Fail to plan, plan to fail!

Fail to plan, plan to fail!

Excavation failures are particularly dangerous because they may occur quickly, limiting the ability of workers (and in some cases others nearby) to escape, especially if the collapse is extensive.

The speed of an excavation collapse increases the risk associated with this type of work.

The consequences are significant as the falling earth can bury or crush any person in its path resulting in death by suffocation or internal crush injuries.

Most fatal and serious injuries involving excavators occur when the excavator is:

Moving – and strikes a pedestrian, particularly while reversing;

Slewing – trapping a person between the excavator and a fixed structure or vehicle;

or

Working – when the moving bucket or other attachment strikes a pedestrian or when the bucket inadvertently falls from the excavator.