KOC Excavation Procedure

KOC.SA.026 - Excavation Procedure of 11

Control Tier: 3 Revision Date: 31st May 2011

Uncontrolled Copy If Printed

Excavation Procedure

Document Number: KOC.SA.026

Approver: (Technical) Manager MP(I) Author: TL Safety

Approver: (Administrative)

Manager HSE Document

Coordinator TL Standard

Scope: All KOC Directorates Control Tier: Tier 3

Issue Date: 26th August 2008 Issuing Group: HSE Group

Revision / Review Date: 31st May 2011 Next Review Date: 30th May 2014

1.0 Purpose / Scope

The purpose of this procedure is to establish the precautions and conditions considered

necessary for safety of the personnel involved in excavation work as well as integrity of

above / underground services &/or facilities where such excavation work shall be carried

out. The procedure is also aimed to define the roles & responsibilities of personnel

associated with requesting, approving and carrying out excavation in areas under KOC

jurisdiction.

The procedure is applicable to all activities & facilities where excavation is carried out for

maintenance, construction or inspection need. It is to note that requirement of work

permit for excavation work shall be dealt in compliance with “Permit to Work Procedure”.

2.0 Definitions

Excavation: Excavation is a man made cut, cavity, trench or depression in an earth

surface formed by earth removal.

Manual Excavation: The excavation without using any powered equipment or

excavating machinery such as backhoe, loader, Jack Hammer etc.

Mechanical Excavation: The excavation work using powered equipment or excavating

machinery such backhoe, loader, Jack Hammer etc.

Excavation Notification: Excavation Notification is a document to notify concerned

authorities, who have responsibility and jurisdiction for safety & integrity of aboveground

and / or underground services existing at the proposed site of excavation.

Metal Detector: It is a device to screen the excavation area to mitigate the risk of

damaging unknown pipelines, cables and utilities.

Cave - ins: It is collapse of the trench side walls due to weight of the adjacent soil. A

cave – in can drop several cubic meters of soils on trench worker.

Sloping: Sloping is angling the sides of an excavation to prevent cave – ins.

Benching: It is also one of the measures to prevent cave – ins by cutting trench

sidewalls to form one or more steps.

Shoring: Shoring involves the use of engineering structures (such as cross braces,

vertical & / or horizontal rail, polling boards etc) to support a trench side walls.

Backfilling: It is an activity to fill-in (with soil) a trench that is no longer needed and

returning the area around its original condition.




3.0 General Requirements

KOC HSEMS Element HSE – 03 - 1

4.0 Key Responsibilities

4.1 Permit Applicant / Initiator of Excavation Notification:

Initiate Excavation Notification informing concerned authorities, who have

responsibility and jurisdiction for safety & integrity of aboveground and / or underground

services existing at the proposed site of excavation.

Enclose drawings & sketches (with the Excavation Notification) marking the proposed

site of excavation.

Identify the above / under ground services (such as pipelines, cables, sewage, flume,

tunnel etc) before excavating the area without damage to those services.

Ensure risk assessment and mitigation of potential hazards associated with

proposed excavation work.

Conduct Job Safety Analysis prior to applying the appropriate work permit (Cold Work

Permit for Manual Excavation and Hot Work Permit for Mechanical Excavation) for carrying

out excavation work.

4.2 Asset Owners for Above / Underground Services

The respective asset owner for aboveground / underground services will indicate (in

the Excavation Notification); the required precautionary measures to be taken

preventing any damage to those services at the proposed site of excavation.

4.3 Permit Issuer

Ensure safety & integrity of the worksite prior to issuance of appropriate permits (Cold

Work Permit for Manual Excavation and Hot Work Permit for Mechanical Excavation) for

safe work execution.

4.4 Worksite Supervisor

Must not excavate without a valid excavation notification & authorized work permit.

Ensure safety & suitability of the equipment & materials to be used for excavation.

