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SAFE Work Practice
CSAM #
Excavations and Shoring
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Do
• Notify the WSH Division of your intention to
excavate.
• Notify all public utilities to determine underground
utility locations.
• Appoint a supervisor and a ‘top man’ to be on-site.
•
Identify a suitable shoring plan for the excavation
work and obtain engineering design/approvals.
• Provide a safe means of access/egress.
•
Install and remove shoring in the correct order and
sequence.
Do Not
• Enter an unshored excavation.
• Enter an excavation without a ‘top man’ on site.
• Assume that frozen ground does not require
shoring.
• Pile excavated material close to the edge of an
excavation.
• Leave an open excavation unprotected from
workers and the public.
The information contained in this publication is intended for general use and may not apply to every circumstance. It is not a definitive guide to government
legislation and does not relieve persons using this publication from their responsibilities under the Workplace Safety and Health Act or applicable legislation.
The appropriate regulations and statutes should always be consulted and adhered to. The Construction Safety Association of Manitoba and its affiliates do not
guarantee the accuracy of, nor assume liability for the information presented here.
Serious injuries and fatalities to workers continue to occur in the excavation industry. When you remove
earth from the ground, you are creating a situation where extreme pressures may be generated at the face
of an excavation, since there is no longer material available to support the walls of the excavation.
Engineering controls and special procedures must be utilized to ensure a safe work site.
Regulatory Reference:
Manitoba Regulation 217/2006 Part 26 - Excavations and Tunnels
General Safe Work Practices
1. Make sure you have contacted the WSH Division and are registered as an excavation contractor before
conducting excavatio