Part H — High-Risk Works

Excavation and shoring permit checklist

Workbook section 78

Owner

HSE Manager / Document Controller

Review / trigger

Annual review; update immediately if legal, authority, project, client, or scope requirements change.

Primary references

Plan H78 Excavations Trenching Shoring; Utility strike prevention

Checkpoints

Writing or reviewing the risk assessment behind this checklist? Read the MSRA meaning in safety — Method Statement Risk Assessment guide for the full definition, UAE regulations, roles and scoring method.

Open live checklist

#	Area	Checkpoint / Requirement	Evidence / Acceptance Criteria	Responsible	Frequency
1	Permit & Planning	Verify excavation permit to work issued and signed	PTW valid, signed by authorized person	HSE Officer	Before excavation starts
2	Permit & Planning	Confirm underground utility survey and mapping completed	Utility drawings reviewed, cable and pipe locations marked	Site Engineer	Before excavation starts
3	Permit & Planning	Check utility locating scan carried out	Utility scan report available and signed off	Site Engineer	Before excavation starts
4	Permit & Planning	Verify method statement and risk assessment approved	MS and RA approved by HSE Manager	HSE Manager	Before excavation starts
5	Permit & Planning	Confirm competent person assigned for excavation supervision	Named competent person listed on permit	Project Manager	Before excavation starts
6	Permit & Planning	Check adjacent structures assessed for impact	Structural assessment report available if applicable	Site Engineer	Before excavation starts
7	Permit & Planning	Verify emergency rescue plan established for excavation	Rescue plan documented and equipment on site	HSE Manager	Before excavation starts
8	Permit & Planning	Verify excavation depth does not exceed permit approved limit without revalidation	Depth logged and compared against approved permit limit	Site Engineer	Continuous
9	Permit & Planning	Confirm traffic management plan in place near excavation on roadways	TMP approved and signage/diversions implemented	Site Engineer	Before excavation starts
10	Shoring & Support System	Verify shoring system design approved by engineer	Approved shoring design drawings on site	Site Engineer	Before installation
11	Shoring & Support System	Inspect trench boxes and shields for structural integrity	No cracks, bends or corrosion on shoring panels	HSE Officer	Daily
12	Shoring & Support System	Check hydraulic or screw jacks properly tensioned	Struts tight, no visible slack or movement	Site Engineer	Daily
13	Shoring & Support System	Verify shoring extends above top of excavation edge	Shoring protrudes minimum 300mm above grade	HSE Officer	Daily
14	Shoring & Support System	Confirm spacing of shoring struts as per design	Strut spacing matches approved design spacing	Site Engineer	Daily
15	Shoring & Support System	Check timber or steel sheeting condition for shoring	No splitting, warping or corrosion damage	HSE Officer	Daily
16	Shoring & Support System	Verify shoring installed progressively with excavation depth	Shoring installed before workers enter deeper sections	Site Supervisor	Continuous
17	Shoring & Support System	Confirm removal of shoring done in reverse sequence of installation	Shoring removed from bottom up as backfill proceeds	Site Supervisor	During backfilling
18	Shoring & Support System	Verify walers and struts inspected for corrosion and bending	No corrosion or bending compromising strut strength	Site Engineer	Daily
19	Shoring & Support System	Check shoring system compatible with soil and water table conditions	Shoring type suitable per geotechnical report	Site Engineer	Before installation
20	Sloping & Benching	Verify slope angle complies with soil classification	Slope ratio matches soil type per standard	Site Engineer	Before entry
21	Sloping & Benching	Inspect benching steps for stability and dimensions	Bench height and width per approved design	Site Engineer	Daily
22	Sloping & Benching	Check for signs of soil slippage or cracking at edges	No tension cracks or bulging observed	HSE Officer	Daily
23	Sloping & Benching	Verify spoil piles kept at safe distance from edge	Spoil stored minimum 1m or per design from edge	Site Supervisor	Continuous
24	Sloping & Benching	Confirm surface water diverted away from excavation	Drainage channels and berms directing water away	Site Supervisor	Daily
25	Sloping & Benching	Check soil classification test results available	Soil classification report on file matching site conditions	Site Engineer	Before excavation starts
26	Sloping & Benching	Verify additional support provided where slope interrupted by utilities	Local shoring or support installed around utility crossings	Site Engineer	Before excavation starts
27	Sloping & Benching	Check vibration from nearby plant does not destabilize slope	Vibration monitoring shows no adverse impact on slope	Site Engineer	Continuous
28	Access & Egress	Verify ladder or ramp access provided in excavation	Access within 7.5m of any worker location	Site Supervisor	Before entry
29	Access & Egress	Inspect ladder condition and secure footing	Ladder tied off, extends 1m above edge	HSE Officer	Daily
