Excavation Spot Audit Checklist

• Site

• Location
  Address

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Personnel present

General

• Permit system in place for excavation

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If depth of excavation greater than 1.5 metres has a risk assessment been carried out

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Adequate access into the excavation e.g. ladders or ramp and access/egress provided at regular intervals for cases if emergencies

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do ladders extend 1m above the edge of the excavation

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If depth of excavation greater than 1.5 metres has a risk assessment been carried out

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there an observer present when workers are in excavation at least 1.5m deep

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Excavations greater than 1.5m benched, battered or shored and adequate for purpose

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Does backfilling progress with a systematic removal of support

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Passing traffic near excavation edge

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the stability of buildings/structures adjacent to an excavation maintained

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Spoils, materials and equipment set back at least 1m from edge of of the excavation

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Adequate barriers and signage erected around the excavations particularly when open excavations are left unattended/overnight

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has the possibility of the excavation becoming a confined space been considered and controlled

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Operation of Plant

• Has the area of plant operation been assessed for overhead hazards such as OHPLs

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has the area of plant operation been assessed for risk of overturn e.g. working on steep gradient, edge of excavation, etc.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has effect of mobile plant on stability of excavation been considered

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have controls measures been put in place to prevent mobile plant contacting persons on site and/or working in excavations

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is all plant documentation available on site i.e. log books, plant risk assessments, mobilisation checklists, daily inspections, etc

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all plant operators competent and have appropriate training

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Utilities

• Diagrams showing locations of utility services and/or scanning reports available on site

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Utilities crossing excavations are supported and protected from falling materials

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Wet Conditions

• Precautions taken to protect employees from water accumulation (continuous dewatering)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Surface water or runoff diverted/controlled to prevent accumulation in the excavation

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Inspections made after rainstorms or other hazard increasing occurrence

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Hazardous Atmospheres

• Is gas monitoring required in excavations and if so is it being carried out by competent person

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is ventilation used in atmospheres that are oxygen rich or deficient and/or contain hazardous substances

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Emergency equipment available where hazardous atmospheres could or do exist

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Corrective Actions

• Description

• Add media

  Media

• Risk Rating

  High Risk; Action immediately

  Medium Risk; Action within 24 hours

  Low Risk; Action within 7 days

• Action by

• Date completed

  Date

• Completed sign off

  Sign