REVANTHA SERVICES PRIVATE LTD

DEPARTMENT OF QUALITY CONTROL

METHOD OF STATEMENT FOR EARTHWORK

CONTENTS
1.0 Objectives
2.0 References
3.0 Control Measures
4.0 Work Methodology/ Procedure
5.0 Inspection Procedure
6.0 Resources availability – Material/Plant &Equipment
7.0 Health and Safety Hazard Assessment

1. Objectives

To provide detailed and clear procedure to understood and implemented by all concerned Employees and Sub
contractors on Excavation and related activities.

2. References:
1. Relevant Drawings.
2. Technical Specifications/IS Standards
3. Inspection and Testing Plan

3. Procedure:
Excavation:
Excavation is the process of cutting and removing of different strata of earth to create a trench of required
dimensions. Excavation is mainly done up to the hard strata level, upon which the substructure will rest and
transfer the loads of the super structure to the earth.

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Excavation can be done by using machinery.Mass excavations have to be done, mechanical excavators like front
loaders, back hoe, piling rings, compressed air jack hammers, hydraulic needle breakers, etc, are used. These
machines can mass excavate in very less time. The removed earth is carted away using dumpers and trucks.

Before Excavation:
• Soil Testing should be done and the report should be available at site, from which details like the SBC of
soil, soil type, ground water table, etc, can be understood.
• Block leveling should be done to understand the profile of the area to be excavated. This data will be
later used for the excavation contractor’s billing purposes.

o Block leveling procedure:

➢ The entire of the terrain under consideration is divided into grids of 5m intervals (can be reduced
to 3m or even 1m if it is a rolling terrain)
➢ Levels are taken at all the junctions for the grids.
➢ Using this data, a drawing is plotted on a graph sheet showing the RL at each junction.
➢ Along with this drawing, the TBM in the site, the existing road levels, other permanent bench
marks and schematic location of adjacent structures are sent to the architect.
➢ Using this data, the formation level is fixed by the architect.
➢ Since the level at the bottom of the excavation pit is constant, the average depth of excavation
can be calculated using the block levels.
➢ Using this average depth of excavation, the quantity of excavation that has been done can be
calculated.
• The setting out activity should be complete according to the latest approved setting out drawing.

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• At suitable locations in the site, Temporary Bench Marks (TBM) will have to be established, with respect
to permanent bench marks. These TBM’s will stay till the end of the project.
• The corners of the building should be established and distances should be checked and approved by the
architect, to go ahead with excavation.
• Then the corner pillars should be transferred out of the excavation area and should be established as
corner reference pillars for the building.

• The marking pillars should be established at least 600mm from the top edge line of the excavation.

• The following items should be discussed by the project manager with the appointed excavation
contractor.
o Safety precautions for excavation work, especially during the night
o Quantity of excavation to be done per day.
o Number of excavators that will be operational.
o Number of dumpers/tippers that will be operational.
o The dumping point where the excess earth will be dumped/stocked.
o The depth of excavation to be achieved.
o Proper access route should be there for the movement of excavation machinery and people.
o The excavation should be planned in such a way that the last point of excavation should be nearest
to the point of exit from the site. This will help in keeping the carting work away from the already
excavated area where successive works like PCC, footing, etc, may be in progress.
• The proximity of the excavation area with respect to the neighboring buildings or structures should be
checked and suitable precautions should be taken.
• Arrangement for well point dewatering pumps and hose pipes should be made as per the requirements of
the site.
• When excavation continues below the ground water table level, de-watering should be done continuously
to prevent increase of water.
o Pits of suitable dimensions called well points are dug in the excavation area and barricaded.