Conduct Tool Box Talk briefing the workers on potential hazards and precautionary

measures to be taken during excavation activities.

Verify the existence of above / underground services before excavating the area.

Barricade the site of excavation along with the warning notice, signs and flashing

lights to alert the people approaching worksite.

Check the excavation safeguards (such as shoring, sloping & supporting system) daily

before starting the job & after every rain storm or other hazardous occurrence.

Fill the excavation checklist (enclosed at Appendix - 1) ensuring safety & integrity of the

worksite.

4.6 Asset / Directorate HSE Teams

Conduct periodical inspection of excavation site to assure the procedural

compliance.

Advise the Permit Applicant & Permit Issuer for corrective measures in case

discrepancy is noticed at the site of excavation.




5.0 Safety in Excavation

5.1 Hazards of Excavation: The following hazards may be encountered while

excavating or working inside a trench:

Cave – ins or collapse of soil / earthwork

Buried alive under earthwork / collapsed soil

Underground obstruction or damage to buried pipelines & services

Accidental fall of personnel or equipment inside a trench

Struck / hit by excavating machinery

Flammable & / or toxic gas release

Fire & explosion

Electrical shock due to contact with energized electrical / telecom cable.

Drowning due to water seepage into trench

Soil vibration due to machinery / heavy vehicles operations in the vicinity.

Possible presence of explosive devices

Lack of Oxygen or asphyxiation

Damage to shallow underground services due to weight of heavy equipment such as

mechanical excavator.

Observing wet soil (mixed with water) or reaching water table.

Observing contaminated soil

The above – mentioned list is not exhaustive and it is recommended to carry out a site

specific risk evaluation to identify additional hazards as well as to incorporate mitigation

accordingly.

5.2 Control of Excavation Hazard

Excavation accident can only be prevented by identifying & controlling their inherent

hazards by:

Evaluating the site before and after excavation

Site Specific Risk Assessment & Job Safety Analysis

Approval and authorization through Excavation Notification & Work Permit

Based on the site specific risk evaluation; it is advisable to develop an excavation plan

addressing the following aspects:

Size and purpose of excavation

Proposed excavation method (i.e. manual or mechanical)

Nature of soil being excavated.

Nature of soil surrounding the excavation

Stability of adjacent structure.

Position of any underground services (such as pipelines, cables, utilities)




Sources of soil vibration

Traffic condition on the adjacent road.

Weather & soil moisture condition

5.3 Excavation Notification & Work Permit

Excavation Notification & appropriate work permit(s) are essentially required for all

excavation work regardless of its depth. The following considerations shall be taken into

account in this regard:

a) Prior to raising an Excavation Notification, the proposed site of excavation must be

thoroughly inspected to assess any underground / aboveground obstructions such as

pipelines, cables, manholes, fire hydrants etc.

b) The excavation notification must accompany a clear drawing of the proposed

excavation site to help specifying precautions prior to its endorsement.

c) The excavation notification shall be endorsed by concerned authorities, who have

responsibility and jurisdiction for safety & integrity of above / underground services

existing at the proposed site of excavation.

d) The excavation notification has to be endorsed by Fire Team / Area Fire Station prior to

digging / excavating / cutting within the bunded area of the crude oil storage tank.

e) In addition to excavation notification, a hot work permit shall be required for any

excavation work involving mechanical excavator; whereas cold work permit is needed

for manual excavation.

f) The excavation notification as well as work permit must be cross referenced with the

other live permits & excavation activities in the vicinity of proposed excavation site.

