Common Excavation Safety Hazards | Blackwood Earthmoving

By Author: Blackwood Earthmoving
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In the field of construction, trenching and excavation are some of the more common things you can expect during a project. Trenching involves creating a long, narrow excavation, while excavation simply means to make a big hole in the ground. Despite how high-risk and laborious the task of trenching and excavation is, it comes with many invaluable purposes.

Good excavation work will reassure builders that a building’s foundation is solid and reliable. Trenching is a way of making or repairing pipelines, electrical or water pathways, and more. Plus, today’s earthmoving contractors use equipment that are of the highest quality possible, which allows for quality workmanship.

With professionals on the job who are well-trained in keeping common excavation safety hazards at bay, projects will definitely hit their marks. If you are wondering what these common excavation safety hazards are, read on.

Falling into the trench

Being one of the more obvious dangers involved in trenching or excavation services, earthmoving contractors make sure to avoid cave-ins or fall-ins first. This type of accident ...
... kills an average of two workers a month. Those who’ve worked on earthmoving in Adelaide know that this does not really happen because a worker loses their balance when working right by the open hole in the ground, although that too is possible. Usually, it is caused by the instability of the soil. When soil gives out, a worker may slip and fall right into the trench.

To avoid this, the soil must be studied thoroughly, and from the results of that study, engineers can then design a way for workers to navigate the area without running the risk of falling. This can be through creating slopes, shields, or support.

It’s not just workers that may potentially fall into the site. Soil, tools, or equipment may also fall as well, and this is especially dangerous when there are workers at the bottom who may be seriously injured due to falling objects. This is definitely avoidable: as long as strong barriers are in place and the team is properly trained on how to handle, maintain, or put away equipment, accidents like this will be very rare occurrences. Also, jobsite materials must be several feet away from the hole. Safety signs must be clear and visible in both day and night time.

Hazardous air quality

For those working beneath ground level, they may be exposed to tons of different substances, not to mention that oxygen levels in these areas are generally low. Depending on soil quality or the properties of whatever is already underneath there (an existing pipe, for example), harmful particles or toxic gases may break into the air and can be inhaled by an unassuming worker.

This is why atmospheric testing must be performed in a site before proceeding with operations. Workers must wear personal protective equipment, especially those for respiratory protection. They must not be left to work on their own; colleagues above ground must remain alert in case of emergencies.

Damaging utility lines

Utility lines are pipes or cables that transport necessities such as water, gas, and oil throughout residences or commercial establishments. Utility lines may also be part of an area’s sewage system. Obviously, when there is digging involved, workers may come across these lines. If they did not notice or properly predict how close they would be to these lines, they may accidentally crack them open. This leads to a number of problems: electrocution, flooding and water damage, soil pollution, inhalation of toxic substances, and more.

It’s important that excavation services are performed in coordination with other institutions, such as the local council. When a project involves earthmoving, Adelaide authorities would be more than happy to share useful information such as maps of pipe systems or the chemical properties of whatever flows through those systems.

Use of heavy and/or large machinery

Say the word “construction site” and you will never fail to conjure up images of heavy equipment in people’s minds. Of course, it is expected that dump trucks, excavators, backhoe loaders, and other machinery of varying shapes and sizes would be present in a project. How many and how large will depend on the size of the project, but if there’s trenching and excavation services involved, it would definitely require serious work that only heavy machinery can perform.

While they are a godsend to construction workers everywhere, they also pose serious safety risks. An unexpected malfunction can cause a machine part to fall, injuring or killing somebody. Loose breaks may lead to accidents on the site. If malfunction will not lead to injury or fatality, they may also lead to property damage, damage of other materials, soil erosion, and generally project failure.

When it comes to earthmoving contractors must pay special attention to their equipment. Equipment must be thoroughly and regularly diagnosed and maintained. Nearly wornout parts must be replaced right away (not after they are totally worn out.) Repairs must be done as soon as the tiniest sign of a big problem arises. But best of all, equipment must be high quality in the first place.

At Blackwood Earthmoving, we are ready to contribute to your excavation safety protocols by providing you with only the best earthmoving equipment

We know how dangerous excavation services can be. As experts in earthmoving equipment, we assist contractors with earthmoving maintenance and repair. The best part: we perform these on-site.

We understand that keeping your earthmoving equipment in tip-top shape is not just a matter of convenience or efficiency – it is, most of all, a matter of safety. Many workers have suffered the grave consequences of earthmoving equipment malfunctions. These instances happened when workers were working on or around the excavation site, below ground level, or even just in the premises of the project area.

Our aim is to make sure this doesn’t happen in Adelaide’s earthmoving, excavation services, or trenching projects. This is why the reliable and versatile earthmoving equipment we have available are forever good as new. No matter the size of your project – if you are a construction firm working on a major building or a DIY homeowner working in your backyard – you can count on the services of Blackwood Earthmoving.

Get in touch with us today

You may reach Blackwood Earthmoving through the following channels:

Phone: 0412 815 978
Email: blackwoodearthmoving@gmail.com