Hazardous objects 26.10(1) An employer must ensure that trees, utility poles, boulders and
other objects located near an excavation site that may create a
risk to the safety or health of a worker are removed or adequately
supported before excavation work begins.
26.10(2) An employer must ensure that excavated material is placed at
least one metre away from the edge of an excavation and piled so
that it cannot fall into the excavation.
26.10(3) An employer must ensure that no worker places equipment or
other material near the edge of an excavation so that the item
can fall into the excavation.
26.10(4) When a concrete truck delivers concrete to an excavation site, an
employer must ensure that
(a) the distance between the truck and the edge of a vertical
excavation is at least equal to the depth of the excavation; or
(b) the excavation is sloped at an angle not greater than 45°
measured from the horizontal plane.
Powered mobile equipment and machinery 26.11 An employer must ensure that no worker drives, operates or
locates powered mobile equipment or machinery so that it
endangers the stability of the walls of an excavation.
Guarding excavations 26.12(1) When excavation work is being carried out adjacent to an area
where the public or a worker who is not usually engaged in the
work may pass, an employer must ensure that the excavation is
adequately guarded by a fence, guardrail or covering sufficient to
prevent a person from falling into the excavation.
26.12(2) If there is a danger of a worker falling into an excavation that
is more than 3 m deep, an employer must ensure that the
excavation is adequately guarded by a fence, guardrail or covering
sufficient to prevent a worker from falling into the excavation.
26.12(3) When an excavation poses a hazard to traffic because it is located
close to a roadway, an employer must ensure that reflective traffic
control devices are installed around the excavation.
