TBT Excavations
TBT Excavations
TBT Excavations
EXCAVATIONS
Excavations present hazards not only to the men working in them but to persons and
vehicles moving about at ground level.
(b) Persons and vehicles falling into unguarded trenches and holes.
(a) Cave-ins
Usually, they are due to inadequate shoring, weak shoring or no shoring at all.
All excavations deeper than Four (4) feet shall be shored, benched or sloped so
that the ground is cut to a safe angle of repose.
Spoil must be placed Two (2) feet away from the edge of an excavation and must
be stored in stable heaps. Heavy equipment and supplies must be kept well
back from the edge to avoid the sides giving away or material falling in from the
top.
Whether trenches and holes are deep or shallow, they must be provided with
proper barriers to prevent people or vehicles falling into them.
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(c) Buried cables and pipelines
Before trenching, care must be taken to locate and identify underground lines
which might be damaged during Excavation.
Trenches located within the area of a gas plant are in a position to become traps
for Heavier-than-air, Asphyxiating, Toxic, Poisonous or Flammable gases,
particularly when ventilation is poor. Such trenches, especially when they are
over Four (4) feet deep, are confined spaces which shall not be entered until all
necessary precautions for Safe Entry have been taken. An entry permit is
required to enter any trench Four(4) feet deep or more.
Exhaust gases from internal combustion engines must be discharged well above
excavations. These gases contain carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide which
can be lethal in trenches.
Ladder access must be provided in excavations Four (4) feet deep or more. In
long trenches, Ladders shall be placed at a distance not more than Twenty-five
(25) feet a part.
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John D`Cruz