Excavation Safety Checklist

Quick answer: Excavation and trenching are among the most dangerous activities in construction. Trench collapses can happen without warning and are frequently fatal. Use this checklist before and during all excavation work to verify that critical controls are in place.

Last reviewed: June 2026 by the BlueSafe Technical Team. Reflects current Model WHS Regulations and Safe Work Australia guidance.

Excavation and trenching work is classified as High Risk Construction Work (HRCW) under the Model WHS Regulations when it involves a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres, or any trench deeper than 1.5 metres. A trench collapse can bury a worker in seconds — the weight of soil can be several tonnes. Controls must be in place before anyone enters an excavation.

This checklist is designed for site supervisors, safety officers, and principal contractors to use before excavation commences and as an ongoing check throughout the job.

1. SWMS and Documentation

• A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) has been prepared for the excavation work.
• The SWMS identifies all HRCW elements and the specific controls for each step.
• Workers carrying out the work have read, understood, and signed the SWMS.
• The SWMS is kept on site and is accessible to workers at all times.
• The SWMS has been reviewed and updated if site conditions change (e.g. unexpected soil type, services discovered, weather).
• A competent person has been nominated to supervise the excavation work.

See our Excavation and Trenching SWMS Guide for help preparing a compliant SWMS for this type of work.

2. Underground Services — Dial Before You Dig

• A Dial Before You Dig (DBYD) enquiry has been lodged at 1100.com.au and plans have been received.
• Service plans have been reviewed and service locations have been marked on the ground before work starts.
• Service asset owners have been contacted where required (e.g. for high-pressure gas mains or high-voltage cables).
• Hand digging (potholing) or vacuum excavation is being used to verify service locations within the tolerance zone.
• Workers have been briefed on the location of underground services before operating any plant.
• Procedures are in place for what to do if an unmarked service is struck.

See our Underground Services SWMS Guide for SWMS requirements when working near underground services.

3. Ground and Soil Assessment

• A competent person has inspected and assessed the soil type before excavation begins.
• Soil classification (e.g. Type A, B, or C) has been documented and communicated to workers.
• Ground conditions have been assessed for signs of instability: previous disturbance, fill material, groundwater, cracking, or proximity to existing structures.
• Surcharge loads (spoil, plant, materials, traffic) near the excavation edge have been considered in the assessment.
• The assessment has been reviewed after rain, extended dry periods, or any change in site conditions.

4. Shoring, Benching, and Battering

• An appropriate excavation protection method (shoring, benching, or battering) has been selected based on the soil assessment, trench depth, and site conditions.
• Shoring: Hydraulic or timber shoring is installed and has been inspected by a competent person before workers enter.
• Benching: Trench walls have been stepped back in a benched profile appropriate for the soil type.
• Battering: Trench walls have been cut back at the correct angle for the assessed soil classification.
• The selected protection method has been designed or verified by a competent person (or engineer, where required).
• No worker enters the excavation until the protection system is in place and has been inspected.
• The protection system is inspected at the start of each work period and after any event that may have affected stability (rain, vibration, adjacent work).

5. Safe Access and Egress

• Adequate means of entry and exit are provided at intervals not exceeding 8 metres for trenches.
• Ladders extend at least 1 metre above the top of the excavation.
• Ladders are secured against movement and are in sound condition.
• Access points are free of obstructions and easy to locate in an emergency.
• Workers know the location of all access and egress points before entering.

6. Spoil Placement

• Spoil is not being stockpiled within 1 metre of the trench edge (or further back if soil conditions require a greater setback).
• Spoil stockpiles are not placed where they could affect trench wall stability.
• Spoil placement has been considered as a surcharge load in the ground assessment.
• Spoil is being managed to prevent it falling back into the excavation.

7. Plant and Equipment Near Excavations

• Plant operating near the excavation edge has been assessed against the trench wall's load-bearing capacity.
• Exclusion zones around the excavation edge are marked and enforced to prevent uncontrolled plant access.
• Baulk rails, stop blocks, or barriers are in place to prevent vehicles from over-running the excavation edge.
• Plant operators are aware of trench locations, underground services, and exclusion zone boundaries.
• No heavy plant operates within the exclusion zone unless a structural or engineering assessment has confirmed it is safe to do so.