5.4 Precautionary Measures for Excavation

The following precautionary measures must be taken to ensure safety of the personnel

as well as integrity of the worksite:

a) No excavation work in KOC area shall be taken without ensuring EOD clearance for

that location.

b) No mechanical excavation shall take place closer than 5 meters to any hydrocarbon

carrying pipeline. Such restriction will apply even for levelling (with the use of mechanical

excavator) at a worksite near hydrocarbon carrying pipelines.

c) Similarly no mechanical excavation shall take place closer than 3 meter to a non-

hydrocarbon carrying pipeline, cables and services. However for any mechanical

excavation closer than 3 meter to pipelines, cables or services, it is recommended to

apply Management of Change, thorough risk assessment and control measures.

d) In order to reduce the risk of striking the pipe or underground services, the excavation

will start at the side of the pipeline or midway between parallel lines. Manual slit trench

shall be done along the length of identified underground services at appropriate

intervals in the area marked for excavation in order to expose and positively locate such

known or suspected underground services before commencing the use of mechanical

excavator at the work site.

e) Ground conditions shall also be assessed to confirm additional protection for shallow

buried services prior to deploying any mechanical excavator at site.




f) Excavations adjacent to buildings or other obstructions may require temporary support,

and accordingly the relevant safety instruction must be stated in the Excavation

Notification before taking up excavation activity.

g) For any excavation deeper than 1m, suitable ladder must be positioned projecting a

minimum of 1 metre above the edge of the excavations. Ladders shall be provided

every 7.5 meters (25 feet) of lateral travel in the trench. Ladders shall be securely

supported at the bottom as well as at the top.

h) Any walkway across trench shall have scaffold type platform with handrails to protect

personnel from falling into it.

i) All trenches shall have barrier (such as fixed guardrails) and warning notices clearly

displayed. Flashing lights are mandatory during poor visibility.

j) Excavated material shall be placed at a distance not less than 1m from the edge of

the excavation for depth up to 1.2 meter. Accordingly placement of excavated

material shall be increased proportion to the depth of excavation.

k) Heavy equipment, material or excavating machinery shall be kept clear from the

excavation area by at least 3 metres away.

l) The access to plant, equipment and emergency services must not be obstructed by the

trenches.

m) The trenches shall not be left uncovered in the plant area and must be backfilled

immediately on completion of work.

n) No mechanical excavation is allowed inside the existing KOC facilities (Gathering

Center, Booster Station etc.)

o) Personnel carrying out excavation work must use PPE in line with the requirements of

HSEMS procedure KOC.SA.010 “Protective Clothing & Equipment”.

p) Employees exposed to public vehicular traffic shall be provided with, and shall wear;

warning vests or other suitable garments marked with or made of reflectorized or high-

visibility material.

5.5 Inspection of Trenches

To identify and control hazards a competent person must inspect all parts of a trench and

its safeguards everyday in consideration to following issues:

a) All materials to be used in shoring & support must be inspected for its suitability

b) The timbering and shoring must be checked for any strain or slackness before

commencement of daily work. Moreover timbering and shoring must also be checked

carefully after heavy rains and or exposure to high temperature.

c) All excavations must be carefully inspected following heavy rains, collapse of trenches

or fall of equipment or materials inside.

d) If an unsafe condition is found or suspected, work in trenches must stop until the

necessary precautions have been taken to control the hazards.




5.6 Excavation Process:

5.6.1 Excavation in Good Soil

a) For excavations in good soil, shoring is not usually required, provided the excavations

depth does not exceed more than one metre

b) If the surface area permits, greater depth can be made by sloping the side down to an

angle of 45°.

c) If surface area is limited and needed excavation depth is more than one metre, then

polling boards must be placed approximately two metres apart with horizontal brace

(support), whereas horizontal brace should not be more than one metre apart.

d) Where a long trench is being made, the mechanical digging must be limited to

approximately two metres ahead of shoring to give a protected position.

5.6.2 Excavation in Medium Soil

a) If the depth of the excavation exceeds one metre, shoring must be used. The polling

boards should be placed not more than 750mm (30") apart facing the wall, whereas

horizontal brace should not be more than one metre apart.

b) Extra polling boards should be inserted across if the condition of the ground

deteriorates.

5.6.3 Excavation in Loose Sand or Poor Soil Condition

If excavations are to be made in loose sand or poor soil condition, then close sheeting or

continued series of polling boards shall be used.