30	Access & Egress	Check number of access points adequate for excavation size	Minimum access points per excavation length	Site Supervisor	Before entry
31	Access & Egress	Verify egress route unobstructed at all times	Clear path free of materials and equipment	Site Supervisor	Continuous
32	Access & Egress	Confirm access ramps for vehicles constructed at safe gradient	Ramp gradient complies with vehicle manufacturer limits	Site Engineer	Before use
33	Access & Egress	Check ladder rungs free of mud, oil or debris creating slip hazard	Ladder rungs clean and slip-free before use	HSE Officer	Daily
34	Access & Egress	Confirm access equipment inspected for damage before each use	Ladder or steps inspected, no damage or defects found	HSE Officer	Before each use
35	Access & Egress	Verify separate access maintained for pedestrians and vehicles	Pedestrian and vehicle access routes clearly segregated	Site Supervisor	Continuous
36	Edge Protection & Barricading	Verify guardrails or barricades installed around excavation	Barricade minimum 1m from edge, all sides enclosed	Site Supervisor	Before excavation starts
37	Edge Protection & Barricading	Check warning signage posted at excavation perimeter	Signage visible indicating excavation hazard	HSE Officer	Before excavation starts
38	Edge Protection & Barricading	Inspect toe boards installed to prevent material falling in	Toe boards fitted where required along edges	Site Supervisor	Daily
39	Edge Protection & Barricading	Verify night-time lighting and warning lights in place	Barricade lights functioning after dark	Site Supervisor	Daily
40	Edge Protection & Barricading	Confirm covers provided for unattended excavations	Excavation covered or fully barricaded when unattended	Site Supervisor	End of each shift
41	Edge Protection & Barricading	Verify barricade tape or fencing replaced immediately if damaged	Damaged barricading repaired or replaced within same shift	Site Supervisor	Continuous
42	Edge Protection & Barricading	Verify edge protection maintained during material handling operations	Barricades remain intact while materials lifted near edge	Site Supervisor	Continuous
43	Edge Protection & Barricading	Check excavation adjacent to public areas fully hoarded	Hoarding erected where excavation borders public access	Site Supervisor	Before excavation starts
44	Atmospheric & Gas Monitoring	Verify gas testing conducted before entry into deep excavation	Gas test results within safe limits before entry	HSE Officer	Before entry
45	Atmospheric & Gas Monitoring	Check continuous gas monitoring for excavations over 1.5m deep	Gas detector in operation during occupied work	HSE Officer	Continuous
46	Atmospheric & Gas Monitoring	Confirm ventilation provided in confined excavation areas	Forced ventilation equipment operating as required	Site Supervisor	During occupancy
47	Atmospheric & Gas Monitoring	Verify calibration of gas detection equipment current	Calibration certificate valid and within date	HSE Officer	Monthly
48	Atmospheric & Gas Monitoring	Check gas monitoring log reviewed daily by HSE officer	Daily gas monitoring log reviewed and signed off	HSE Officer	Daily
49	Atmospheric & Gas Monitoring	Verify oxygen levels tested in excavations near contaminated ground	Oxygen level within 19.5% to 23.5% range confirmed	HSE Officer	Before entry
50	Atmospheric & Gas Monitoring	Check emergency evacuation alarm audible at excavation location	Alarm test confirms audibility at excavation depth	HSE Officer	Weekly
51	Loads & Adjacent Structures	Check vehicles and equipment kept minimum safe distance from edge	Plant kept at least 2m or per design from excavation edge	Site Supervisor	Continuous
52	Loads & Adjacent Structures	Verify surcharge loads accounted for in shoring design	Design accounts for stored materials and equipment loads	Site Engineer	Before excavation starts
53	Loads & Adjacent Structures	Inspect adjacent structures for signs of settlement or cracking	No new cracks or movement detected during monitoring	Site Engineer	Daily
54	Loads & Adjacent Structures	Confirm underpinning or protection measures for nearby foundations	Underpinning installed per engineering design where required	Site Engineer	Before excavation starts
55	Loads & Adjacent Structures	Check exposed utilities identified and protected	Exposed cables and pipes supported and marked	Site Engineer	Continuous
56	Loads & Adjacent Structures	Check spoil and materials segregated to prevent overloading excavation edge	Materials stacked at safe distance and within load limits	Site Supervisor	Continuous
57	Loads & Adjacent Structures	Verify crane or excavator positioned outside influence zone of trench	Equipment positioned per geotechnical influence zone calculation	Site Engineer	Before excavation starts
58	Loads & Adjacent Structures	Check dewatering system operating to control groundwater ingress	Dewatering pumps functioning, water table controlled	Site Engineer	Continuous
59	Loads & Adjacent Structures	Confirm retaining wall or sheet piling monitored for deflection	Deflection readings within design tolerance limits	Site Engineer	Weekly
