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Excavation Policy

Purpose

This policy establishes safe excavation practices to protect our workforce from cave-ins, water ingress, and underground hazards during water infrastructure and grab operations.

Scope

This policy applies to all employees, directors, contractors, and visitors undertaking or observing excavation work at A M Water Services Ltd premises and sites, regardless of excavation depth.

This policy ensures compliance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 and the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

The Confined Spaces Regulations apply to chambers, deep excavations and any space where a specified risk is foreseeable. The Work at Height Regulations apply to work at the edge of an excavation as much as to work above ground level — a fall into a trench is a fall from height.

Policy Statement

Every excavation presents potentially fatal risks, therefore we implement rigorous controls before any digging begins. Aaron Mason reviews all tender documents to ensure Principal Designers have provided ground condition information and contamination data as required under CDM regulations. When this information is missing, we contact the Principal Designer or Client directly to obtain these critical details before proceeding.

Before starting any project, Aaron Mason conducts site visits to visually assess ground conditions and consults property owners about previous site uses that might indicate contamination. We check existing Health and Safety Files and obtain professional engineer advice for excavations over 2 meters deep or in poor ground conditions, treating these as temporary works requiring design drawings and method statements.

All excavation work requires comprehensive risk assessments and method statements before commencement. Our Foreman ensures workers receive toolbox talks covering contaminated ground recognition, water ingress signs, service detection, and changing soil conditions. We obtain permits to dig for every excavation to verify underground services have been identified and marked, with additional checks using CAT scanners for water main connections.

We never allow entry to unsupported excavations. All excavations are properly supported, battered back, or stepped according to engineer recommendations and method statements. Only trained competent workers install shoring under Aaron Mason's direct supervision, with safe access provided through secured ladders or steps positioned appropriately for emergency egress.

Implementation

Barriers and signage protect every excavation perimeter with toe boards preventing materials falling into trenches. Spoil, materials, and vehicles are positioned away from excavation edges to prevent collapse, and stop blocks are installed before backfilling. Daily inspections occur at shift starts with weekly recorded inspections maintained in our excavation register. Confined space permits are obtained when atmospheric testing indicates oxygen deficiency or harmful gas presence.

Responsibilities

Directors maintain overall excavation safety accountability including resource provision and legal compliance. Site supervisors implement permit systems, conduct inspections, and ensure proper support systems are installed before entry. All employees and contractors must follow excavation procedures, use designated access points, and report any ground condition changes or safety concerns immediately.

Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Directors to ensure it remains effective and continues to prevent excavation-related incidents and fatalities.

Signed:

Aaron Mason Director A M Water Services Ltd 1st July 2026

Where this policy is implemented

This block is portal navigation, not part of the policy. The policy wording and the Word controlled copy below are unchanged. It links the policy to the procedures that deliver it and the records that evidence it.

Local controlled copy

Word version of this controlled document (for offline / paper records):

Download POL_HSQE_13 (.docx)

The page above and the Word copy are the same policy. The Word copy carries the AMWS letterhead and the Director’s signature and is the signed original, so where the two ever differ on the approval date or the issue, the Word copy governs and the page is corrected to it.

Document control

Document Reference POL_HSQE_13
Revision 4
Issue Date 1st July 2026
Next Review 1st July 2027
Status Uncontrolled when printed