Excavation work

Subregulation (3) does not apply if the person receives written advice from a geotechnical engineer that all sides of the trench are safe from collapse

An advice under subregulation (4) — (a) may be subject to a condition that specified natural occurrences may create a risk of collapse; and (b) must state the period of time to which the advice applies.

A person conducting a business or undertaking, who proposes to excavate a trench at least 1.5 metres deep must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the work area is secured from unauthorised access (including inadvertent entry).

In complying with subregulation (1), the person must have regard to all relevant matters, including — (a) risks to health and safety arising from unauthorised access to the work area; and (b) the likelihood of unauthorised access occurring.

In addition, the person must minimise the risk to any person arising from the collapse of the trench by ensuring that all sides of the trench are adequately supported by doing 1 or more of the following — (a) shoring by shielding or other comparable means; (b) benching; (c) battering.

In addition, a person conducting a business or undertaking or a principal contractor at, or a person with management or control of, a workplace where excavation work is to be carried out must ensure that suitable signs that warn of risks to health and safety associated with the excavation work are erected at the place…

The risks this regulation applies to include the following — (a) a person falling into an excavation; (b) a person being trapped by the collapse of an excavation; (c) a person working in an excavation being struck by a falling thing; (d) a person working in an excavation being exposed to an airborne contaminant.

In complying with subregulation (1) or (1A), the person must have regard to all relevant matters, including the following — (a) the nature of the excavation; (b) the nature of the excavation work, including the range of possible methods of carrying out the work; (c) the means of entry into and exit from the excavation,…

The information must be available — (a) if a notifiable incident occurs in connection with the excavation work to which the information relates — for at least 2 years after the incident occurs; and (b) in every other case — until the excavation work is completed.