Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00416:reg:2:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00416
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2 (pt 1/3)
Character Range: 13771–16730

2          THE RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS

Regulation 305 A person conducting a business or undertaking must manage risks to health
and safety associated with excavation work before the work commences including the risk of:
    * a person falling into an excavation
    * a person being trapped by the collapse of an excavation
    * a person working in an excavation being struck by a falling thing
    * a person working in an excavation being exposed to an airborne contaminant.
To manage the risks, all relevant matters must be considered including:
    * the nature of the excavation
    * the nature of the excavation work including the range of possible methods of carrying out the work, and
    * the means of entry into and exit from the excavation (if applicable).

2.1              Identifying the hazards
The first step in the risk management process is to identify the hazards associated with excavation work. Examples of excavation specific hazards include:
    * underground essential services including gas, water, sewerage, telecommunications, electricity, chemicals and fuel or refrigerant in pipes or lines. Information about the location of these and other underground services, such as drainage pipes, soak wells and storage tanks, in and adjacent to the workplace, must be established before directing or allowing excavation work to commence
    * the fall or dislodgement of earth or rock
    * falls from one level to another
    * falling objects
    * inappropriate placement of excavated materials, plant or other loads
    * the instability of any adjoining structure caused by the excavation
    * any previous disturbance of the ground including previous excavation
    * the instability of the excavation due to persons or plant working adjacent to the excavation
    * the presence of or possible inrush of water or other liquid
    * hazardous manual tasks
    * hazardous chemicals (e.g. these may be present in the soil where excavation work is to be carried out)
    * hazardous atmosphere in an excavation (e.g. using Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) solvent for PVC pipes in poorly ventilated trenches)
    * vibration and hazardous noise, and
    * overhead essential services (powerlines) and ground mounted essential services (transformers, gas and water meters).

2.2              Assessing the risks
Under the WHS Regulations, a risk assessment is not mandatory for excavation work however
it is required for specific situations, for example when working with asbestos. In many circumstances a risk assessment will assist in determining the control measures that should be implemented. It will help to:
    * identify which workers are at risk
    * determine what sources and processes are causing that risk
    * identify if and what kind of control measures should be implemented, and
    * check the effectiveness of existing control measures.

When assessing the risks associated with excavation work you should consider