Planning Some Excavation? How To Ensure A Safe Worksite
by Gregory Peterson
If you're going to be conducting an excavation for one of your projects and you're new to the process, it's important that you understand safety guidelines. When done correctly, excavation is a safe and effective construction process. However, when safety guidelines aren't being followed, catastrophic accidents can occur. Before you begin your excavation project, read the information provided below. You'll find four safety tips that will help you avoid accidents and injuries on the worksite.
Watch for Signs of Cave-Ins
Whenever you're working on an excavation project, you need to be concerned about cave-ins. That's why it's important that you watch for signs of a cave-in whenever you do any type of excavation work. If you've never conducted excavation work before, you might not know what to look for. Some signs include cracks in the surface or walls of the trench, bulging of the interior trench walls, or heaving. Heaving is when the floor of an excavation site begins to rise. If you see any of these signs, you and your crew should leave the trench at once.
Monitor for Oxygen Depletion
If you are excavating, you need to ensure proper oxygen levels. You might not know this, but oxygen levels can decrease when you're inside an excavated trench, especially when the project is deep. To avoid issues related to oxygen depletion, you should monitor the oxygen levels at all times. It is also a good idea to equip your crew with respirators, which will help to control their oxygen levels.
Keep Foot Traffic to a Minimum
If you're going to be conducting any type of excavation on your worksite, it's important that you keep foot traffic to a minimum, especially around the trench. Walking too close to the excavation area can pose a couple of safety issues. First, walking too close to the excavation site can cause people to fall into the trench. Second, walking too close to the site can undermine the integrity of the soil, which can lead to cave-ins. For maximum protection, block off the area around the open excavation site. That way, foot traffic is kept away from the open pit.
Pay Close Attention to the Weather
Finally, if you need to do some excavation work, be sure to monitor the weather. Rain can pose a serious threat for any type of excavation work. First, torrential rains can cause flooding, which can fill the open excavation site with water. This may put your crew at risk for accidental drownings. Second, working in an open trench or pit during a rainstorm increases the risk for cave-ins' and collapses. To avoid those risks, always postpone excavation work until the weather clears up and the soil has a chance to dry out.
For more tips, contact an excavation service near you, such as Price Excavating.
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About Me
Hi, my name is Ricky McDowell and I'm a third generation farmer. I've been farming all of my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I decided to write a blog because I wanted to spread the word about the importance of agriculture. The crops that a farmer grows on the farm feed people every day. A farmer makes it possible for you to pick up a loaf of bread at the store or eat a baked potato in a restaurant. In my blog, you'll learn about the different methods of farming and some of the new trends in agriculture today. I'll also tell you about the equipment that's necessary to run a successful farming operation. After reading my blog, I hope you have a better understanding of agriculture and the job of farming.