Worker killed in excavation work

A fatal accident occurred in Jan 2006 at a worksite where a two-storey detached dwelling house with basement was under construction.
The accident occurred when a worker was constructing a new drain inside an excavation located in front of the said house. While the worker was leveling the concrete for the new drain, the brick wall, which was left behind from the old drain, collapsed from the side of the excavation and pinned him under it. The worker was killed on the spot.

>> Advisory Note (Please note that the advisory note is provided for the benefits of enhancing workplace safety and health, in no way the information is to be misconstrued as implying any liability on any party)
1) Prior to work commencement, risk assessment should be conducted in relation to the safety and health risks posed to any person who may be affected while carrying out the work. Safety measures should be implemented to provide a safe place of work for workers working in excavations. The safety measures include stepping up safety inspections on excavation which will affect the safety of the workers.
2) No person shall be permitted to enter into any excavation unless sheet piling, shoring or other safeguards had been provided.
3) Where any person is exposed to the hazards of falling or sliding material from any side of an excavation, adequate shoring shall be provided to eliminate the hazard.
4) Proper means of access and egress must be provided at readily accessible locations.
5) The excavation and its vicinity shall be checked by a designated person after every rainstorm or other hazard increasing occurrences.
6) The shoring for every excavation exceeding 4m deep must be constructed according to the design of a professional engineer. For the design, construction and methods of excavation, reference should be made to “CP 18: 1992 – Code of Practice for Earthwork.

Click here to access the information sheet on Safety in Excavations produced by the Health and Safety Executive of UK.

(From MOM circlar,OSH Alert dated 16 November 2006)