Resource guide
Excavation JHA: assessing trench and dig hazards
Excavation work changes as the hole gets deeper. This guide shows how to structure a job hazard analysis that keeps pace with the dig.
What it is
An excavation job hazard analysis (JHA) or hazard assessment identifies what could go wrong before and during digging — buried services, unstable walls, water, equipment movement and access in and out — and records how each will be controlled. It should reflect the actual soil, depth, location and equipment, and be revisited as conditions change.
When to use it
- Before breaking ground on any excavation or trench
- When depth, soil condition or water in the excavation changes
- When equipment, protective systems or the crew changes
- After heavy rain, freeze-thaw or vibration from nearby work
Example steps, hazards and controls
Illustrative examples only. A competent person must assess the actual task, site and equipment and choose controls that fit.
01Confirm locates and plan the dig
Possible hazards: Striking buried electrical, gas or water services
Example controls: Obtain locates, mark and verify, hand-expose near marked services
02Excavate with mobile equipment
Possible hazards: Struck-by, swing radius, overhead lines
Example controls: Spotter, exclusion zone, maintain clearance from overhead lines
03Protect the excavation
Possible hazards: Wall collapse, spoil or materials falling in
Example controls: Sloping, benching or shoring as assessed by a competent person; keep spoil back from the edge
04Enter and work in the trench
Possible hazards: Engulfment, atmosphere, no quick exit
Example controls: Ladder access within reach, inspect before entry, test atmosphere where there is reason to
Where the work happens
Active job site
Dig location, soil, traffic and public interface all shape the assessment.
Yard and loading area
Loading excavators onto floats, securing loads and moving attachments deserve their own JSA.
Office
Dispatch and planning staff can use office inspections; locate paperwork can be tracked alongside documents.
How SafeTask helps
Describe the job and choose the work location and site type; SafeTask drafts ordered steps, 5×5 risk ratings and hierarchy-of-controls measures for you to edit. Regulatory references appear only from verified records — otherwise the document shows REGULATORY VERIFICATION REQUIRED. After a person approves it, export a PDF or share by QR code for worker acknowledgement.
Frequently asked questions
Who decides the protective system for a trench?
A competent person assessing the actual soil, depth and conditions, following the rules that apply to your province or state. SafeTask records the decision; it does not make it.
Does SafeTask include trench depth rules for my province?
Only where a requirement exists in SafeTask's verified reference records. Otherwise the document shows REGULATORY VERIFICATION REQUIRED so you can confirm it yourself.
SafeTask provides AI-assisted safety documentation and regulatory information for workflow support. It is not a law firm, regulator or substitute for qualified safety or legal advice. Users are responsible for reviewing documents and verifying applicable requirements for their workplace and jurisdiction.