8. Exclusion Zones and Barriers

• The excavation is barricaded to prevent unauthorised access by workers and the public.
• Barriers meet the requirements for the site context (e.g. Type A fencing for public areas, bunting or barriers for restricted access sites).
• Signage is posted at barriers identifying the hazard and prohibiting unauthorised entry.
• Exclusion zones are maintained during non-working hours and overnight.
• The barrier system is inspected at the start of each shift.

9. Water Management

• The excavation has been assessed for the potential for groundwater ingress or flooding.
• Dewatering equipment is on site and operational where groundwater is a risk.
• Procedures are in place for workers to exit the excavation immediately if water begins to enter.
• The excavation is not entered after heavy rain until it has been re-inspected by a competent person.
• Surface water is being diverted away from the excavation.

10. Atmosphere in Deep Excavations

• For excavations deeper than approximately 1.5 metres in enclosed or confined conditions, the atmosphere has been assessed for toxic gases, oxygen deficiency, or flammable atmospheres.
• Atmospheric monitoring equipment (gas detector) is available and has been calibrated.
• Workers are not entering excavations with confirmed hazardous atmospheres without appropriate respiratory protection and confined space procedures.
• Where confined space conditions exist, a confined space entry permit system is in use.
• Rescue procedures for a worker overcome in the excavation have been communicated to all workers on site.

11. Emergency Preparedness

• An emergency response procedure specific to excavation collapse is in place and communicated to workers.
• Workers know how to raise an alarm and who to contact in an emergency.
• First aid equipment is accessible and a trained first aider is on site.
• Emergency services contact numbers are posted on site.
• A rescue plan does not require a second worker to enter an unstable trench — rescuers must not place themselves in danger.

State and Territory Variations

This checklist is based on the Model WHS Regulations published by Safe Work Australia.

Always verify current requirements with your state regulator, as specific requirements may vary.

Related guides

• Excavation and Trenching SWMS Guide
• Underground Services SWMS Guide
• How to Write a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)
• High Risk Construction Work: Complete List

Frequently asked questions

When is a SWMS required for excavation work?

A SWMS is required for all High Risk Construction Work (HRCW). Any excavation that involves a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres, or any trench deeper than 1.5 metres, is HRCW under the Model WHS Regulations. The SWMS must be prepared before work starts, signed by all workers doing the work, and kept on site.

What is Dial Before You Dig and is it legally required?

Dial Before You Dig (DBYD) is a national service providing plans showing the location of underground services including gas, water, electricity, and telecommunications. The WHS Regulations don't name DBYD specifically, but the duty to identify and manage underground service hazards before excavating makes a DBYD enquiry at 1100.com.au essential. Most state regulators and principal contractors require it as standard practice.

What are the options for protecting workers in a trench?

The three main engineering controls are shoring (hydraulic or timber supports), benching (stepped trench walls), and battering (sloping trench walls at an angle based on soil type). The right method depends on soil classification, depth, and nearby loads. A competent person must assess ground conditions before work starts and select the appropriate method.

How far from the edge should spoil and plant be kept?

The Model WHS Regulations require that surcharge loads do not destabilise trench walls. A minimum 1 metre setback for spoil is widely used as a practical guide, but the actual safe distance depends on soil type, depth, and load. Heavy plant must stay clear of the trench edge unless an engineering assessment confirms the ground can safely carry the load.

Keep your excavation SWMS on hand

A compliant SWMS is a legal requirement for all excavation work involving a trench deeper than 1.5 metres. BlueSafe Online provides ready-to-use, industry-specific SWMS templates that meet current WHS Regulation requirements.

Ready to get compliant? Explore SWMS templates at BlueSafe Online.

This checklist is provided for general guidance only. It does not constitute legal advice. Requirements vary by jurisdiction and site conditions. Always consult the applicable WHS legislation for your state or territory and seek professional advice for your specific circumstances.