Excavations and trenches
Excavation, trenching, shaft sinking and tunneling operations can be very dangerous. Every year in Saskatchewan, workers in the industry suffer misfortune. This is why Saskatchewan occupational health and safety legislation requires employers to take extensive precautions to protect workers.
When planning to dig an excavation or trench, consider such things as:
- how to determine soil conditions at the site
- underground services
- notifications
- engineering approvals
- equipment and protective structures
- site organization
- emergency planning
The WorkSafe publication, Safety in Excavation and Trenching, will help employers, workers, occupational health committees and worker representatives prevent accidents on the job. Most of the information will cover excavations and trenches. We will discuss common causes of accidents in the industry, how to plan and conduct safe operations, and other common hazards in the industry.
For more information, review the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020; Part XVII Excavations, Trenches, Tunnels and Excavated Shafts. In addition, employers should consult municipal and city bylaws for the area in which they are working. The public should be warned about any applicable hazards that could reasonably be expected to be present on the job.
For more information on excavations and trenches, see the WorkSafe publication, Safety in Excavations and Trenches, below:
You can find more resources about trenching and excavation on the Saskatchewan Common Ground Alliance’s website: SCGA safety resources