Excavation

Excavation activities, common in construction operations, are defined as those which uncover any man-made cut, cavity, trench or depression in the earth’s surface formed by earth removal. Cave-ins present a large risk, but other possible hazards include falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres and incidents related to mobile equipment.**

The information in each section below is listed in the order of relevance to the hazardous situation.

Situational risks – inherent to the situation or proximate cause of injury
Trench collapse Oxygen deprivation Struck by equipment part	Struck by vehicle Struck by debris

Systemic risks – contribute to injury but are not direct causes
Lack of workplace awareness Poor trench design Lack of training	Hazardous terrain Faulty equipment Inclement weather

Relevant Technology Solutions
Real-time response management Proximity sensors Worker location tracking	Lone worker monitoring Fatigue monitoring and wearables Inclement weather warning applications

* Safety Technology 2020: Mapping Technology Solutions for Reducing Serious Injuries and Fatalities in the Workplace

** OSHA: Trenching and Excavation Safety

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