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Trenching and Shoring Safety Checklist

Free Safety Checklist template · Category: ConstructionView all Safety Checklist templates
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Risk Assessment Description:

This trenching and shoring safety checklist template from Health & Safety Zone helps site supervisors and operatives ensure safe excavation practices before, during and after trench work. It aligns with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and the HSE guidance HSG185, incorporating best practice from the Construction Plant‑hire Association (CPA) guidance and HSE excavations guidance.

The checklist covers all ten safety dimensions – from planning and competence, through ground conditions, shoring design, plant inspection, hazardous substances, personal protective equipment, collective safety measures, emergency arrangements and final make‑safe procedures. It references the statutory duties of CDM 2015 and the detailed excavation controls set out in HSG185, ensuring compliance with current UK health and safety law.

Use this checklist for:

  • Pre‑task planning – confirm risk assessments, permits and method statements are in place.
  • During excavation – verify shoring integrity, ground stability and worker safety.
  • Completion and hand‑over – ensure safe removal of shoring, site clearance and documentation.

Each item is answered Yes, No or N/A – any No response must be addressed before work proceeds or continued.

Fully editable and shareable — customise the questions to your site, download as a PDF and share with your team.

Compliant with: Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015; HSG185; CPA shoring guidance.

Sample PDF Document Image:

Checks covered in this Trenching and Shoring Inspection and Work checklist

This Trenching and Shoring Inspection and Work safety checklist template covers 31 checks. Customise the questions to your workplace, then download a professional, print-ready PDF with Yes / No / N/A tick-boxes and a comments space.

#Checklist item
1Has a risk assessment and method statement for the trenching and shoring work been completed and briefed to all operatives?
2Is a valid excavation permit or CDM notification in place for the work?
3Are all operatives trained and competent in trenching, shoring and excavation safety?
4Is a competent supervisor appointed to oversee the excavation?
5Has the ground condition been assessed for stability and suitability for the planned depth?
6Is the weather forecast suitable and are precautions taken for rain, high winds or freezing conditions?
7Have all underground services been located, identified and marked before excavation begins?
8Is the excavation depth within the limits for the chosen shoring method and design?
9Has the shoring system been designed by a competent person and approved for the site conditions?
10Are shoring components (e.g. props, plates, trench boxes) inspected for damage, cracks or wear before use?
11Is the shoring installed according to the manufacturer's instructions and engineering drawings?
12Are all excavation plant and equipment (e.g. excavator, loader) inspected and in safe operating condition?
13Are emergency stop controls and isolation devices on plant clearly marked and functional?
14Is the spoil area clearly designated, stable and protected from collapse?
15Are barriers, signage and exclusion zones established around the excavation perimeter?
16Is appropriate personal protective equipment (helmets, high‑visibility clothing, steel‑toe boots, gloves) provided and worn?
17Is respiratory protection supplied where dust or hazardous atmospheres may be present?
18Is a safe means of access and egress (ladder, steps, safe entry/exit) provided for the trench?
19Are atmospheric monitoring and ventilation arrangements in place where required?
20Are first‑aid kits readily accessible and are trained first‑aiders on site?
21Is an emergency rescue plan for trench collapse in place and communicated to the team?
22Has the shoring been inspected and confirmed secure before workers enter the trench?
23Is the excavation inspected regularly (at least daily) for signs of movement or water ingress?
24Has the shoring been safely dismantled and stored after work is completed?
25Has the site been cleared of spoil, equipment and waste and returned to a safe condition?
26Are records, permits and inspection logs signed off and filed appropriately?
27Is the excavator equipped with a functional ROPS and seatbelt, and are they used?
28Is the excavator bucket and under‑carriage inspected for wear, damage or cracks before use?
29Is dewatering or water control in place where groundwater or surface water is expected?
30Are edge protection measures provided for adjacent structures or traffic routes?
31Is traffic management or vehicle exclusion in place if the excavation is near a road or vehicle route?

Frequently asked questions

Are these safety checklist templates really free to download?

Yes — completely free. Customise any checklist to your workplace and download a professional, print-ready PDF in minutes. No paywall — a free account is all you need to download.

What format do the safety checklists download in?

Checklists download as a professional PDF, ready to print and complete on-site — each question has clear Yes / No / N/A tick-boxes and a comments space. You choose portrait or landscape at download. Word and spreadsheet formats are being added.

Can I customise the checklist questions to my workplace?

Yes — fully. Add your own questions, edit or remove any of the pre-written ones, and reorder them to suit your site, task or inspection before you download.

Are the safety checklists suitable for UK workplaces?

Yes. The checklists are written around UK health and safety good practice and HSE guidance, and are suitable for inspections, audits, toolbox checks and routine workplace monitoring.

Do I need an account to use the checklist templates?

You can build and preview a checklist without an account. To download the PDF you'll need a free account — it takes less than a minute, costs nothing, and also lets you save checklists to your dashboard and edit them later.

Can I add my company logo and branding to the checklist?

Yes — add your company logo, colours and details on Standard and Pro plans, so the exported checklist carries your own branding. Guests and Free downloads carry Health & Safety Zone branding.

How do I complete the checklist once it is downloaded?

The exported checklist is a blank, ready-to-use document: print it and tick Yes, No or N/A against each question and write any comments in the notes space, then sign and date it in the sign-off section.

What types of safety checklist can I create?

We are building specialist checklists across a wide range of subjects and industries — fire safety, workplace inspections, equipment and machinery checks, site inductions, vehicle checks, PPE, first aid and more. Browse by category to find the right one.

How often should safety checklists be completed?

It depends on the activity and your risk assessment — many checks are daily, weekly or monthly, while others are done before each task or shift. Completed, dated checklists provide a useful record of your monitoring.

Are the checklists a substitute for a risk assessment?

No. A checklist is a monitoring and inspection tool that complements your risk assessments and method statements — it helps confirm that controls are in place and working. Use them alongside your risk assessments.

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