Drilling and piling

All bored pile excavations must be protected from the risk of falling in. Key measures to eliminate risks or to minimise the risks as far as is reasonably practicable include:

• isolation (only personnel directly involved in the work are to be in the vicinity of the excavated holes)
• engineering (holes should be securely covered while unattended).

The following additional engineering measures to eliminate or minimise risks as far as is reasonably practicable that should be considered include:

• installation of temporary frames around the excavation as drilling proceeds
• provision of a temporary top liner projecting above the top of the hole at enough distance to allow the drill to enter
• excess water should be prevented from filling up the hole
• spoil should be neatly positioned as far away from the edge of the pile excavation as practicable, subject to site constraints.