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Small Groundworks & Excavation Risk Assessment Template
Create a professional, comprehensive risk assessment for small groundworks & excavation in landscaping, gardening & tree work settings. Tailor hazards and measures to your needs and download a professional PDF. Add your own branding.
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What this covers.
This template focuses on typical risks and controls for small groundworks & excavation in landscaping, gardening & tree work settings. You can add, remove or adapt items to match your context.
Potential benefits
Accelerates project timelines with targeted excavation.
Improves grading and drainage to prevent flooding.
Enables installation and repair of essential services.
Prepares stable bases for hardscapes and structures.
Removes contaminated or unsuitable soils safely.
Typical hazards & measures
Open edges around excavations
— Provide robust edge protection with guardrails/toeboards or barriers; cover small openings with secured, rated covers marked 'Hole'. Light and sign at night. Establish pedestrian detours and keep spoil a minimum 0.5–1 m back. Supervise children/public interface in parks, schools or footpaths.
Water ingress and dewatering
— Assess groundwater and services; provide sump/pump with discharge to silt control, not drains. Use trench stop-ends and bunds to prevent inflow; monitor for rapid level rise after rain. Protect cables/plant from water, secure pump fuel lines, and never work below water accumulating without control.
Compaction equipment
— Assess ground bearing; keep plate/roller away from edges and services. Use emission-controlled units with deadman controls. Wear hearing protection and gloves, rotate users to manage HAV. Stop on excessive vibration/soft spots and reassess. Refuel cool equipment in a bunded, no-smoking zone.
Overhead lines
— Survey for overhead power/telecom lines during planning; agree safe approach distances with the owner. Use goalposts and bunting to define plant exclusion heights, fit height limiters, and brief operators/banksmen. Spot at all slews and relocations; never tip or slew beneath lines.
Contaminated or suspect ground
— Check pre-construction information, previous land use and visual/olfactory cues. Stop on suspect odours, asbestos-type fragments or sheens; sample and classify spoil. Use CAT 3 coveralls, gloves and appropriate RPE; segregate wastes, avoid watercourse runoff, and use decon procedures and welfare.
How to use this template
Click Create Risk Assessment: Small Groundworks & Excavation to begin immediately.
Review suggested hazards and measures, then tailor as needed.
Download your PDF. Create a free account if you want to save.
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