60	Excavation Inspection & Monitoring	Verify daily excavation inspection conducted and logged	Inspection checklist completed and signed daily	Competent Person	Daily
61	Excavation Inspection & Monitoring	Check inspection carried out after rainfall or ground disturbance	Additional inspection recorded after weather events	Competent Person	After rain event
62	Excavation Inspection & Monitoring	Confirm re-inspection after any blasting or vibration nearby	Inspection record after vibration-inducing activity	Competent Person	As required
63	Excavation Inspection & Monitoring	Verify movement monitoring instruments installed if required	Survey pins or inclinometers installed and monitored	Site Engineer	Weekly
64	Excavation Inspection & Monitoring	Check inspection records retained on site	Inspection log accessible for review on site	HSE Officer	Continuous
65	Excavation Inspection & Monitoring	Verify inspection conducted before each shift start	Pre-shift inspection log completed and signed	Competent Person	Before each shift
66	Excavation Inspection & Monitoring	Check third-party independent inspection scheduled for deep excavations	Independent inspection report available for excavations over 6m	HSE Manager	Monthly
67	Excavation Inspection & Monitoring	Confirm photographic records maintained of excavation progress	Photo log updated showing shoring and slope condition	Site Engineer	Weekly
68	Worker Safety & PPE	Verify workers trained on excavation hazards before entry	Training records available for all workers entering	HSE Manager	Before deployment
69	Worker Safety & PPE	Check PPE worn appropriate for excavation work	Hard hat, safety boots, hi-vis vest worn at all times	HSE Officer	Continuous
70	Worker Safety & PPE	Confirm no lone working permitted in excavation	Minimum two persons present during excavation entry	Site Supervisor	Continuous
71	Worker Safety & PPE	Verify emergency rescue equipment available at excavation	Rescue tripod or retrieval equipment on standby	HSE Officer	Continuous
72	Worker Safety & PPE	Check toolbox talk conducted before excavation work begins	TBT record signed by all workers involved	Site Supervisor	Before excavation starts
73	Worker Safety & PPE	Confirm workers instructed not to work under suspended loads near excavation	Exclusion zone maintained under any suspended load	Site Supervisor	Continuous
74	Worker Safety & PPE	Confirm safe distance maintained between workers and mechanical excavator bucket swing	Exclusion zone marked around excavator operating radius	Site Supervisor	Continuous
75	Worker Safety & PPE	Verify hand signals or spotter used when excavator operates near workers	Spotter positioned with clear line of sight to operator	Site Supervisor	Continuous
76	Worker Safety & PPE	Verify fall protection provided at excavation edges over 2m	Guardrails or harness system used where applicable	HSE Officer	Continuous
77	Worker Safety & PPE	Check first aid kit and trained first aider available on site	First aid kit stocked, first aider present during works	HSE Officer	Continuous
78	Worker Safety & PPE	Confirm communication device available for workers inside excavation	Radio or phone available for emergency communication	Site Supervisor	Continuous
79	Worker Safety & PPE	Verify rescue tripod and harness tested and ready for use	Rescue equipment inspected and certified for use	HSE Officer	Monthly
80	Worker Safety & PPE	Check excavation work stopped during adverse weather conditions	Work halted during heavy rain, lightning or high wind	Site Supervisor	As required
81	Backfilling & Reinstatement	Verify backfill material approved and compacted in layers	Compaction test results meet specification per layer	Site Engineer	During backfilling
82	Backfilling & Reinstatement	Check shoring removed safely during backfilling sequence	Shoring removal sequence matches approved method statement	Site Supervisor	During backfilling
83	Backfilling & Reinstatement	Confirm reinstated surface inspected for settlement risk	Surface level and compaction verified before handover	Site Engineer	After backfilling
84	Backfilling & Reinstatement	Verify barricades removed only after area confirmed safe	Barricades removed after final inspection sign-off	Site Supervisor	After backfilling
85	Backfilling & Reinstatement	Confirm surrounding pavement or landscaping restored to original condition	Reinstatement matches original surface finish and levels	Site Engineer	After backfilling
86	Backfilling & Reinstatement	Verify utilities reinstated and protected before backfilling	Utility protection tape and marker installed before backfill	Site Engineer	During backfilling
87	Backfilling & Reinstatement	Check backfilling method statement followed for layer thickness	Layer thickness matches approved method statement	Site Engineer	During backfilling
88	Backfilling & Reinstatement	Confirm final compaction test results meet design requirement	Compaction density test results pass specification	Site Engineer	After backfilling

Each checkpoint records Status (Yes / No / N/A), Comments, Corrective Action and Sign-off. Switch to Complete in-app to fill it here, or download the blank version to complete on site.

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