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Groundworks are the basis of any ground-level construction project, helping to establish a strong and stable base for anything from new driveways to new build developments. However, when it comes to removing a large amount of earth and soil in the Heathfield area, there are inherent risks involved. At W. Bennett Building & Groundwork Contractors, our landscape gardeners utilise a range of machinery for our new patios, garden brickwork and hard landscaping projects. In order to minimise the risk of harm or damage, it is important that all employees receive a standardised level of health and safety training.
We require all our team members to hold CSCS cards and we conduct extensive onsite training. Read our testimonials page to hear more about our working practices from satisfied clients. Whether you’re interested in gravel driveways, block paving or retaining walls, this is a great opportunity to see what it’s like to hire our landscapers.
Here is how we avoid common hazards during an excavation:
One of the biggest risks our landscapers face when excavating is accidentally penetrating an underground electricity cable. A huge amount of electricity flows through these conduits at all times, and if a metallic machine makes contact with exposed wiring, extreme injury or death is a likely outcome.
To avoid this, comprehensive preparation must take place. Pre-construction information on the location of underground cables must be attained where possible. Electricity companies should be made aware that the supply should be disconnected for work to begin. If no cable plans are available, you must use cable-locating devices. Our landscape gardeners thoroughly check for cables during groundworks, building work and when providing hard landscaping services in the Heathfield area.
Undermining foundations is a common problem when working on residential projects such as new driveways or new patios. Garden brickwork and similar structures have deceptively shallow foundations and can be inadvertently toppled when digging trenches. This is a serious hazard that needs to be considered, even for small-scale digging.
The last thing you need is to endanger your employees and compromise a nearby house at the same time. Be mindful of surrounding structures and conduct a risk assessment if necessary.
Although an obvious hazard, it is still unfortunately common for employees and clients alike to fall into inadequately signposted excavations. All trenches should be rigorously protected by barriers, guard rails and toe boards. This especially applies if working in low light or on a crowded building site.
When it comes to excavations, you cannot take chances. A safe and regulation-compliant site is necessary for the well-being of your workers. Our landscape gardeners always follow the latest safety guidelines when undertaking building work and groundworks in the Heathfield area. Clients can be assured that our landscaping works, such as installing new driveways, garden brickwork and new patios, are safe and risk-assessed.
If you want to find out more about our services, such as gravel driveways, block paving or retaining walls, get in touch with our team today. We are always happy to answer your questions.
