Toolbox talk · General site safety · about 5 minutes
Excavations
Download the PDF with attendance sheet
Why it matters
Trenches can collapse without warning. A small amount of soil is heavy enough to crush and suffocate someone.
The hazards
- Collapse of the sides
- Falling into the excavation
- Vehicles and plant too close to the edge
- Undermining nearby structures
- Flooding and buried services
Stay safe
- Never enter an unsupported trench unless it has been assessed as safe
- Excavations must be inspected at the start of each shift, and after anything that could affect their stability
- Keep spoil, materials and plant back from the edge
- Use barriers and stop blocks to prevent falls and vehicles going in
- Use a ladder or proper access to get in and out
- Check for buried services before digging
- Report cracks, water or movement straight away
Ask the team
- Has this excavation been inspected today?
- How far back should spoil be kept?
- How do you get in and out safely?
The law and guidance
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. HSE HSG150.
General guidance to help you give a toolbox talk. It doesn't replace your site's risk assessments, method statements, permits or training. Check it against your own site rules before you give it.