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Identify all the Hazards related to Site Excavation

Identify all the Hazards related to Site Excavation
Excavations and trenches are the most hazardous operations in construction sites. Cave-ins hold an absolute threat while working in excavations. A cave-in is a situation wherein the walls of the excavation collapse. This is life-threatening to the worker who is working in the excavation site, because the walls can collapse directly on him.

Cave-ins occur when the undisturbed soil is kept in place only by natural forces. In time, these forces diminish to nothing resulting in the walls finally succumbing to the gravitational force of the earth and giving in. All this happens so quickly that it gives no time for the worker in the excavation to react. All the weight in the soil causes severe injuries to the body; sometimes resulting in death too.

Construction safety training teaches the targeted audience all about excavation hazards. These include cave-ins, slides, toppling and subsidence. Also, falling debris into the excavation along with unhealthy atmospheric conditions are recognized as potential hazards.

Toppling literally means the falling down of something that is huge and heavy. Many cases of cranes toppling over have been recorded. Sometimes, toppling occurs without any warning, leaving the workers with little or no time to flee from the spot and save themselves.

Lack of oxygen in the excavations occur quite often. This can obviously cause trouble to the workers who are down in the trench or excavation. Sometimes, it may even lead to death. There are many more excavation hazards besides all these that can be understood by taking up any OSHA approved construction safety training courses.

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