YES, you absolutely need to hire a professional company for your excavation project. It is so important to consult professionals before you attempt to complete an excavation project yourself. It is essential to get a professional excavation service to do the work for you for a few reasons. One, it is some of the most dangerous construction work that exists. Like we said, sometimes this work even requires explosives. Two, if you try to do it yourself, you may mess it up and that will require a professional service to come and fix it, costing you time and a lot of money. This means you may end up not saving any money, and it may take twice as long. This is complicated work that cannot be learned from a Youtube video.

Commercial excavation services are fast and they have a high quality of service. Companies that specialize in excavation services are held to a very high standard and they have the experience to get the job done right. For these companies, knowing how to do something is only half of the battle. Excavation is work that requires extreme precision, precision that you should not be expected to complete on your own. Professionals think about way more than just tearing down a tree, they weigh the possibilities of soil erosion and ground integrity so you can plant something else in that space. They know how to minimize noise and be the least disruptive as possible, so you won’t drive your neighbors crazy.

On top of the actual excavation services, there is a lot of planning that goes into any excavation project. There are a lot of rules and regulations surrounding this area. Because it is so dangerous and there is so much potential for things to go very wrong, it is important to do this work in the correct way. In many places, there are many strict and very specific rules that have to be followed before an excavation project can even begin. You likely do not know all of the laws and regulations surrounding an excavation project in your region, so it is best to leave it up to the professionals so you avoid any citations or fines. These excavation service companies know the rules and regulations like the back of their hand. This will prevent any mistakes that may result in fines and extreme delays. Whether it is a large job or a small job, it is a much safer and smarter idea to leave it up to excavation service companies.

What are Excavation Hazards?

Depending on the scope and what your excavation service requires, there are many different hazards that may come with the dangerous project. Excavation services can be extremely dangerous and that is due to a wide span of hazards that may potentially arise. Trenching is one of the most hazardous excavation services that can take place. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), cave-ins pose the greatest risk and are much more likely than other excavation projects to result in worker fatalities. This is an extremely important reason to get a professional to fulfill this kind of project. As part of the OSHA standards, they require that trenches be inspected daily and as conditions change by a competent person before any worker enters the area. This is easily done when you have a professional service completing the project. Including but going beyond cave-ins, here are some of the top safety hazards in excavation services:

1. Cave-ins: As we said above, cave-ins are the most dangerous excavation services. This is because trenches can be extremely unstable, collapsing on workers and killing them. On average, trench collapses kill two workers every month.
2. Falls and Falling Loads: Workers falling into an excavation area is very dangerous and can result in injuries or even fatalities. Falling loads can mean the machinery and equipment drop into an excavation area and sometimes this can land on a worker. This can be made safer by creating a clear barrier and safety signs around the perimeter of the workspace, hopefully eliminating the risk of a falling accident.
3. Hazardous Atmospheres: Trenched areas sometimes have depleted oxygen levels which is a different kind of safety hazard, but nonetheless important. The atmosphere in trenched areas can also be contaminated by toxic gases and chemicals. To eliminate the risk posed to workers, OSHA requires that the atmosphere is tested for hazardous levels of oxygen and toxic gases and chemicals. They also require workers to wear appropriate masks at times.
4. Machinery and Equipment: Excavation machinery is very heavy and dangerous. There are many accidents that stem from the mobile equipment falling or by dropping debris from the machinery. These machines are extremely dangerous but since they are necessary for excavation jobs, you should be sure to take all the precautions necessary.
5. Hitting Utility Lines: Hitting utility lines can be an extremely dangerous and even fatal mistake that is a high risk among excavation projects. When working underground, it is possible that you can hit utility lines when digging and cause electrocution or even gas leaks. This can not only cause physical damage to employees but expensive damages to the infrastructure, adding a huge price tag to your project. Luckily, it is easy to know where the utility lines are if you are working directly with your municipality. You always will need a permit when carrying out an excavation project and the utility lines will likely be discussed when going over and approving the permit.