Singapore legislation
Regulation 77
of Workplace Safety and Health (Construction) Regulations 2007
Regulation 77
General requirements on excavation work
Subregulation 1
It shall be the duty of the occupier of a worksite where excavation works are carried out to comply with paragraphs (2) to (11).
Subregulation 2
Subject to paragraph (3), where the depth of any excavation in a worksite exceeds 1.5 metres or where the banks are undercut, adequate shoring by underpinning, sheet piling, bracing or other means of shoring shall be provided to prevent collapse of the excavation, or any structures adjoining or over areas to be excavated.
Subregulation 3
No shoring shall be required under paragraph (2) if the excavation in the worksite has been examined and certified by a professional engineer to be safe without any shoring.
Subregulation 4
Where the depth of any excavation in a worksite exceeds 4 metres, adequate shoring by underpinning, sheet piling, bracing or other means of shoring shall be made or erected in accordance with the design of a professional engineer to prevent collapse of the excavation, or any structures adjoining or over areas to be excavated.
Subregulation 5
Where the depth of any excavation in a worksite exceeds 4 metres, no work (other than excavation or shoring operations) shall be carried out inside the excavation until after a certificate under regulation 78(2)(ii) has been issued in respect of the underpinning, sheet piling, bracing or other means of shoring for that excavation.
Subregulation 6
During any excavation work in a worksite, all reasonably practicable measures shall be taken —
to prevent any person being trapped by the collapse of the excavation; (b)to prevent any person being struck by an object, such as an excavating machine or by any material dislodged by the machine;
to prevent any person falling into the excavation; and
to prevent any person inhaling, or otherwise being exposed to, carbon monoxide or another impurity of the air in the excavation.
Subregulation 7
Excavated material or other superimposed loads shall be so placed away from the edge of the excavation in a worksite to prevent the materials or other loads from falling into the excavation, or cause the banks to slip or cause the upheaval of the excavation bed.
Subregulation 8
The open side of any excavation in a worksite which exceeds 2 metres in depth shall be provided with adequate guard-rails to prevent persons from falling into the excavation.
Subregulation 9
Notices shall be put up at appropriate and conspicuous positions to warn persons about the excavation in a worksite.
Subregulation 10
The excavation in a worksite and its vicinity shall be inspected by a designated person after every rain storm or other hazard-increasing occurrence.
Subregulation 11
Where any inspection made under paragraph (10) reveals that the excavation in the worksite is not safe for entry, the designated person shall immediately inform the project manager of the worksite of the unsafe condition.
Subregulation 12
Upon being informed, the project manager of the worksite may order that all works within the excavation cease immediately and revoke any permit-to-work issued for such work.
Subregulation 13
It shall be the duty of the designated person to take, so far as is reasonably practicable, such measures as are necessary to ensure that any inspection carried out under paragraph (10) is conducted properly.
Subregulation 14
[Deleted by S 434/2024 wef 01/06/2024]