What Is Benching In Excavation

Trenching and earthworks works make upward a big and important part of the construction industry. Trench collapses can exist attributed to several worker fatalities every year.

With regard to trenching, a common misunderstanding involves the depth at which benching or battering should begin. On many occasions duty holders who are responsible for the trenching works have begun the benches or battering at a depth of 1.5 metres, this is incorrect for work in Victoria.

Benching and battering should be started at a depth of ane metre. The rule is one metre upwardly and 1 metre back. This rule is depicted in WorkSafe's Excavation Compliance Code.

The misunderstanding around whether to bench or batter at i metre or 1.5 metres has arisen from 2 reasons:

The information on loftier risk construction work independent in the OHS regulations 2017. The regulations state that loftier risk piece of work is any work carried out in or about a shaft or trench with an excavated depth greater than 1.v metres; At this depth or greater a written Prophylactic Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a legal requirement and the work must exist undertaken as per the SWMS.
WorkSafe require notification of excavation work involving a trench if the excavated depth is more than than 1.5 metres (Note: this is not required if information technology part of works under an existing building permit)

Failing to demote or batter a trench at 1 metre tin create a state of affairs where, should in that location exist a trench wall collapse, an boosted half metre load of soil cloth could autumn onto a worker crouched in the bottom of the trench. This additional soil load tin can weigh several hundreds of kilos and result in fatalities from crushing or suffocation.

So remember the rule. One metre up and one metre back. Happy excavation.

Are your people competent?

Elliott Safety has developed a PowerPoint training presentation on Earthworks and Trenching Safe that y'all tin purchase and use as internal preparation for your site teams. Contact us for more than information.

Farther Information

WorkSafe Victoria – Digging Compliance Lawmaking 2019: https://content.api.worksafe.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-02/ISBN-Compliance-code-digging-2019-12.pdf

SafeWork NSW – Lawmaking of Practice Earthworks Piece of work 2020

https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/__data/avails/pdf_file/0019/52147/Excavation-work-COP.pdf