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#1 Posted : 03 September 2009 09:22:00(UTC)
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Posted By Luke. I'm trying to build a semi-generic list for hazards associated with Excavations .. So would appreciate your input please! here is what i have off the top of my head. Striking Buried Services Mobile plant on site People & Vehicles falling into Excavations Materials falling onto people in Excavations Slips and Trips Vibration from power tools/plant High noise levels Dust unstable ground inflow of ground/surface water undermining nearby structures fumes / oxygen deficiency Am i missing any glaringly obvious ones or can you add to this list? Thanks in advance!
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#2 Posted : 03 September 2009 09:32:00(UTC)
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Posted By Philip Roche Contact with contaminated soil .
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#3 Posted : 03 September 2009 11:23:00(UTC)
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Posted By Chris Smith RSP Contact with overhead cables?
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#4 Posted : 03 September 2009 11:23:00(UTC)
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Posted By Luke. Thanks Phillip
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#5 Posted : 03 September 2009 11:43:00(UTC)
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Posted By Chris Smith RSP I feel left out :(
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#6 Posted : 03 September 2009 11:47:00(UTC)
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Posted By GT Luke, Please don't leave Chris out in the cold - he did contribute! Thanks Chris You may want to consider Access and Egress especially in emergency situations. Regards GT
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#7 Posted : 03 September 2009 12:03:00(UTC)
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Posted By Luke. Hi Chris, Sorry about that - posted the thanks at the exact time you posted yours .. so.. Thanks Chris!and Thanks GT! (going to regret all this individual thanking!)
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#8 Posted : 03 September 2009 12:19:00(UTC)
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Posted By GT LUKE, Types of soil I think there are 3 classes, Depth of excavation ( engineering design for shoring required below 20 feet I believe) and the location of the excavation in terms of other surrounding risks, where migration of any substances may be a danger. Regards GT
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#9 Posted : 03 September 2009 12:22:00(UTC)
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Posted By Luke. Thanks GT, Been looking at Asphyxiation & Poisoning (i.e. Chalk/Limestone coming into contact with acidic water creating carbon dioxide, glauconitic sand oxidising, release of methane or hydrogen sulphide etc).
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#10 Posted : 03 September 2009 12:33:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mike B Luke, Buried ordnance, anthrax, buried chemicals or other hazardous materials. Consideration should also be given to any plants growing in the soil which may be poisonous or invasive. Mike
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#11 Posted : 03 September 2009 12:54:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mark Eden Luke Have you considered the type of plant used to dig your hole such as semi automatic quick hitch devices that have just been banned from the Olympic Park site If you have a lot of under ground services the use of the fairly new vacuum excavation system is worth looking into
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#12 Posted : 03 September 2009 13:00:00(UTC)
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Posted By A Campbell Don't rule out confined spaces?? Also consider rescue plan and/or first aid assessment
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#13 Posted : 03 September 2009 13:07:00(UTC)
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Posted By ipaterson Collapse of side of excavation - especially if the guys are working in the excavation - doesn't take much to suffocate a buried person especially if loose soil eg sand - shoring required from start depending on depth of excavation. Irene
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#14 Posted : 03 September 2009 13:10:00(UTC)
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Posted By Peter F. The sides collapsing
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#15 Posted : 03 September 2009 13:10:00(UTC)
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Posted By Luke. Out of interest.. I have always carried out my risk assessments as detailing the hazard and then the risk (i.e. mobile plant on site; being struck by reversing/moving vehicles, bucket coming off excavator etc ...) but someone has just asked the question... can you just put "mobile plant on site" and not detail everything else... that way its more simple. I'm not convinced that it's a good idea!
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#16 Posted : 03 September 2009 13:16:00(UTC)
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Posted By philip john Trespasser i.e. children playing in excavation (covering issues when not being used)
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#17 Posted : 03 September 2009 13:18:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mike B Better to list the likely hazards that might arise from the mobile plant. In the same way as it is better to list the various underground services as each of them can generate different hazards. Couple of more unlikely ones for the list: Abandoned mine workings, wells - which may have been abandoned and covered over (had one of them. Radon.
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#18 Posted : 03 September 2009 14:30:00(UTC)
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Posted By Luke. Thanks all.. Another one... would you say its RP to use a temp barrier system around an open excavation if the barrier can be secured around 1.5-2 meteres from the edge of the excavation?
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#19 Posted : 03 September 2009 17:50:00(UTC)
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Posted By justgossip If you use a trench box they can be ordered with guard rails that fit the box garry
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#20 Posted : 03 September 2009 17:53:00(UTC)
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Posted By justgossip Temp barrier, depends on the RA and time that the excavation is open. some times I use portable barriers and on others I have used scaffold poles driven and tied in. Or As I saw on Ilford High street, moveable barriers. The public moved them and jumped over the trench to cross the road. garry
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#21 Posted : 03 September 2009 19:20:00(UTC)
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Posted By claret65 (1)Position of petrol/diesel driven combustion engines i.e. generators,pumps, mobile lighting towers, etc. Location of these types of equipment ,in respect of position of excavation, could result in carbon monoxide build-up in the excavation. This hazard obviously introduced into the workplace by exhaust gases. (2)Intrinsically designed task lighting to mitigate against any poor lighting in excavation, whilst providing some protection against explosive gases.
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#22 Posted : 03 September 2009 20:36:00(UTC)
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Posted By Alan Nicholls Luke Have you considered the site itself. Is the site flat or an incline, is it more than one type of material,eg rock and soil. What about disused septic tanks or disused filter beds. Regards Alan
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#23 Posted : 04 September 2009 11:29:00(UTC)
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Posted By Lwood Don't forget animals getting into your excavations, we had a horse get into one of ours once! Also don't forget excavations on slopes. L
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