Are you planning to excavate trenches in order to lay the sewage pipes to a home extension? Read on and discover some of the key precautions that you should remember so that you can avoid taking any safety risks during your DIY project.

Avoid Entering Unprotected Trenches

You should ensure that you protect any trench that you excavate during your project. Protection systems can include inserting a trench box into the trench so that the box will prevent the walls of the trench from caving in while you are working to extend that trench. Never enter the trench when the trench box isn't in place.

Inspect the Trench Before Getting In

You should never assume that a trench is safe to enter just because a protection system is in place. Be cautious and inspect that trench before you get into it. For example, look closely at the walls of the protection system in order to identify any signs of weakness, such as loose screws/nails or cracks in the timber used to make the protection system. Refrain from entering that protected trench in case you detect any sign that its safety may be compromised.

Never Work Alone

Enlist some help during your excavation project. Those helpers will provide additional pairs of eyes to detect any unsafe conditions during the excavation. The helpers can also act promptly in case an accident occurs while you are in the trench. For instance, they can use an excavator to remove the soil that may have caved in above you. This prompt action can be the difference between life and death if you ever get trapped underneath a collapsed trench.

Don't Expect Warning Signs

Excavation accidents can happen so suddenly that you might never have time to react before you are trapped or buried in the trench. It is therefore advisable for you to be constantly on the lookout for any unsafe conditions so that you can leave when you still have time to. For example, you should leave the trench immediately in case you start feeling dizzy. That prompt withdrawal may save you from asphyxiation. Similarly, leave the trench in case you notice large amounts of water starting to seep from the walls. The walls can collapse due to the excessive volume of water that is flowing through them. Never wait to hear cracking sounds before you evacuate the trench.

The risks inherent in excavation projects are so diverse that you should avoid taking on the project if you don't have sufficient experience in doing such work. It may be more affordable to hire competent professionals to do the work instead of having to deal with the consequences of a mishap that occurs due to your inexperience.

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