If you work in heavy construction, you may be exposed to a variety of risks. It is of paramount importance to adhere to strict safety procedures in order to preserve your health and be able to work without putting your life at stake. Certain areas are especially dangerous for workers. Trenches and excavation sites are some of the most daunting places to work at. If not properly secured, workers may risk their life by falling, slipping, getting hit by heavy machinery, or getting buried under layers of dirt and debris.
Table of Contents
What are the risks of working at an excavation site?
Here is a comprehensive list of the risks that you could be facing at a daily basis if you’re working at an excavation site:
1. Cave-ins
Cave-ins pose the greatest threat to any worker in a trench or at an excavation point. You could be working inside or beside a trench, and you can get pulled in and buried underneath a heavy mass of material. This is why it’s so important to follow strict industry standards and develop strong safety procedures. It isn’t only costly to cover medical expenses or train your employees. If not tackled properly, it exposes the staff to unnecessary risk and can cause more issues down the road.
2. Water hazards
Trenches can get easily flooded with underground or overground water. Your excavation point can soon turn into a pool and it can become quite hard to leave.
3. Air pollution
Excavation sites usually come with some level of exposure to toxic gases.
4. Lack of fresh air
Apart from toxic gases and hazardous materials, workers at excavation sites report issues with a lack of fresh air, so it’s important to have regular breaks.
5. Equipment issues
Malfunctioning tools and machinery can expose you to further risks in the trench.
6. High temperatures
Workers in an excavation can easily get exposed to high underground temperatures.
7. Improper egress
Every excavation site needs to have stairs, ladders, and other means of safely leaving the location. This way, the staff will have a safe way to leave in case of emergency.
8. Falls
Although you might associate the risk of falls to working at heights, falls are equally dangerous in trenches.
9. Excavation spoils
Excavated materials can easily raise the pressure on the ground around your excavation point, which increases the chances of a cave-in. To reduce the risk, it’s necessary to move the materials as far as possible from the trench.
10. Underground utility accidents
Striking a power outlet or underground gas line can put you in severe danger.
What are the safety precautions when excavating or working in a trench?
In many states, there are legal codes that regulate construction sites and companies need to comply with the strict rules for the relevant factors that play a role in excavation and trenching. These factors include:
- Safe storage and placement of excavated materials;
- Precautions for pits, wells, and shafts;
- Trench specifications: width, length, height, and composition;
- Backfilling requirements;
- Requirements related to trenching, including support systems, walls, and materials used for cribbing, sheeting, bracing, sheet piling, cribbing, shoring, and underpinning.
- Minimum requirements for bracing and shoring;
Who do you call when you suffer an injury during excavation?
First off, you should seek medical attention. Secondly, you should file a compensation claim with your employer or insurance carrier. This will allow you to be fully covered for medical costs and pave your way to recovery. Of course, if you face any issue from the insurance company or your employer, you have a good reason to hire a workers’ comp lawyer in your vicinity. A specialized attorney will know how to navigate through the intricacies of workers’ compensation law and provide you with the necessary guidance and representation.