement of excavated material;
a person inhaling or otherwise being exposed to, carbon monoxide or another
impurity of the air;
contact with contaminated soil or excavated materials; and
run-off of soil and materials onto roads and into drains and creek/catchment
areas.
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
Detection and Recording of Underground Service Locations
An underground cable locator is to be used to identify the location and depth of
underground services, prior to any excavation or digging activity >300mm deep,
commencing within a BAC controlled area.
For specific operating instructions regarding the use of BAC underground cable
locators, refer to the High Risk Activities Guideline.
BAC will undertake all necessary investigations regarding excavations and
underground services prior to excavation or digging work commencing on site. This
includes the requirement to:
use an underground cable / service locator to identify the location and depth of
services;
undertake site inspections to identify underground services using site drawings
and other visual indicators;
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review current and controlled site service maps, plans, and underground
service drawings;
contact local authorities and service location record holders, where appropriate;
investigate potential environment effects of the excavation activity and soil runoff paths into drains and catchment areas;
investigate potential weather conditions that may impact on ground conditions
and spoil run off; and
where relevant due to the depth or complex nature of the excavation, organise
for a geo-technical engineer to prepare a report with respect to the proposed
excavation activities.
Following these investigations, prescribed information relating to all services relevant

to the excavation or digging are to be given to the relevant Work Coordinator with the
requirement for that person to properly instruct any worker or contractor involved in the
work. This information is to be in writing with records maintained on site.
Note: Where specific excavation and digging controls are within the scope of work of
an appointed Principal Contractor on site, the Principal Contractor is
responsible for achieving the outcomes stated above. BAC may however,
undertake consultation and assist the Principal Contractor by providing BAC
site-specific information.
Following any BAC controlled work or Principal Contractor project work involving the
modification of existing services or installation of new services, BAC are to ensure that
relevant steps are taken to update and approve existing BAC service drawings and
plans.
Excavation and Digging Controls
Prior to excavation work commencing, planning and relevant measures are to be taken
to ensure the stability of nearby buildings, adjoining structures, routes, roads and the
edges of existing excavations, relative to the excavation work.
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As part of implementing excavation and digging controls, a Risk Assessment &

Excavation Permit Form is to be documented in accordance with the following:
Excavation or digging tasks at a depth of
>300mm. This excludes the movement of
spoil piles, clearing of drains, or gardening
tasks within established garden beds where
services are known not to exist.
Is a specified
excavation
task required?
Yes
No
The work is to be undertaken by
BAC / the contractor in accordance
with their documented company
safety procedures, BAC site specific
rules / access requirements. This
may include the need to develop a
Work Method Statement / Safe Work
Plan.
A Risk Assessment &

Excavation Permit is
to be documented as
part of the work
process
As part of pre-planning and completing the above form to ensure safe excavation
works, BAC personnel or contractors are to consider the following:
underground service locations and depths;
the nature of the work location, including weather issues;
the nature of the work activities to be undertaken in and around the excavation;
earthmoving machinery operational issues;
issues relating to the placement of excavated material / spoil;
the need for safe access provisions in to and out of the excavation; and
environmental issues relating to soil run-off onto roadways and footpaths and
into drains, creeks and other catchment areas.
Note: Consultation between the relevant Work Coordinator and BACs Environmental
and Safety Teams may need to be undertaken prior to excavation and
trenching activities commencing.
Prior to excavation work commencing, the ground is to be marked (eg pressure paint
spray) to indicate safe areas where excavations can be undertaken and to clearly mark
in a different way/colour, any services traversing the general excavation area.
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Wherever practicable, controls such as the following are to be erected to exclude entry
to any excavation or trench where the public or workers not involved in the activity may
be at risk due to its location and accessibility:
900mm high barricades or hoardings; and
signage (Danger Do Not Enter) hung independently or from barriers /
hoardings.
All excavations and trenches over 1.5 metres in depth, where entry is required, are to
be either shored, battered back or benched unless a geo-technical engineer confirms
in writing it is stable.
All excavations and trenches less than 1.5 metres in depth, with unstable rock, soil or
particularly sandy locations, where entry is required, are also to be shored, battered
back or benched in a manner deemed appropriate by a Competent Person.
Installation and removal of shoring is to take place from outside the trench in
accordance with the requirements of the shoring manufacturer or engineer where
relevant.
Non-proprietary shoring is to be designed by a suitably qualified engineer, and
installed by trained personnel only after a Competent Person has inspected the trench,
assessed the shoring and approved the use of the shoring.
Note:
Refer to additional information within the Competent Person definition.
Battering is to be at an angle of 45 or less to the horizontal and start no higher than

