What it contains

Employers or self-employed people performing the following construction excavation or trenching work must send this form to WorkSafe at least 3 days before starting:

• a trench if the excavated depth is more than 1.5 metres
• a shaft if the excavated depth is more than 2 metres
• a tunnel

If the construction excavation will be big enough for a person to enter, or if the excavation is a risk to anyone’s health and safety.

Exempted excavations - Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Reg 354(2)(3))

The requirement to notify WorkSafe Victoria of excavations does not apply to:

• excavation of a shaft or trench made as part of building work for which a building permit has been issued and is in force under the Building Act 1993
• to excavation of a shaft, trench or tunnel being -
  
  1. a mine
  2. a bore to which the Water Act 1989 applies
  3. a quarry within the meaning of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990
  4. made for the purpose of undertaking emergency work
  5. made for the rescue of any person or the carrying out an emergency response by an emergency service, or
  6. made for use as a place of burial or interment of the dead.

For further information on excavation works refer to; the Excavation compliance code 2018 or contact WorkSafe's Advisory Service on 1800 136 089.