If you and your crew have plans to take on a project that involves excavation, it is crucial to understand the hazards that go along with this type of work.
Fortunately, you can minimize your exposure to most of these risks if you create a proper excavation plan. This article will discuss all the necessary safety procedures and protocols to keep the work site as safe as possible.
By including a complete list of the employees working on the site, schedules, and targets for various stages of the project, you can also stay on track and keep things running smoothly and efficiently.
When you are putting together an excavation plan for a construction site, there are many site-specific details that are crucial to consider. This is because each project comes with its own set of complications, which can vary from one location to another.
The following are some of the most important factors to keep in mind as you are drafting a thorough excavation plan for your construction site:
Typically, the deeper you dig, the higher the lateral earth pressure. Therefore, when planning deep excavations, you will definitely need to consider building a shoring system that can withstand such forces.
In addition to depth, the width of the excavation is necessary to plan for, especially when cross braces are required, as traditional cross bracing may not work for wider excavations. Once again, the impact of lateral earth forces can be significant, and as they grow over time, unsupported cross-bracing could potentially deflect, which can be incredibly dangerous.
In order to choose an adequate protective system, it is essential to first have a good understanding of the type of soil that exists on the excavation site. After all, the main reason for the retaining system is to hold the soil back in order to make it possible for the work to continue.
Since some soils are more stable than others, this can affect the amount of lateral earth pressure you will have to deal with during the excavation project, with pressure increasing the less stable the soil is.
If there is noticeable groundwater on your excavation site, or groundwater could potentially appear during the project, you will want to plan for this accordingly. Temporary retaining structures are not typically equipped to hold off both soil and water at the same time.
For this reason, many excavation plans require that the groundwater be kept at an elevation below the bottom of the excavation. A popular approach is to remove the groundwater on the exterior of the shoring system using a type of well-point system or to use a more robust shoring system if that is not possible.
When there are other structures that are within the vicinity of the excavation site, such as roadways, railroads, and frameworks on floating slabs, it is necessary to take measures to protect them so that the soil does not subside beneath them, causing them to collapse.
It is important to consider the weight and vibration factors, especially when dealing with structures subject to traffic. To handle these factors, you must plan proper support measures to protect both your site and the structures around it.
It is crucial to consider the degree of accessibility on your excavation site. If your site has tight spaces, you will need to factor this into your planning, as this will create limitations regarding the size of excavation equipment you can use.
The accessibility of the site’s space will also play a part in determining how you can handle and maneuver your shoring equipment onsite.
Since there are many potential challenges that you can encounter during an excavation project, you may want to consider discussing your excavation plan with a qualified partner who has excavation-specific expertise. This can make a huge difference for your project, both in terms of keeping things safe and well-run and in terms of staying within your budget.
Such a partner will help you to identify potential problems during the early stages of your planning and guide you in coming up with solutions so that you do not have to face any major surprises during the actual execution of the project.
Now that you have a good idea of what to expect when it comes to planning your excavation project, you are all set to go—unless you still require the right equipment to get the job done. If you are searching for excavators for sale in BC, Great West Equipment can certainly help you find exactly what you are looking for. We have a large selection of new and used heavy equipment for sale, including a wide range of high-quality excavators.
From the wide variety of excavators available in the Volvo line up to the three tiers of Used Equipment (Gold Standard, Inspected and As Is) available, we are more than likely to have what you need, or we will find it for you!
Our goal is always to make sure that our customers leave satisfied, which is why we will do everything we can to make purchasing a new or used excavator as smooth as possible.
We even have a variety of operating and capital lease programs and remarketing program financing options that can help you in both the short and long term. Once you have your new excavator, you can bring it back to us any time it needs servicing, as our technicians are experts in maintenance and repairs.
For more information about our inventory of new and used excavators or to learn more about the other heavy equipment we have in stock, including options for heavy equipment rental, call Great West Equipment at 1-833-730-0613 or contact us here.
It’s good that you emphasized how important it is to know the type of soil we have on our excavation site since some soils are more stable than others, which can directly affect the amount of pressure we need to deal with during the project. I’m investing in a beach resort project starting this September, so I need to get the site prepared if we want to start the construction soon. I’ll be sure to keep this in mind while I look for an excavation company to hire for help soon.
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It’s great that you stressed how crucial it is to understand the type of soil we have on our excavation site since some soils are more stable than others, which directly impacts how much pressure we must manage during the project. I’m investing in a beach resort project that will begin in September, therefore I need to prepare the property if we want to begin building right away. When I hunt for an excavating business to employ for assistance soon, I’ll be sure to keep this in mind.