Have you already been to an excavation site? If you have been to, you could have observed how dangerous it is to loiter there. Have you seen the workers wearing hard hats, boots, gloves and other protective gear when they work? What about the heavy equipment and earthmoving vehicles at the site? Excavation has been part of many building and construction processes and it is also used in a number of applications.
Excavation in Various Industries and Applications
Usually, excavation plays a huge role in archaeological functions. Archaeologists see the need to excavate sites in certain locations across the world to obtain old artefacts of past cultures and civilisations and fossils of prehistoric or extinct creatures. To make discoveries and to support existing historical studies, they need to dig up soil and excavate certain areas of a locality.
Outside of archaeology, excavation is an early stage in building and construction. Contractors and builders cannot build sky-rising building and public structures without excavating the ground first and building the foundations and concrete footings at the excavated area. Buildings and public structures like roads and bridges need to be built on strong ground foundation for support. In such works, the excavating crew dig up a certain area to create a level clean area to work, lay down the foundations or any other materials in the excavated area and backfill (refill) it.
In environmental remediation, removal workers excavate contaminated soil and leaking
underground storage tank. In installation works, workmen need to dig up the ground to lay down pipes and plumbing systems and cables.
The industries that usually engaged in excavations are:
• General building contractorsrn• Public infrastructure worksrn• Bridge and tunnel constructionrn• Water, sewer and pipeline constructionrn• Communication and power line installationsrn• Concrete work and well and oil drilling contractors
Safety at Excavated Sites
Excavation is considered one of the most dangerous types of work in the building and construction industry. This is one of the areas in occupational safety. Most accidents at the sites occur due to:
• Inadequate planningrn• Negligence by workers in their tasksrn• Failure to recognise potential hazardsrn• Lack of formal excavation plan, safe access and egress to the sites and emergency rescue equipment planrn• Unsafe or improper placement of spoil pilern• Operating earthmoving vehicles too close to the edge of trenchesrn• Improper shoringrn• Lack of barrier guards, caution signs, guard rails or flashing lights to protect the site.
Accidents at excavated areas can take place quickly. Some of the hazards that can take place include:
• Cave-in or collapse of piece of ground or wall structuresrn• Materials or equipment falling into the excavation sitesrn• Fallsrn• Struck-by accidentsrn• Explosions or fire from oil leaks or spillsrn• Suffocationrn• Electrocutionrn• Drowning
Upholding Safety at Excavation Sites
To prevent accidents and disasters at the excavated areas, employers and contractors should make sure it is safe for their men to work at the site. The management should present information regarding ground and soil conditions, underground water courses and plans for excavation works to government authorities. They should address key issues on safety before starting work. Inspectors should survey excavation sites regularly to see work is progressing smooth and safe.
The use of equipment and operation of vehicles like bulldozers, excavators and cranes should only be handled by competent and insured workmen. Workmen should wear the necessary protective gears while at site.
As much as observing safety at work, workmen should also take necessary precaution when handling hazardous materials like live wires, vintage bombs and oil from leaking
underground storage tank. An excavation site is a danger zone, so employers, contractors and workmen should be careful, alert and aware at all times.