Company Fined after Worker Died in Excavation
A company has been fined after a man died while working inside an excavation at a construction site in Glasgow. Derek Caddie lost his life when part of the excavation wall collapsed on 25 November 2019.
This led to the 44-year-old being trapped in soil from the neck down before being rescued by the emergency services. He died from his injuries in hospital three days later on 28 November.
Graeme McMinn, a principal inspector at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said: “This was a tragic and wholly avoidable accident, caused by the failure of Carrig Construction Services Limited to put in place measures to control the risk of the sides of the excavation collapsing.”
“HSE provides freely available guidance on effective controls for working in excavations on the HSE website.”
Mr Caddie had entered the excavation with a colleague to repair damaged and leaking pipework, when the incident occurred. The colleague was left uninjured.
Carrig Construction Services Limited had been appointed as a contractor at the site on Belhaven Terrace West Lane where new houses were being built. Mr Caddie was working under the company’s control at the time of the incident.
An investigation by HSE found the collapse was caused by a lack of support to the vertical walls of the excavation. Carrig Construction Services Limited, a company that specialises in groundworks and drainage works, failed to identify the risks from working in the excavation and did not ensure there were practicable steps in place to ensure workers were protected while inside the excavation.
On top of this, none of the workers under the control of Carrig Construction Services Limited had any formal training on working within excavations and were unaware of the risks involved.
HSE guidance can be found at: Excavations – Construction Safety topics – HSE
Carrig Construction Services Limited, of Hunters Way, Lochwinnoch, Argyll, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £75,000 at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 28 August 2024.
Protective Systems
There is no set depth specified by HSE regulations that requires protection for excavations. The need for protection depends on a risk assessment considering factors like:
- Ground conditions
- Excavation depth and width
- Work activities
- Groundwater conditions
- Nearby structures or equipment
Protective systems could include the following:
- Sloping – Cutting back trench walls at an angle inclined away from the excavation.
- Benching – Cutting steps into the excavation walls.
- Shoring – Installing supports like hydraulic jacks to prevent cave-ins.
- Trench boxes/shields – Protective structures for workers inside the trench.
Construction Safety Bulletin : Excavation Safety
Access and Egress
- Provide safe access into and out of excavations.
- Use ladders, steps, ramps or other safe means of entry/exit.
- Position sufficient access points that are easily accessible for workers.
Inspections
A competent person who fully understands the dangers and necessary precautions should inspect the excavation at the start of each shift.
Excavations should also be inspected after any event that may have affected their strength or stability, or after a fall of rock or earth.
A record of the inspections will be required and any faults that are found should be corrected immediately. A written report should be made following most inspections and should contain the following information:
- Name and address of the person the inspection was carried out for.
- Location and description of the place of work or work equipment inspected.
- Date and time of the inspection.
Details of:
- Any matter identified that could give rise to a risk to the health or safety of any person.
- Any action taken as a result of any matter identified.
- Any further action considered necessary.
- Name and position of the person making the report.
Preventing Excavation Collapses
Trench collapses are one of the deadliest hazards in excavation work. An unprotected trench can collapse suddenly and without warning, potentially burying workers under tons of soil. To prevent collapses:
Evaluate Soil Conditions
- Determine soil type and stability.
- Consider how weather, vibrations, and surcharge loads may affect stability.
- Never assume soil will “stand up” on its own.
Use Protective Systems
- Install appropriate protective systems like shoring or trench boxes.
- Extend protective systems above the excavation to act as fall protection.
- Never work ahead of protective systems.
Control Water
- Divert surface water away from excavations.
- Use pumps to remove accumulated water.
- Monitor for signs of water seepage through trench walls.
Avoid Excessive Loads
- Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges.
- Store excavated soil and other materials a minimum of 1.5m from trench edges.
- Use retaining devices to prevent materials from falling into the excavation.
Safe Work Practices
- Never enter an unprotected trench.
