Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00416:reg:3:p4
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00416
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 4/5)
Character Range: 28805–31764

reasonable steps to obtain current underground essential services information about the areas at the workplace where the excavation work is to be carried out. They must also obtain information about underground essential services in areas adjacent
to the site of excavation and have regard for all of the information.
Information on the location of underground services may be obtained by contacting the Dial Before You Dig organisation in your state or territory. Any underground service plans that are obtained including information on underground essential services must be provided to the principal contractor and/or the excavation contractor. Other relevant parties including any subcontractors and plant operators carrying out the excavation work should also be provided
with information about essential services and other plans so the information is considered when planning all work in the area.
Underground essential services information obtained must be:
    * made available to any worker, principal contractor and subcontractors
    * readily available for inspection, as required under the WHS Act, and
    * retained until the excavation work is completed or, if there is a notifiable incident relating
      to the excavation work, 2 years after the incident occurs.
Available information about existing underground essential services may not be accurate. Therefore it is important that excavation methods include an initial examination of the area to be excavated, for example sampling the area by exposing a short section of underground services usually using water pressure and a vacuum system to excavate or 'pothole' the area.

Figure 1 Underground essential services exposed by 'potholing'

Further guidance on underground essential services and how to locate them is available in the Code of Practice: Construction work.

3.6              Securing the work area
Regulation 306 A person conducting a business or undertaking who proposes to excavate
a trench at least 1.5 m deep, must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the work area is secured from unauthorised access (including inadvertent entry).
In securing the trench or excavation, you must consider:
    * risks to health and safety arising from unauthorised access to the work area, and
    * the likelihood of unauthorised access occurring.
This requirement aims to protect other workers on site who may be at risk by restricting access to the excavation area. It applies in addition to the duty that the person with management or control of the construction site has to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the site is secured from unauthorised access from members of the public, for example when the site is near schools, parks, shops or other public places.

3.7              Emergency plan
Regulation 43 A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure that an emergency plan is prepared for the workplace.
The excavation contractor must