The polling board & walling shall have a minimum cross-section as mentioned hereunder:

Polling board = 200mm x 50mm, (8" x 2")

Walling = 150mm x 50mm (6" x 2")

Walling = 150mm x 50mm (6" x 2")




5.6.4 Using Excavation Machinery

The use of excavating machinery (such as backhoe, hack hammer, loader etc) near above

/ underground services will require a Hot Work Permit in addition to Excavation Notification.

The following precautions are to be taken while using mechanical means of excavation:

a) Extreme care shall be taken to prevent any damage to above / underground services or

power lines while using mechanical excavators.

b) A mechanical excavator shall not be used until all underground obstructions have been

uncovered through manual excavation. Once underground services are exposed the

area should be further excavated manually as per clause 5.4 b & c on either side of the

exposed services before using mechanical excavator.

c) The machinery operator shall take extra care and follow banksman instruction while

reversing or turning the excavator to prevent any accidental strike to the workers or

equipment at location.

d) The bucket must always be lowered to the ground if the loader or backhoe is not in

operation.

e) The machinery operator shall take necessary care to prevent exhaust gases entering

the nearby trench or pit, in case personnel are working inside it.

5.6.5 Prevention of Accidental Fall inside a Trench

Adequate fencing, barriers and warning notices are to be provided around any excavated

area to alert and prevent accidental fall into it. Posting flaggers and / or watchman will be

required if the trench is in a heavy traffic area. It is also recommended to illuminate the

excavated area in the night and provide flashing hazard light. Any person entering the

barricaded area must follow safety procedures to eliminate fall from height hazard in line

with requirements of “Working at Height Procedure” (KOC.SA.031). Where equipment,

workers or public are required or permitted to cross over a trench; then it is essential to

provide a close – planked bridge or walkway with standard guard rail.

5.6.6 Trench as Confined Space

An excavation that exceed 1.2 meter shall be treated as Confined Space and shall be

checked for toxic gas, flammable gas as well as lack of oxygen. In such situation the

requirement as applicable to Confined Space Entry Permit will be adhered.




5.6.7 Backfilling & Reinstatement:

If a trench is no longer needed then it has to be backfilled returning the area around it to

its original condition. The following precautionary measures to be considered while

backfilling a trench:

a) Backfilling and removal of trench support shall be taken from the bottom of the trench

layer by layer.

b) The trench will be backfilled up to the level that allows removal of lower brace. After

removing lower brace, the trench will be backfilled further to remove next level of

braces. This process will be repeated until the trench is completely backfilled.

c) In case of soil being unstable; the removal of brace / trench support shall be made

with ropes from outside the trench without worker entry it.

d) Removal of trench support shall be done slowly preventing collapse of side wall.

e) Any surplus excavated materials shall be removed from the site making it tidy and

compact.

f) No contaminated soil shall be used for backfilling, whereas contaminated soil shall

be disposed complying KOC "Waste Management Procedure" (KOC.EV.008).

g) On completion of backfilling; the area including walkways, access roads, drainage

etc. shall be reinstated to a condition equivalent to that before the commencement of

excavation work.

6.0 Key Documents / Tools / References

Permit to Work Procedure; Doc. No. KOC. SA. 004

Entry into Confined Space; Doc. No. KOC.SA.007

Temporary Mobile Plant Equipment; Doc. No. KOC.SA.013

Control & Use of Ladder & Step Ladder; Doc. No. KOC.SA.001

Job Safety Analysis Procedure; Doc. No. KOC.SA. 024

Standard Guideline for "Safe Roads" Doc. No. KOC.S.001

Appendix -1 Excavation Checklist

Appendix -2 Excavation Flowchart

7.0 Abbreviations

KOC – Kuwait Oil Company

HSE – Health Safety & Environment




HSEMS – Health Safety & Environment Management System

PPE- Personal Protective Equipment

SA-Safety

8.0 HSE Records (Retention Time)

Excavation Checklist Records (5 Years)

