Opinions Please - H&S issue or not?
Opinions Please - H&S issue or not?
(OP)
Hi all,
I wanted to get the opinion of other engineers. In the attached photo (which I came across on the internet, but reminded me of many instances I have seen onsite inspecting foundations etc), is there a health and safety issue?......
I wanted to get the opinion of other engineers. In the attached photo (which I came across on the internet, but reminded me of many instances I have seen onsite inspecting foundations etc), is there a health and safety issue?......
RE: Opinions Please - H&S issue or not?
RE: Opinions Please - H&S issue or not?
RE: Opinions Please - H&S issue or not?
BigH - In Ireland and the UK, we had a similar height specification of 1.25m however this has been removed and it is up to the contractor to confirm if support is necessary. For this case in point I would be concerned, if that gentlemen had to kneel down between the manhole and excavation side an if there was a slip I think the outcome would be very bad. I think battering the excavation side just a little more would improve stability substantially. I understand that it is getting close to the neighboring property, however i think there is still enough space.
RE: Opinions Please - H&S issue or not?
Mike Lambert
RE: Opinions Please - H&S issue or not?
1. If the excavation is or was more than 4' deep, it needs to be shored or properly sloped.
2. In the US, OSHA says that if there is any water in the soil or trench, the soil is considered a Type C soil which requires at least a 1.5H:1V slope. I see water in the excavation. Does you country have similar regulations?
www.PeirceEngineering.com
RE: Opinions Please - H&S issue or not?
http://www.publications.usace.army.mil/Portals/76/...
RE: Opinions Please - H&S issue or not?
How deep must an excavation be before such precautions need to be taken?
The Construction Regulations require contractors to guard against the dangers from a fall or dislodgement of material in an excavation. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires a risk assessment to be performed by contractors before undertaking excavation work. The risk assessment must:
• identify those hazards that are likely to be encountered;
• determine the control measures; and
• determine the safe system of work required to protect employees and persons affected by the activities taking place.
Control measures selected could be in the form of shoring (support for the excavation), battering (sloping the excavation) or other suitable means.
Note: The risk assessment may indicate the need to install trench supports (or other alternative protective measures) even in relatively shallow excavations less than 1.25 m deep, particularly if ground conditions are particularly poor or the nature of the work requires workers to lie or crouch in a trench.
RE: Opinions Please - H&S issue or not?
It may be quite close to 1.2 m, if that gentleman is around 1.9-2.0 m tall!
Besides, on top of all H&S subjects discussed, I would consider two additional things:
1- Heavy rain!- I see some water at the bottom of trench- if that's coming from rain, it may endanger the safety, due to increase of unit weight of the soil and erosion
2- Duration of exposure- I would rather not to left the trench open for long period of time.