- OBJECTIVE:
- To describe a standard operating procedure for carrying out excavation work in the plant.
- SCOPE:
- This Procedure is applicable for carrying out excavation work in the plant at {Company Name} {Company Location}.
- RESPONSIBILITY:
- EHS Department in-charge / designee shall be, Responsible to make availability of Excavation Work Permit to concern department.
- Responsible to inspect the area where work will be executed and authorize the Excavation Work Permit.
- Concerned Department Employee shall be,Responsible to initiate the Excavation Work Permit.Responsible to ensure that all safety precautions are followed during the execution of work.
- Concerned Department Heads shall be, Responsible to approve the Excavation Work Permit and ensure that all safety precautions are followed during the execution of work.
- ACCOUNTABILITY:
- QA Manager shall be accountable for Approval & Implementation of SOP.
- PROCEDURE:
- Obtain excavation work permit, if the depth of digging is more than 3 Feet.
- Engineering (Civil) supervisor shall initiate the “Excavation Work Permit” (Annexure-I).
- Excavation work permit shall be carried out during general shift hours i.e. between 9.00 hours to 17.30 hours only.
- The permit shall be given a serial number of YY/MM/NNN where, YY is the last two digits of the year, mm is the month and NNN is the sequential number of the permit in that month. The number starts from 001 of every January For example: 16/01/001.
- Engineering (Civil) supervisor shall forward the permit for Excavation Work Permit (Annexure-I) form to HOD for approval.
- The EHS department shall issue the permit provided all the stipulated conditions in the checklist of the work permit are satisfied.
- A work permit is automatically rendered invalid if permit conditions are not complied i.e. in case an emergency is declared/ changes in weather conditions/ violation during work execution.
- The permit is valid for the issued period only. Extension of the work permit is not provided for excavation works.
- Suitable precautions shall be taken by the initiator based on the type of soil in the area being excavated as mentioned in the permit format.
- On completion of the work, the Work Place in-charge and Maintenance supervisor ensure that all men, all unwanted material etc., are removed from the work place and sign on the designated place of the permit for certification of completion of work.
- First copy of the permit shall be handed over to the initiating department and second copy to the EHS department after Completion of Work.
- The completed permit shall be retained for six months with EHS department.
- In case of any Incident /Accident happening during the execution of this permitted job or within a month, the permit is to be attached to the Incident Report and shall be retained in EHS department till the statutory requirements are compiled /completed.
- REFERENCES:
- Not Applicable
- ANNEXURES:
| ANNEXURE No. | TITLE OF ANNEXURE |
| Annexure-I | Permit to Excavation Work |
ENCLOSURES: SOP Training Record.
- DISTRIBUTION:
| Controlled Copy No. 01 | : | Safety Health & Environment |
| Master Copy | : | Quality Assurance Department |
- ABBREVIATIONS:
EHS: Environment, Health and Safety
HOD: Head of Department
- REVISION HISTORY:
CHANGE HISTORY LOG
| Revision No. | Details of Changes | Reason for Change | Effective Date |
| 00 | New SOP | Not Applicable | To be written manual |
ANNEXURE-I
PERMIT TO EXCAVATION WORK
Frequently Asked Question?
Q: What is the process for obtaining an excavation work permit?
A: An excavation work permit is required if the depth of digging is more than 3 feet. The process is outlined in the paragraph.
Q: Who is responsible for initiating the excavation work permit?
A: The engineering (civil) supervisor is responsible for initiating the excavation work permit.
Q: During what hours can excavation work be carried out?
A: Excavation work can only be carried out during general shift hours, between 9.00 and 17.30 hours.
Q: How is the excavation work permit numbered?
A: The permit is given a serial number in the format YY/MM/NNN, where YY is the last two digits of the year, MM is the month, and NNN is a sequential number starting from 001 each January.
Q:Who approves the excavation work permit?
A: The HOD approves the excavation work permit.
Q: Who issues the excavation work permit?
A: The EHS department issues the permit if all the conditions in the checklist are met.
Q: What happens if the permit conditions are not complied with?
A: The permit is automatically invalid if the conditions are not followed, or if there is an emergency, a change in weather conditions, or a violation during work.
Q: Can the excavation work permit be extended?
A: No, extensions are not provided for excavation work permits.
Q: What precautions should be taken when excavating?
A: Precautions should be taken based on the type of soil in the area being excavated, as mentioned in the permit format.
Q: What happens after the excavation work is completed?
A: Once the work is completed, the workplace in-charge and maintenance supervisor ensure that the area is clear and sign the permit to certify completion.
Q: Who gets copies of the completed permit?
A: The first copy of the permit goes to the initiating department and the second copy goes to the EHS department.
Q: How long is the completed permit retained?
A: The completed permit is retained for six months by the EHS department.
Q: What happens if there is an incident or accident during the excavation work?
A: If there is an incident or accident, the permit must be attached to the incident report and kept by the EHS department until all statutory requirements are met.