A RISK MANAGEMENT AND INTEGRATION PROJECT ABOUT EXCAVATION AND TRENCHING ACTIVITIES IN UGANDA

The Construction Industry in Uganda has registered many work-related accidents with excavations activities being the leading cause [1]. Three out of five fatal accidents on construction sites are because of excavation cave-ins with victims buried under collapsed soil. This paper presents the findings from an observational study of the safety measures implemented during the excavation activities phase of the Tilenga construction Project. The project involves excavation activities for prefabricated offices, a bund wall for fuel containment around storage tanks and a septic tank which should comply with international oil and gas industry standards. The Risk Management Integration and Management Processes were examined in four phases: identifying hazards, analysing risk, evaluating risk, and a risk treatment process. A review of the Risk Treatment Process was then performed to identify challenges faced during implementation and to identify potential solutions to facilitate continual improvement.
The main challenges identified include a lack of knowledge and competence, and heavy rains. Among the suggested recommendations is the provision of excavation hazards awareness training (for workers) and specialized competence training for the supervisors. Excavation activities should also be scheduled for the drier periods of the years.