When should a site be evacuated during excavation work?

A site should be evacuated during excavation work when unsafe conditions are detected or imminent hazards arise due to the significant risk these situations pose to workers' safety. This could involve signs of potential cave-ins, unstable ground conditions, or the presence of hazardous materials. Immediate evacuation is crucial in these moments to prevent accidents and injuries.

Prioritizing worker safety is paramount, and recognizing when conditions are unsafe ensures that appropriate measures can be taken to mitigate risks before continuing with the work. Other factors, such as new workers arriving, project deadlines, or poor weather conditions, may need attention, but they do not directly trigger the immediate need for evacuation in the same critical way that unsafe conditions do.