LS : What is the Excavation and types of excavation ?

www.safetygoodwe.com

Topic : Excavation  

Excavation:

Any man made cavity, cut, trench or depression on an earth surface formed by earth removal.

Types of Excavation: 

• Manual Excavation: The excavation without using any powered equipment.
• Mechanical Excavation: The excavation work using any electrical or mechanical equipment.

Excavation notification:-  

Excavation notification is a document to notify concerned authorities, who have responsibility and jurisdiction for safety and integrity of above ground and underground services existing atl the propose site of excavation.

• Excavation notification must be supported by a work permit.
• Excavation notification is valid for 90 days from the dale of issued.
• Excavation notification is required lar all excavations regardless of depth.

Excavation notification gives detailed information about the underground facilities and it is to be signed by all organisations concerned departments to confirm that the proposed excavation location has been identified and all safety measures have been taken for the existing underground facilities.

Common Excavation Hazards  

• Cave in or collapse of soll
• Risk due 10 presence of underground installations, pipelines, cables.
• Drowning due to water seepage into trench,
• Soil vibration due to machinery / heavy vehicles operations in the vicinity.
• Lack of Oxygen or asphyxiation elc.
• Underground obstruction or damage to buried pipelines & services
• Accidental fall of personnel or equipment inside a trench
• Struck / hit by excavating machinery
• Dropped / falling objects
• Flammable & / or toxic gas release
• Exposed to airborne contaminants
• Fire & explosion
• Electrical shock due to contact with energized electrical / telecom cable.
• Possible presence of explosive devices

Safety precautions required for a safe excavation

• Excavation work in organisation area without clearance of Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD).
• Mechancial excavation closer than 5 meters to any hydrocarbon carrying pipeline
• Mechanical excavation closer than 3 meter to a non-hydrocarbon carrying pipeline, cables and services.
• Any excavation deeper than 1m, ladder must be positioned projecting minimum 1 meter above the edge of the excavations.
• Ladders shall be provided every 7.5 meters (25 feet) of lateral travel in the trench.
• Ladders shall be securely supported at the bottom as well as at the lop.
• Excavated material shall be placed 1m from the edge of the excavation for depth 10 1.2 meter.
• Accordingly placement of excavated material shall be increased proportion to the depth of excavation.)
• Heavy equipment, machinery shall be kept at least 3 meters away Irom the edge.
• Any walkway across trench shall have scaffold type platform with handrails,
• All trenches shall have barrier (such as fixed guardrails) and reflective warning noices clearly displayed. Flashing lights are mandatory during poor visibility.
• The access fo plant, equipment and emergency services must not be obstructed by e trenches.
• Mechanical excavation is allowed inside the existing organisations facilities (Gathering enter, Booster Station, water injection and handling facilities, etc.)