Purpose
The purpose of this procedure is to provide guidelines and information to effectively manage trench rescue on our company work site.
Scope
This procedure applies to all workers of our company and visitors including contractors, volunteers, work experience students, trainees and clients.
Procedure
In the event of a collapsed, the following procedure shall be adopted where applicable.
- Know your communication procedures do not delay, send for the first aider and supervisor and telephone the emergency services and other rescue help as may be required
- Communicate the message in a clear calm voice. For example:
- say ‘This is an emergency’
- say ‘My name is ……… from our company’
- say ‘My location is ………….’
- say ‘We require the following………….’
- Try and locate the victim (the spotter should give some indication as to where the victim would most likely be located) Look for other evidence such as tools, a shovel etc.
- If possible, batter the sides of the trench where the collapse has occurred.
- Remove the collapsed soil with shovels or if it is too deep, use a machine with extreme caution.
- On no account have anyone on top of the collapsed soil that may be on top of the victim
- Insert shoring where possible to protect victim and rescuers. If the trench is over 1.5 metres in depth, rescuers should wear lifelines which extend to the surface
- When you believe that you are near the victim, use hands if possible. If shovels have to be used, use them carefully
- On locating the victim, clear the soil from the head and chest and check for breathing and a pulse. (If the chin is jammed on the chest, tilt the head back as soon as possible and open the airway to the lungs.)
- If breathing has stopped, commence Expired Air Resuscitation
- Where breathing has stopped and no pulse can be felt, commence Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- Check for injuries as soon as possible and apply first aid where necessary
- Where possible, leave the victim in the trench until the ambulance or a qualified medical person arrives.
- Do not remove the victim unless there is a danger of further injury or collapse.
- Do not remove the victim by tying a rope around him/her and pulling on the rope.
Note: Training in trench rescue shall be carried out prior to the commencement of any trench/excavation work.
Definitions
Barricade – a barricade means a self-supporting fence, or a self-supporting series of continuous plastic, concrete or other solid barriers, usually temporary, erected or placed to restrict the entry of persons to a workplace.
Hoarding – hoarding means a self-supporting structure, fully sheeted with timber, plywood, metal or sturdy synthetic sheets, or fully covered by chain wire or sturdy mesh
Shoring – posts or beams used to reinforce or hold up plywood panels to support weak or unstable ground outside the trench.
Trench – A trench is an excavation. A PCBU excavating a trench of at least 1.5 metres deep must, so far as is reasonably practicable, secure the work area from unauthorised access, including inadvertent entry.
Working at Height -The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 sets out the specific control measures that are required where there is a risk of a fall of at least:
- three metres in housing construction work
- two metres in other construction work.