1.5 metres above the bottom of the trench or excavation, unless a geo-technical
engineer has approved a greater batter angle in writing.
Each bench cut into the side of the excavation or trench must be no higher than it is
wide and step dimensions are to be no greater than 1.5 metres unless a geo-technical
engineer has approved a greater height or dimension in writing.
Covers are to be placed on unattended excavations where practicable on site.
Where practicable, barricades and signs are to be used at safe distances from edges
(at least 2m back) to protect unattended excavations that cannot be practically
covered. Barricading around an open excavation should encompass spoil piles and
earthmoving plant in close proximity to edges where practicable.
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No person is to work alone in an excavation or trench that is greater than 1.5 metres
deep.
Note: The intent of this requirement is to ensure that personnel do not work within
these potentially hazardous environments in isolation from other workers or
personnel who could initiate emergency response.
For excavations greater than 1.5m requiring entry, a Competent Person is to
undertake as a minimum, daily inspections of trenches and excavations prior to entry.
Details of these inspections are to be recorded in an Excavation Log on site, refer to
Attachment 1 for a blank extract.
A safe means of access and egress is to be provided into excavations and trenches
requiring access. Where a trench cannot simply be walked into by workers, ladders
providing a safe access and egress are to be placed in every 9 metre length of trench
where workers are required to work. Ladders should also extend at least one metre
above the edge of the trench.
Where a person may fall greater than 2m into an excavation or a lesser height where a
significant injury would be likely, working at height controls as per the Work at Heights
Corporate Standard are to be implemented.
Machinery is not to be located in or near excavations and trenches where exhaust
fumes may contaminate below ground atmospheres that workers are required to
access.
Note: To a lesser degree, air tools connected into poorly maintained air compressors
may also present an exhaust fume hazard, specifically, carbon monoxide.
Mobile plant, materials and spoil are to be kept at least 600mm from the sides of a
trench or excavation or at distances that ensures they do not endanger a person
below.
Note: Buffer boards or rails may be positioned adjacent to the edges of excavations
to provide a warning to mobile plant operators who may be required to position
plant in close proximity to the edge or for frequent loading and unloading tasks.
Where caissons and/or cofferdams are used, they are to be of a sound construction,
secured in position to prevent movement and consist of a safe means of access.
If, during any excavation or digging work activity, a person identifies unstable rock or
soil or movement that could place themself or others at risk, they are to report this
issue to the Work Coordinator who is to ensure activities are temporarily stopped
and/or additional controls are implemented to ensure personnel safety, as deemed
appropriate.
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Where a Work Coordinator identifies during the work planning and Excavation Permit
process that a trench or excavation may contain, or has the potential to contain an
unsafe atmosphere, specific controls are to be implemented to maintain a safe
atmosphere with atmospheric checks made as deemed appropriate.
Note:
Refer also to the Confined Space Corporate Standard for detail regarding
atmospheric testing / monitoring protocols. Where a safe atmosphere cannot
be ensured, confined space controls are to be implemented.
Where new underground services are located on site or where the path of an
underground service is modified in any way, the following measures are to be
implemented to provide future warning to those who may excavate or dig in the area:
the new services are to be entrenched in or filled in with sand; and
colour coded marker tape and/or wire is to be located approximately 200mm
above the service.
The underground services are to be identified via the marker tape/wire colours and
requirements as detailed in Attachment 2 Underground Marking Tape Guide.
Training and Competency Considerations
Only competent BAC personnel or contractors are to coordinate or supervise work
tasks within excavations, operate specific earthmoving plant or decide on specific
shoring and/or excavation collapse controls.
As there are a range of excavation scenarios and activities performed by BAC
personnel and competency is not only achieved via training, not all personnel will be
required to be trained to the same level.
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Following is a summary table that may be used as a guide throughout BAC to

determine training needs for its personnel.
Training Type
Excavation BAC
system
awareness
sessions
Target Group / Excavation Activities