- Exit the trench immediately if you see any signs of instability or danger.
- Do not work under suspended or raised loads and materials.
Underground Utility Safety
Accidental contact with buried utilities like gas lines or electrical cables can be catastrophic. Follow these precautions:
- Contact utility companies or locating services before digging.
- Review utility maps and mark-out.
- Hand dig or use vacuum excavation within 0.5m of marked utilities.
- Treat all underground utilities as live/energised until proven otherwise.
- If a line is damaged, evacuate the area immediately and notify the utility company.
Confined Spaces in Excavations
Some excavations may be considered confined spaces, requiring additional safety measures:
- Test the atmosphere before entry and continuously monitor.
- Use forced air ventilation if necessary.
- Have a top man outside the space at all times.
- Develop and follow confined space entry procedures.
- Train workers on confined space hazards and entry operations.
Avoid Excessive Loads
- Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges.
- Store excavated soil and other materials a minimum of 1.5m from trench edges.
- Use retaining devices to prevent materials from falling into the excavation.
Safe Work Practices
- Never enter an unprotected trench.
- Exit the trench immediately if you see any signs of instability or danger.
- Do not work under suspended or raised loads and materials.
Underground Utility Safety
Accidental contact with buried utilities like gas lines or electrical cables can be catastrophic. Follow these precautions:
- Contact utility companies or locating services before digging.
- Review utility maps and mark-out.
- Hand dig or use vacuum excavation within 0.5m of marked utilities.
- Treat all underground utilities as live/energised until proven otherwise.
- If a line is damaged, evacuate the area immediately and notify the utility company.
Confined Spaces in Excavations
Some excavations may be considered confined spaces, requiring additional safety measures:
- Test the atmosphere before entry and continuously monitor.
- Use forced air ventilation if necessary.
- Have a top man outside the space at all times.
- Develop and follow confined space entry procedures.
- Train workers on confined space hazards and entry operations.
Avoid Excessive Loads
- Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges.
- Store excavated soil and other materials a minimum of 1.5m from trench edges.
- Use retaining devices to prevent materials from falling into the excavation.
Safe Work Practices
- Never enter an unprotected trench.
- Exit the trench immediately if you see any signs of instability or danger.
- Do not work under suspended or raised loads and materials.
Underground Utility Safety
Accidental contact with buried utilities like gas lines or electrical cables can be catastrophic. Follow these precautions:
- Contact utility companies or locating services before digging.
- Review utility maps and mark-out.
- Hand dig or use vacuum excavation within 0.5m of marked utilities.
- Treat all underground utilities as live/energised until proven otherwise.
- If a line is damaged, evacuate the area immediately and notify the utility company.
Confined Spaces in Excavations
Some excavations may be considered confined spaces, requiring additional safety measures:
- Test the atmosphere before entry and continuously monitor.
- Use forced air ventilation if necessary.
- Have a top man outside the space at all times.
- Develop and follow confined space entry procedures.
- Train workers on confined space hazards and entry operations.
Fall Protection
Falls into excavations can result in serious injuries. Implement these fall prevention measures:
- Install guardrails, fences, or barriers around excavations.
- Use warning systems like stop blocks for mobile equipment.
- Cover or guard smaller holes and openings.
Provide safe access points into the excavation
Emergency Response Planning
Be prepared for potential emergencies:
- Develop an emergency action plan.
- Train workers on emergency procedures.
- Have rescue equipment readily available.
- Ensure means of communication are in place.
- Designate and train rescue personnel.
Key Takeaways for Excavation Safety
- Plan ahead and prepare the site properly.
- Use appropriate protective systems.
- Inspect excavations daily before work starts.
- Provide safe access and egress.
- Locate and protect underground utilities.
- Be alert for signs of instability.
- Never enter an unprotected trench.
- Have an emergency response plan.
By following proper safety procedures, we can prevent excavation accidents and save lives. Make excavation safety a top priority on your jobsites.
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