Pre-Start: Excavation Safety Checklist Bellwether Contractors

• Document No.

• Audit Title

• Client / Site

• Conducted on

  Date
• Location
  Address

• Prepared by

• Personnel

Introduction

• Project: Project/ Job Number: Location: Excavation Performed By:

• Excavation Dimensions; Depth, Width and Length (m)

• Has the Competent Person had training in excavation and trench safety?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Name of Competent Person

Soils

• Have all excavation work been subject to a risk assessment before commencement, or whenever there is a change that may cause new hazards, with particular attention being paid to:<br> The possibility of the fall or dislodgement of earth/rock or other materials;<br> The instability of the excavation or adjoining structure;<br> The in rush of water (or any other substance e.g. sewer);<br> The placement of excavated material; and<br> Instability due to person or plant working adjacent to the excavation?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

General

• Has a SWMS been developed and all excavation workers trained on its content?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has an excavation permit been completed and approved by Bellwether?

  Daily prior to start of work

  As needed throughout the shift

  After every rainstorm or other occurrence that could increase the hazard

Access & Egress

• Are there safe means of egress regularly spaced across space of excavation?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Walkways, bridges, ladders and ramps are in safe, secure positions?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all personnel reasonably able to use access and egress?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all personnel familiar with emergency, rescue and evacuation procedures?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is an adequate system of safety (Including, benching or, shoring, or other forms f earth retention) being used to control the major hazards associated with excavations?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If benched or battered, is the angle of response less than 45° (If the angle of repose is greater than 45°, written certification by a geotechnical engineer is required)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have trench covers and shoring been approved by a structural engineer?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are excavations in or adjacent to roads adequately shored or supported to:<br> Ensure the stability of residual road slab after excavation is complete?<br> Provide support for all pavements or road surfaces whilst the excavation is open?<br> Control for instability due to adjacent or overhead traffic?<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have underground and overhead services been identified, marked, and located prior to excavation commencing?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has a competent person been appointed to supervise:<br> Excavations more than 1 metre;<br> Work in tunnels;<br> On caissons and cofferdams;<br> Compressed air work in an excavation?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Are all excavations secured and barricaded to ensure the safety of persons on site and members of the public?

• Is there a procedure to ensure no person works alone in or around an excavation ranked as a high or medium risk at any time?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If a stand by person has been provided, are they located outside the zone of influence?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have emergency procedures been developed and communicated to all persons working in or near the excavation works before work commences?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Do the emergency procedures address all foreseeable major hazards, particularly:<br> Collapse of excavation;<br> Unplanned contact with underground or overhead services;<br> Inrush of water or other substance into excavation; and/or<br> Exposure to hazardous substances.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has a schedule of inspections by a competent person based on the outcomes of the risk assessment been developed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has a competent person completed regular inspections of the excavation as required by inspection schedule?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the zone of influence free of:<br> Excavated material?<br> Operating plant?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have foreseeable hazards arising from the operation of plant/equipment in or near the excavation been assessed, including the following:<br> Contact with overhead utilities?<br> Effect of mobile plant on the stability of the excavation?<br> Contact with persons or other machinery?<br> Ejection of material?<br> Possibility of overturning?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

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

  Yes

  No

  N/A

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• Name & Position of Person Undertaking Inspection

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• Select date

  Date

• Add signature

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