Do you need an excavating contractor in Denver? Look no further than Claystone Construction. We’ve been serving the front range since 2003 with more than 60 years of excavation experience throughout our beautiful state of Colorado. Nonetheless, if you’re in the process of planning a site or land development project, you’re going to need an excavation company to get the job done right the first time, keeping safety at the top of mind. In this post, we’ll share the top nine excavation and trench safety tips every excavating company should follow.
Nine excavation and trenching safety items
Locate underground utilities
Knowing where underground utilities are located before diggin is imperative to reduce or eliminate any safety hazards or project timeline delays. Cave-ins and other hazards can be avoided if the proper safety procedure is followed to find and mark underground utilities before the excavation subcontractor gets to work.
Keep excavated soil away from the trench
Best practices keeps excavated soil at least two feet (0.61 meters) away from trench edges. This protects the workers from cave-ins and falling hazards. It also keeps the excavated soil from returning to the trench, which could delay the project timeline.
Keep equipment away from trench edges
It may seem like common sense to keep equipment of any kind, light or heavy, away from trench or slop edges. This prevents rolls, cave-ins, falling hazards, and more from occurring. The safety of the heavy equipment operators, on-site workers, and everyone else is top priority.
Stay aware of soil stability
As excavators remove soil, the landscape of the project site could shift. It’s imperative the excavator and other workers remain aware of the soil stability to ensure they don’t get injured due to any soil hazards.
Test for hazards when four feet or deeper
Make sure and test for hazards like low oxygen, dangerous fumes, and toxic gases when workers are four feet or deeper in a trench or excavated area. Hazards such as the ones mentioned pose danger to workers and need to be dealt with promptly before continuing work.
Inspect trenches and excavation area before each shift
At the start of each shift, the trenches and excavation area should be inspected for any potential hazards. This is especially true in Colorado during the wet seasons, since water can erode and change the landscape, causing potential for safety hazards.
Inspect excavation areas following rainstorms
As mentioned above, it’s important to inspect trenches and excavation areas after a rainstorm. You want to check the integrity of the soil, address any soil hazards, and ensure the safety of the workers.
Do not work or travel beneath raise loads and materials
Although it’s only a few feet to walk from point A to point B, do not take the path if a load is raised above said path. This is a safety hazard. Your route needs to be redirected to a safer path.
Workers need to wear proper safety and high-visibility gear
While on-site, all personnel need to be wearing the appropriate safety gear like a helmet, glasses, and steel-toed boots. To increase safety, include high-visibility clothing. This will assist operators in seeing workers while they move soil.
Your excavation company in Denver
At Claystone Construction, we pride ourselves on getting the job done right. After 60-plus years of combined experience, we know what it takes to complete a site excavation project. If you’re in need of an excavation company, don’t google “excavation near me.” Call us today!