An educational library of workplace documents — purpose, who completes them, when they are used, typical fields, common mistakes and how they connect. Linked to workplace safety, workplace training, occupations, industries and employment documents. Informational only — template examples, not legal advice or official documents; employers remain responsible and using a document does not guarantee compliance.
What an excavation risk assessment is
An excavation risk assessment examines work in trenches and excavations, where the main risks include collapse of the sides, people or vehicles falling in, contact with buried services, flooding and the build-up of hazardous atmospheres, and records the supports, access and checks that control them.
This page is an educational overview with a simplified example. It is not an official template, not jurisdiction-specific and not legal advice — the employer decides what their excavation assessment must cover.
Purpose
- Identify the risks of collapse, falls, services and water.
- Record support, battering or shoring of the excavation sides.
- Address safe access, edge protection and exclusion of vehicles.
- Cover service location and inspection before and during work.
Who completes it
- A competent person appointed by the employer, experienced in groundworks.
- With input from those carrying out the excavation.
- Reviewed within the organisation’s own process.
- It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the assessor is competent.
When it is used
- Before excavation work begins.
- When ground conditions, depth, services or weather change.
- Following inspection findings during the work.
- After a collapse, service strike or near miss.
Typical fields
- Location, depth, ground conditions and date.
- Risks — collapse, falls, buried services, water, atmosphere.
- Support method, battering or shoring, and access.
- Edge protection, vehicle exclusion and service location.
- Inspection regime and review date.
- Example fields only — adapt to the work and the applicable law.
Common mistakes
- Assuming shallow excavations cannot collapse.
- Failing to locate buried services before digging.
- No support, battering or inspection of the sides.
- Spoil, plant or loads placed too close to the edge.
Document workflow
An excavation risk assessment underpins the method statement and safe system of work and may support a permit to dig. It links to service drawings, inspection records and workplace transport controls; a change, inspection finding or incident triggers a review.
See the related documents below for what is commonly used with an excavation risk assessment.
Retention (high level)
Excavation assessments and inspection records are generally kept for as long as they are relevant and for a period afterwards, in line with the employer’s obligations. Specific retention periods vary by jurisdiction.
This page does not state a required period — confirm retention with the applicable law and the official authority.
Completing and sharing as a PDF
Excavation assessments are commonly completed and stored as PDFs alongside method statements, permits and inspection records. Exporting to PDF supports documentation; it does not make the assessment official or guarantee compliance.
Employer checklist
- Locate buried services before any digging.
- Support, batter or shore the sides as the ground requires.
- Provide safe access, edge protection and vehicle exclusion.
- Inspect the excavation regularly and review after changes.
Worker notes
- Do not enter an unsupported or uninspected excavation.
- Use the access provided and keep clear of edges.
- Report changing ground, water or any sign of instability.
Country considerations
Duties around excavations, support and inspection vary by country, and the official authority differs. This page is high-level and general — it is not a statement of any country’s law and not a guarantee that a document is valid anywhere.
Always confirm the current requirements with the official authority for your country and a qualified professional.
Who is responsible
The employer is responsible for assessing and controlling excavation work and compliance. This page is an educational overview with a template example; it does not determine what your assessment must contain, does not make a workplace compliant and does not transfer responsibility.
Export, edit and share documents
The documents, policies and templates this involves can be exported, edited, signed, stored and shared as PDFs with the HELPERG PDF Editor.
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