• Workers, permit issuers, permit holders, and supervisors must be appropriately trained, licensed (as required by law) or verified as a competent and authorised person to conduct excavation work.
  • Workers involved in the installation of temporary excavation/trench support systems must have received adequate information/training in its correct use and method of installation and removal.
  • All mobile plant operators must be licensed or verified as competent for the specific item of plant.
  • Lifting points on trench linings or shields must be certified and tested.
  • Excavations must be designed by a qualified geotechnical engineer, installed by competent persons, and verified as correctly installed prior to use.
  • Daily pre-start inspections/checks must be completed by the operator prior to operating the plant.
  • A Permit to Work must be in place where work activities involve penetration of ground, floor, wall or any other surface deeper than 150mm.
  • A Retrieval Rescue Plan must be in place together with the work permit.
  • In ground service locations must be communicated to all relevant stakeholders prior to activities commencing.