This safety code outlines essential safety guidelines for excavation work, covering trenching, deep excavations, and hard rock operations. It provides clear specifications for shoring, timbering, barricades, and safe spoil bank placement to prevent cave-ins and protect workers on site.
Specifies methods for testing physical properties of railway track ballast to ensure quality and performance.
Quick Reference Values
minimum spoil bank distance1.5 m or half depth of trench, whichever is more
max trench depth without shoring loose soil1.2 m
ladder spacing in deep trenches15 m max interval
min walkway width over trench0.9 m
Practical Notes
Always verify the location and isolate underground utilities (water, gas, electrical) before initiating excavation works.
Maintain spoil piles at least 1.5m away from trench edges to avoid collapse caused by surcharge loading.
Ensure appropriate shoring, stepping, or battering is implemented when excavating beyond 1.2m in loose or running soils.