Excavation Notification (Refer Permit to Work Procedure)

Review/Revision Log:

Review/

Revision Date

Document Technical

Approver

Document

Author Revision Details

1st May 2008 Manager – MP(I) TL-Safety Drafted the procedure

21st May 2008 Manager – MP(I) TL-Safety

Draft circulated among HSEMS

Implementation Committee for review

15th June 2008 Manager – MP(I) TL-Safety

Reviewed & approved. by HSEMS

Implementation Committee

25th August

2008 Manager – MP(I) TL-Safety

Document approved by Technical &

Administrative Approvers

31st May 2011 Manager –MP(I) TL-Safety

Clause1.0 Services added, Clause 4.4

3rd

bullet rephrased, clause 4.6 retitled

and 2nd

bullet rephrased, Clause 5.1 - 3

bullets points added, Clause 5.4 bullet

c),d) &J) rephrased and new bullets (n),

(o) & (p) added, Clause 5.6 sub clauses

renumbered, Clause 5.6.4 Bullet b) & c)

rephrased, Clause 5.6.5 Referred

working at height procedure , Clause 6.0

new document added, Clause 7.0 & 8.0

added to aligning with Document Control

Procedure & Added Not Applicable

column on the Checklist




Appendix -1 Excavation Checklist

Location:………………………………………………………………………………………………………Permit No. ………….…………………….

S. No

Description of Checks & Measures Yes No Not

Applicable Remarks Required & to be

reviewed 1 The proposed area of excavation is EOD cleared and certificate obtained

2 The proposed location checked with appropriate detectors for any underground services

3 Slit trenching to locate any underground services

4 Only manual excavation will be carried out

5 Excavation to be carried out by mechanical means only

6 Excavation to be carried out both utilizing manual & mechanical means.

7 Protection provided to control source of ignition for equipment to be used in hazardous area.

8 Earthmoving & other mechanical equipment are fixed with approved spark arrestor

9 Electrical wiring, termination joints & battery terminals of excavating machinery are safe.

10 Excavation area to be isolated partially / completely from other adjacent facilities.

11 Temporary supports are required for existing underground services to protect from exposure due to excavation.

12 Area of excavation requires continuous Gas (flammable & toxic) monitoring.

13 Fire protection (portable or fixed) system required.

14 Excavation area is provided with safe access

15 Area of excavation properly barricaded and danger signs (e.g. warning tape, reflective cone, safe cross over with handrail, flashing light etc.) are provided.

16 Area of excavation / trenches is to be protected against possible ingress of rainwater / spilled liquid from adjacent facilities.

17 Excavation will not lead to water / liquid ingress through the trench into adjacent building.

18 The site of disposal for excess excavated material is determined

19 Banksman / Signalman for excavating machinery operator is required.

20 Continuous onsite supervision required during excavation work.

21 Safe detour / by-pass alongwith warning signs are provided as per requirement.

22 Excavated area backfilled, compacted and made as original.

Name of Worksite Supervisor: ……………………………………………….Designation: …………………………………..Id. No. …….……… Controlling Team: ………………………………………………… …………..Signature: ……………………………………..Date ……………..




Appendix -2 Excavation Flowchart

Yes

No

Need for Excavation Work (The Initiator to raise the Excavation Notification)

Are potential hazards identified & mitigated? (In association with Permit Applicant & Issuer)

Worksite Supervisor completes Excavation Checklist

Work Permit authorized by Issuer

Backfill the trenches safely & return the area to original condition

Site condition verified & Permit Closed

Endorsement of Excavation Notification (By all concerned Teams / Groups)

Take remaining

Endorsement

Excavation work carried out safely.

Apply for Appropriate Work Permit (By Permit Applicant)

Work is complete & trenches no more needed

Is endorsement complete?

Yes

Address the

hazard

No

KOC Excavation Procedure

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