risks ( e . g ., trenching cave-ins , falls into open trenches , and caught-in or caught-between injuries ) is vital to prevent potential incidents . With this in mind , these professionals should implement these employee safety measures :
■ Establish a written training program that outlines excavation safety measures , including establishing a competent person for the job site , personal protective equipment ( PPE ) protocols , and inspection and training procedures for employees who work in trenches and around excavations .
■ Perform a PPE survey to determine which types of PPE are needed for each work task . Provide all necessary PPE to employees and educate them on the proper use of this equipment .
■ Ensure that a competent person is regularly inspecting trenching and excavations to ensure that the proper safety prevention techniques are being followed .
■ Train employees on how to use equipment and how to properly dig trenches and perform excavations .
■ Develop an effective workplace safety training program that requires all employees to participate in routine training . Doing so will allow new employees to prepare for their roles while refreshing experienced employees on important safety protocols .
■ Make sure equipment is kept in working order and the safety mechanisms — such as alarms , seat belts and roll cages — are also operational .
■ Create an incident investigation program that allows swift and thorough incident investigations to take place .
Inland Marine — Mobile Equipment
Excavation contractors face many inland marine exposures , especially since they often use their own excavation and construction equipment at job sites . Inadequate maintenance procedures and a lack of prevention protocols can result in equipment damage , which could lead to significant interruptions and costly repair or replacement expenses . Excavation contractors should consider these steps to limit risks :
■ Keep a detailed list of machinery . Each item should include an identifying number , age , type and condition .
■ Add nonremovable labels to mobile equipment to allow for easy and permanent identification .
■ Implement an effective mobile equipment inspection and maintenance program to help keep equipment in good condition and prevent safety issues during operation . Clean equipment tracks at the end of each day to prevent any issues from arising .
■ Implement security measures to prevent the unauthorized use of equipment left at job sites . These measures can include installing security cameras , locking equipment doors and hiring on-site security .
■ Conduct daily operation checks on heavy equipment to make sure there are no issues with the machinery .
18 DITCHMEN • OCTOBER 2022