Groundworkers Tracking Guide

Groundworkers carry out the foundation and below-ground work that every construction project depends on — from excavation and drainage to concreting, piling, and utility installation. The compliance requirements for groundworkers reflect the high-risk nature of working below ground level, where hazards include trench collapse, underground service strikes, and confined space entry.

Trench collapse is one of the most serious risks in groundwork. HSE Guidance Note HSG47 (Avoiding Danger from Underground Services) and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 require that all excavations are properly supported, shored, or battered back to a safe angle. Excavations deeper than 1.2 metres generally require formal support systems, and all excavations must be inspected at the start of each shift, after any event likely to have affected stability, and after any accidental fall of material.

Underground service strikes are a persistent hazard. Before any excavation begins, groundworkers must use cable avoidance tools (CAT scanners) and refer to PAS 128 survey data to identify the location of buried utilities — gas, electricity, water, and telecommunications. A service strike can cause fatal electrocution, gas explosions, or flooding, and the contractor responsible for the strike faces prosecution and civil liability.

Vibration exposure is a significant occupational health concern for groundworkers who use percussive tools such as breakers, compactors, and vibratory rollers. The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 set daily exposure action values and exposure limit values. Employers must carry out vibration exposure monitoring, maintain records, and implement controls to keep exposure below the limit value — including tool rotation schedules and provision of anti-vibration equipment.

Confined space work — such as entering manholes, chambers, or deep excavations with limited air circulation — requires specific training, rescue equipment, and a permit-to-work system under the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997. Groundworkers must never enter a confined space without a valid permit, atmospheric monitoring, and a rescue plan.