While excavation is open, what must be done to underground installations?

During excavation activities, it is crucial to ensure the safety and integrity of underground installations, such as utilities, pipes, and cables. Supporting, protecting, or removing these installations minimizes the risk of damage, which can lead to hazardous situations, service interruptions, or additional costs.

Supporting involves providing physical reinforcements to ensure that installations remain stable during excavation. Protecting consists of using barriers or padding to shield these installations from movement or impact caused by excavation equipment. In some cases, it may be necessary to remove installations that could be severely impacted during the excavation process, especially when they are in the way of the planned work.

Choosing to ignore underground installations can lead to significant safety hazards and service disruptions. Covering them with tarps does not provide the necessary protection or support and may lead to unexpected accidents. Marking their location is important for awareness, but it alone does not mitigate risks involved in the excavation process. Thus, the correct approach is to actively support, protect, or remove underground installations to ensure safe excavation operations.