Personnel who undertake basic excavation activities such as:
low depth digging tasks that do not require the use of
earthmoving plant; and
fence erection or minor excavation at depths exceeding
300mm but less than 1.5m,
Personnel required to use equipment to undertake
underground service location and depth detection tasks.
Personnel required to authorise contractor excavation and
digging works.
Personnel required to operate and have a licence for
earthmoving plant, including:
dozers, graders, scrapers; and
excavators, front-end loaders, backhoes, rollers, skid steer
loaders with an engine capacity of more than 2 litres.
Prescribed
occupation
training and
competency
assessment
Records of training, attendance at BAC excavation awareness sessions or other

specialised earthmoving plant training, (if applicable) are to be maintained and readily
accessible.
CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT
Contract Documentation & Provision of Information
As part of establishing contractual arrangements for contractors to access BAC
locations and undertake excavation works, BAC is to provide the following information
to contractors as appropriate for the scope of the work:
this Excavation Management Corporate Standard;
access to a copy of the Risk Assessment & Excavation Permit Form;
access to necessary drawings, plans / maps relating to underground services and
other prescribed information (as defined); and
the identity of relevant BAC personnel who may authorise specified excavation
tasks that require a Permit.
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As part of OH&S related documentation typically requested of contractors procured to

undertake work for BAC, contractors are to provide the following details with respect to
excavation and digging:
content confirming that all personnel involved with earthmoving plant operation are
adequately trained and posses the correct prescribed occupation licence to
undertake the type of plant operation required;
content confirming that all earthmoving plant, shoring controls and other relevant
equipment, etc have been adequately maintained, inspected and tested;
content confirming that all personnel involved with excavation and digging works
are aware of the intended scope of work, nature of the work locations, and BACs
excavation management and work expectations; and
content relating to specific excavation and collapse methods (for excavations
deeper than 1.5m) that will be undertaken.
Excavation and Digging Works
Contractors must obtain BAC access authority prior to undertaking a specified
excavation or digging task, outlined below:
Excavation or digging tasks at a depth of
>300mm. This excludes the movement of
spoil piles, clearing of drains, or gardening
tasks within established garden beds where
services are known not to exist.
This authority is to be recorded within the Risk Assessment & Excavation Permit Form
once the contractor has completed relevant pre-work planning. The identity of the
BAC person responsible for authorising such access is to be communicated to the
contractor prior to access preparations or work commencing.
Contractors may use the content within this section of this document to ensure that
they:
have undertaken adequate planning;
have prepared suitable control methods; and
do not overlook any minimum requirements that BAC have established for safe
management of excavation works.
Following excavation work, completed Risk Assessment & Excavation Permit
documentation is to be returned to BAC excavation authorising personnel.
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RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

BAC Management
Ensure adequate resources (time, equipment, personnel) are allocated for the
effective implementation of this Corporate Standard.
Occupational Health and Safety Manager
Maintain the currency and accuracy of this Corporate Standard, reflective of
legislative requirements and BAC needs.
Review performance of BAC and contracted personnel with respect to this
Corporate Standard.
Ensure adequate training is afforded and maintained for BAC personnel involved
with managing excavation work.
Ensure adequate contract management arrangements, including the provision of
prescribed information, are in place for contracted activities involving excavation
works.
Permit Authorisers
Review the planning component of Risk Assessment & Excavation Permits.
Authorise the commencement of excavation work in accordance with the Permit
Request.
Work Coordinators
Coordinate excavation and digging in accordance with Risk Assessment &
Excavation Permit requirements.
Implement all planned and necessary controls to ensure safe excavation and
digging work.
Monitor excavation hazards and control methods throughout the work, including
the need to maintain an excavation log where applicable.
Ensure that only trained / competent personnel who have been instructed about
the excavation hazards and safety requirements undertake the excavation / digging
work.
Personnel undertaking Excavation or Digging Works
Undertake excavation or digging as per Risk Assessment & Excavation Permit
requirements, excavation management corporate standard requirements and the
instructions of Work Coordinators.
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REVIEW
The content of this Corporate Standard, inclusive of referenced attachments, records
and forms, is to be reviewed at a period not exceeding two years from the issue date.
This review is to be undertaken to ensure that the content is still relevant with respect
to legislative requirements and BACs management of excavation hazards. It is to be
coordinated by the Occupational Health and Safety Manager or specified designate,
and involve BAC personnel who manage excavation works.
REFERENCES
QLD Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 Part 20
AS 1345: Identification of the Contents of Pipes, Conduits and Ducts
AS 2700: Colour Standards for General Purposes
AS/NZS 2648.1: Underground Marking Tape, Part 1: Non-Detectable Tape
Confined Space Corporate Standard
Work at Heights Corporate Standard
High Risk Activities Guideline
Risk Assessment & Excavation Permit Form
Excavation Log
ATTACHMENTS
1.
2.
Excavation Log Extract

