Page 7 - Excavation - CCPS Safe Work Practice
P. 7
Potential Hazardous Consequences
Personnel Injury
Inadequate hazard identification and implementation of hazard controls during excavation projects can result in
different types of incidents that are harmful to human health. Excavation hazards that have the potential to cause injury
are listed below.
g Cave-ins leading to entrapment and potential suffocation.
g Falling into an excavation leading to injury or death
g Breaching of underground utilities such as electrical lines leading to electrocution
g Breaching of underground process lines resulting in release of hazardous materials that can cause injury or fatality
g Hazardous atmospheres (e.g., hazardous gas) resulting from leaks or accumulation of heavier-than-air gases in low
points of the excavation
g Accumulation of water or process fluids at low points
g Use of heavy equipment causing a potential for movement hazards (e.g., swing radius, discharge side of trencher)
that can injure workers.
g Contact between excavation equipment and overhead process lines or electrical power lines resulting in loss of
containment or electrical discharge.
SAFE WORK PRACTICE, EXCAVATION 4
