Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00416:front:0:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00416
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 0–4410

Work Health and Safety (Excavation Work) Code of Practice 2015

made under the

Work Health and Safety Act 2011, section 274 (Approved Codes of Practice)

1 Name of instrument

This instrument is the Work Health and Safety (Excavation Work) Code of Practice 2015.

2 Commencement

This instrument commences on the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

3 Code of Practice Approval

I approve the Excavation Work Code of Practice. I am satisfied that this code of practice was developed by a process described in section 274(2) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

Michaelia Cash
Minister for Employment

17 December 2015

Date

EXCAVATION WORK

Code of Practice

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD                                                 5

1 INTRODUCTION                                          6

1.1 What is excavation work?                                               6

1.2 Who has health and safety duties in relation to excavation work?                    6

1.3 What is required to manage risks associated with excavation work?                   7

2 THE RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS                             9

2.1 Identifying the hazards                                             9

2.2 Assessing the risks                                                 10

2.3 Controlling the risks                                                10

2.4 Reviewing control measures                                           11

3 PLANNING THE EXCAVATION WORK                           12

3.1 Principal contractor                                                 12

3.2 Designers                                                       13

3.3 Safe Work Method Statements                                          13

3.4 Adjacent buildings or structures                                         14

3.5 Essential services                                                  14

3.6 Securing the work area                                           15

3.7 Emergency plan                                                   16

4 CONTROLLING RISKS IN EXCAVATION WORK                    17

4.1 Excavated material and loads near excavations                              17

4.2 Plant and equipment                                                20

4.3 Powered mobile plant                                                20

4.4 Falls                                                           24

4.5 Using explosives                                                   25

4.6 Atmospheric conditions and ventilation                                    26

4.7 Manual work                                                     27

4.8 Information, training, instruction and supervision                              27

5 EXCAVATION METHODS                                   28

5.1 Trenching                                                       28

5.2 Tunnelling                                                       28

5.3 Shafts                                                          30

6 PREVENTING GROUND COLLAPSE                           32

6.1 Benching and battering                                           34

6.2 Shoring                                                         36

6.3 Removal of shoring supports                                           43

6.4 Shields and boxes                                                  43

6.5 Other ground support methods                                          44

6.6 Regular inspection                                                 45

APPENDIX A – DEFINITIONS                                    46

FOREWORD
This Code of Practice for managing health and safety risks associated with excavation work is an approved code of practice under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act (the WHS Act).
An approved code of practice is a practical guide to achieving the standards of health, safety and welfare required under the WHS Act and the Work Health and Safety Regulations (the WHS Regulations).
A code of practice applies to anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described in the code. In most cases, following an approved code of practice would achieve compliance with the health and safety duties in the WHS Act, in relation to the subject matter of the code. Like regulations, codes of practice deal with particular issues and do not cover