Misją Instytutu jest dzialalność naukowo-badawcza prowadząca do nowych rozwiązań technicznych i organizacyjnych użytecznych w kształtowaniu warunków pracy zgodnych z zasadami bezpieczeństwa pracy i ergonomii oraz ustalanie podstaw naukowych do właściwego ukierunkowywania polityki społeczno-ekonomicznej państwa w tym zakresie.
Earthworks - excavations
Problem : Subsidence of the walls (escarpments) of the excavation
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Questions / observations
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Activities improving the state of OSH
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| Incorrect (excessive) gradient of the escarpment for a given type of land. | Ensure a safe gradient of the escarpment that is appropriate to the given type of land. |
| Lack of reinforcement of the escarpment if this is required by the plans. | Reinforce the escarpments, e.g. by means of: turfing, paving, construction of resistance walls - according to the plans. |
| Lack of lining of vertical walls or the use of the improper lining, e.g. open work, instead of full lining. | Ensure that lining is used that is appropriate to the type of land and geological conditions, in accordance with the technical documentation. |
| The use of inappropriate materials to reinforce (board up) the walls. | Select the correct materials to reinforce the walls: pile planks, struts and overlaps. |
| Incorrect demolition of elements of reinforcement of the walls of the excavation. | Remove elements of reinforcement systematically to the base of the excavation and with the systematic filling of the excavation. |
| Loading the land in the vicinity of the edges of the excavation with equipment, excavated materials and construction materials. | Store materials at a safe distance from the edge of the excavation: beyond the soil wedge - in the case of non-reinforced walls, and no less than 1 m - if the walls are reinforced. |
| Washing of the escarpment walls by rainwater or surface waters. | Inspect the escarpments after rain, frost and long breaks in work; remove the land movements while maintaining a safe slope of the escarpment. |
| Inspection that inclines have been produced in the land in terms of the possibility of draining rainwater in a direction away from the excavation. | Produce gradients of the land for draining rainwater in the strip of land adjacent to the edge of the escarpment - at a width of three times the depth of the excavation. |
Problem : A worker or other person falling into the excavation
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Questions / observations
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Activities improving the state of OSH
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| Lack of fencing and marking of the excavation, lack of lighting of the site. | Fence off the site, mark places of danger, fix protective barriers alongside the excavation, and illuminate the site. |
| Lack of appropriate entrances into the excavation, as well as correct paths and approaches to the work places. | Make correct paths and approaches to the work posts, place footbridges on the crossings of the excavation with protective handrails on both sides; make entrances into the excavation in the form of ladders or stairs - at intervals of no more than 20 m. |
Problem : Falling lumps of soil, materials or equipment onto those working in the excavation
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Questions / observations
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Activities improving the state of OSH
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| Incorrect reinforcement of the walls, lack of edge boards at the edge of the excavation. | Incorrect reinforcement of the walls, lack of edge boards at the edge of the excavation. Install pile planks alongside the walls that extend at least 0.15 m above ground level - create an edge barrier. |
| Excessive depth of the excavation compared with the direct ejection of the excavated materials, lack of intermediate position to eject the excavated materials upwards. | Provide intermediary ejection landings, at intervals of 1.5 m in height. |
| Filling of containers with the excavated materials to their upper edge. | Fill containers with excavated materials to a maximum of 2/3 of their wall height. |
Problem : Threats arising from damage to underground mains utility supplies
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Questions / observations
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Activities improving the state of OSH
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| Use of mechanical equipment to dig excavations without becoming familiar with the underground mains utility supply networks, e.g. water mains, gas pipelines, electricity cables. | Notify the investor (or owner) of the network - obtain the mains supply network documentation, become familiar with the underground mains supply networks, possibly commence manual excavation. |