Excavation health and safety (H&S): A South African perspective

A range of H&S hazards exist relative to excavations. Furthermore, excavations occur in the elements and are exposed to a range of non-activity influences such as passing vehicles. Excavations also impact on the stability of adjacent structures and buildings, and temporary plant. International research indicates the primary barriers to excavation H&S to be: casual attitude; failure to provide trench protection; lack of daily inspections by competent persons; lack of training; inadequate enforcement, and costs. The paper reports on a study conducted among excavation H&S seminar delegates using a structured questionnaire. Selected findings include: barricading is ranked first in terms of the frequency interventions are undertaken relative to excavations, and scientific design of shoring last; relative to excavations the South African construction industry is rated below average relative to geo-technical reports, training, education, design of shoring, and culture; the South African construction industry is rated marginally below average in terms of excavation H&S, time pressure predominates in terms of barriers to excavation H&S excavation H&S requires a multi-stakeholder effort, and excavation H&S training predominates in terms of the extent interventions could contribute to an improvement in excavation H&S. Conclusions include: a scientific approach is not adopted relative to excavation H&S a multi-stakeholder effort is required, and education and training is a pre-requisite for improving excavation H&S.