This Stream includes all of our Guides & Toolkits Flipbooks.
Issue link: https://www.wsps.ca/resource-hub/i/1520199
30 355-BQD-01-IAAP © 2024, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) | 1 877 494 WSPS (9777) | WSPS.CA Landscape Ontario – Workplace Safety Tailgate Talks EXCAVATIONS Personal Protective Equipment Equipment Hazards One cubic metre of earth weighs about the same as a compact car and is enough to crush and suffocate an average person. A worker does not have to be completely buried in soil to be seriously injured or killed. A cave-in can suffocate you in less than three minutes – and even if you survive, your internal organs may be badly injured. Prevention Points Removing earth from the ground can create a situation where extreme pressure can be put on the walls of the excavation with no supporting material. Excavations in or near "back-filled" or previously excavated areas are especially dangerous since the soil can be still "loose" and may not support itself well. Water can increase the possibility of a cave in. Review the General Health & Safety Best Practices section on page 7 before performing any task. Develop and communicate a detailed site-specific trenching and shoring plan before work begins; which should include utilities, atmospheric conditions, how workers will enter and exit, etc. – Determine what digging equipment and tools are needed. – Have a throughout excavation plan to ensure appropriate shoring, oxygen levels and hazardous gases. Before any excavation, obtain clearances from underground utilities (Hydro, etc.). ! !