Guides / On site

Excavation inspection basics

Excavations can collapse without warning, so inspection is a legal duty, not a nice-to-have.

When to inspect

Under CDM 2015, excavations that people work in must be inspected at the start of every shift, and after any event likely to have affected their strength or stability, or after an unintended fall of material. Heavy rain is an example of such an event.

Record it

The Health and Safety Executive advises keeping a record of the inspection. The Excavation Support Inspection Record in the shop is for that.

Also think about

Services in the ground (a cable avoidance tool survey and service records), what is known about the ground, and whether support is needed at all. Whether and how an excavation is supported is for the competent person and the designer.

This is a general guide, not advice for your excavation.