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 o De-water pumps are setup for these pits.
o Once de-watering starts, the water due to high ground water table will move from the rest of the
excavation area into this pit, facilitating continuous de-watering.
• A Suitable point to discharge the removed water should also be decided.
• To ensure continuous dewatering, both electric and diesel dewatering pumps should be available at site.
• The minimum number of labour who will be dedicated for the dewatering activity should be fixed and
arranged.
• Make sure that the location of permanent services, like underground cables, pipes, etc, belonging to the
local government authorities are known to all the site staff and the sub contractors so as to avoid any
damage to them.
• If shoring or pinning of the excavated area has to be done, then all the necessary drawings and details
should be available.
• If blasting has to be done, then a certified and experienced contractor should be nominated. The site
conditions should be well understood by both the site staff and the blasting contractor so that all the
necessary safety precautions can be taken.
• Detailed drawings for slope and step cutting should be available.
• If there are any bore wells to be installed within the site, then it is preferable to do it before excavation,
as the access to the bore well point by heavy equipments and machinery is the easiest at this stage of a
project.

During Excavation:
• The depth of excavation should be continuously monitored using an auto level and a staff, to avoid over
excavation.
• The last 100 to 200mm of excavation should be done manually. This helps in avoiding over excavation.
Also, mechanical excavators could disturb the underlying hard strata, which will reduce its SBC.
• Re-handling of excavated earth is very costly. Hence, planning should be done so that there is a balance
between the cutting and filling.
• Clear records should be maintained by the site staff about how many loads of soil has been removed from
the site. This will help in arriving at the approximate quantity of work done per day.
• During blasting works, a siren system should be used so as to notify all persons in the vicinity of the
blasting to be at a safe distance.

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 • After blasting, the material should be stacked suitably, in a proper geometric pattern, and not in the form
of a heap. This helps in taking accurate measurement of the blasted material.

• When ever the excavation depth exceeds 1.25m, Step cutting, slope cutting or shoring should be adopted,
depending upon the type of soil.

After Excavation:
• Once the excavation is complete, the successive activities should immediately start.
• It is not good construction practice to keep the excavation area open for a long times as it would soften
the soil and reduce its SBC because of weathering.
• The structural consultant should inspect the site after the required depth of excavation is achieved, to
ascertain its strength and stability of the bearing stratum.
• The sloped wall of any excavation pit should be protected with sheet.

5. Inspection Procedure:
• Check for barrication and cautions signs are available at the sites.
• Check for the availability of approved site plans and soil investigation report
• Check if the block level register is being maintained on site
• Check if the marking is in conformance with the drawings. The centerline should be checked and certified
by a marking supervisor.
• Check the depth, length, breadth and level of excavation using measuring tapes and auto level, as per the
drawings
• Wherever the depth of the trench is more than a meter, barricade all around the excavated site at a distance
of one meter from the circumference of the excavated pit.
• Make sure that a suitable area is there for stocking the excavated material.
• Check if a ramp is needed for vehicular movement.
• Check for the availability of dewatering pumps of required type and capacities.
• Check if the depth of excavation has been achieved.
• Check if the blasting is being carried out by a certified and licensed contractor.

6. Tools & Equipment’s:

Tools:
• Tikav with handle (Axe)
• Phavada with handle (Spade)
• Ghamelas (Mortar pans)
• Crow bar, Chisels, Hammers with handle
• Line dori (Nylon string), Measuring tape

Machineries:
• Bull dozer
• Excavator
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 • Tractor, Dumper Truck
• Compressors with Jack hammers (if required)
• Drills and Drilling Equipments (if required)
• De - Water Pumps (if required)

Materials:
• Lime Powder

7. Health and Safety Hazard Assessment:

Identified possible hazards are as follows,
• Fall of person/ materials.
• Lack of attentiveness, knowledge and fitness
• Soil Collapse

All HSE requirements are followed in accordance with safety plan and policies.
➢ Signage’s and barricade requirements are identified and implemented.
➢ Area lighting will be provided for night works.
➢ First AID box will be provided at the site office.
➢ Good housekeeping shall be ensured.

Good housekeeping shall be ensured.