Excavation and trench checklist

Site: ______________________ Date: ____________ Checked by: ______________________

01Permit and planning

Permit-to-work issued by the project manager for digs deeper than 1.5 m, and posted on site. Construction Regs regs 10, 12
Buried services located on drawings, detected on site and marked on the ground.
Live services near the dig isolated, or supported and protected.
Effect on nearby buildings, roads and footings checked by a competent person.

02Support

Shoring in place for depths over 1.5 m or undercut banks, or a PE certificate saying none is needed. Construction Regs reg 77(2), (3)
For depths over 4 m: PE design on site and PE certificate issued before other work starts inside. Construction Regs regs 77(4), (5), 78
Struts, walings and wedges tight; no bending, bulging or missing members.
Nobody working in any unsupported section.

03Edges and surroundings

Spoil and materials kept back from the edge. Construction Regs reg 77(7)
Guard-rails on open sides deeper than 2 m. Construction Regs reg 77(8)
Warning notices in place where people approach. Construction Regs reg 77(9)
Stop blocks or barriers where vehicles reverse or tip near the edge.
Plant kept back from the edge unless the support is designed for it; people clear of the excavator swing.

04Access and air

Ladders, stairs or ramps in place, secured, and close enough to every worker. Construction Regs reg 79
No engines running inside the excavation; air tested where fumes or gas could collect. Construction Regs reg 77(6)(d)
Water pumped out and no seepage undermining the walls.

05Inspection

Designated person appointed in writing for excavation inspections.
Excavation and surroundings inspected after the last rainstorm or other hazard-increasing event. Construction Regs reg 77(10)
No cracks at the top edge, bulging, or fallen material inside.
Inspection result recorded and unsafe findings reported to the project manager. Construction Regs reg 77(11)

Legal requirement

Under Singapore's Construction Regulations 2007, excavations deeper than 1.5 metres need shoring unless a professional engineer certifies them safe. Over 4 metres, a PE designs and certifies the shoring. Open sides deeper than 2 metres need guard-rails. A designated person inspects after every rainstorm. Excavation and trenching deeper than 1.5 metres on a worksite need a permit-to-work from the project manager.

This is practical guidance, not legal advice. Laws and codes of practice change; always check the current official text and your site's own procedures.

Excavation and trench checklist

01Permit and planning

02Support

03Edges and surroundings

04Access and air

05Inspection

Sources and further reading

Related reading

Excavation and trenching safety: what supervisors need to know

Toolbox talk: excavation and trenching

How to report a workplace accident in Bangladesh