Underground Marking Tape Guide
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Attachment 1 Excavation Log Extract
Note: This is an extract only, simply to provide context to the reader with respect to the
layout of the Excavation Log.
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Attachment 2 Underground Marking Tape Guide

Underground Service Identification Colours
From AS/NZS 2648.1: Underground Marking Tape, Part 1: Non-Detectable Tape
Table 1
Underground Service
Electricity
Gas
Water
Communications
Fire-fighting
Sewerage
Reclaimed Water
Tape Colour
Orange
Yellow
Green
White
Red
Cream
Purple
Note 1: Identification colours for other underground services should be of a bright

colour. Guidance may be obtained from AS 1345: Identification of the
Contents of Pipes, Conduits and Ducts and AS 2700: Colour Standards for
General Purposes.
Note 2: The use of the colour canary yellow to identify pipelines containing gases is
adopted in AS/NZS 2648.1, as this is the colour commonly used in Australia
to identify gas pipes by gas supply authorities and users. It should be noted
however, that AS 1345: Identification of the Contents of Pipes, Conduits
and Ducts specifies a colour of light beige for this purpose, this being the
internationally agreed colour.
Additional Underground Service Marking Tape Requirements

From AS/NZS 2648.1: Underground Marking Tape, Part 1: Non-Detectable Tape
Detection
Tape Width
Marking
Tear
Resistance
Note:
Wire lines or traces may also be located with marker tape to enable
easy service detection as well as a visual marker to identify service
location.
The minimum nominal width is to be 75mm.
Preferred nominal widths are 100mm and 150mm.
Warning lettering printed in the tape is to be black in colour and of a
minimum size of 25mm.
The text is to be repeated at intervals of not more than 1m.
Longitudinal direction not less than 3.0 N.
Transverse direction not less than 3.5 N.
Additional requirements in relation to tape properties are included within

AS/NZS 2648.1.
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AMMENDMENT SHEET RECORD
Issue
Rev
Date
Initiator
Reason
Section
Summary of
Amendments
HARDCOPY DISTRIBUTION RECORD
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Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

Following these investigations, prescribed information relating to all services relevant

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

As part of implementing excavation and digging controls, a Risk Assessment &

A Risk Assessment &

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

Refer to additional information within the Competent Person definition.

Battering is to be at an angle of 45 or less to the horizontal and start no higher than

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

Following is a summary table that may be used as a guide throughout BAC to

Target Group / Excavation Activities

Records of training, attendance at BAC excavation awareness sessions or other

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

As part of OH&S related documentation typically requested of contractors procured to

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

Excavation Log Extract

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

Attachment 1 Excavation Log Extract

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

Attachment 2 Underground Marking Tape Guide

Note 1: Identification colours for other underground services should be of a bright

Additional Underground Service Marking Tape Requirements

Additional requirements in relation to tape properties are included within

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

Occupational Health & Safety Corporate Standard

AMMENDMENT SHEET RECORD

HARDCOPY DISTRIBUTION RECORD

Location of Controlled Hard Copy

G:\Human Resources\07 OH&S\5. Works Management & Procurement\PTW &

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