What excavation safety rules apply on UAE construction sites?
Administrative Decision No. 19 of 2023 requires trenches and holes to be dug from the top down with a slope suited to the soil, sides of holes deeper than 1.5 metres to be supported to prevent collapse, excavated material to be kept away from the edge, and safe means of entry and exit with warning signs marking the edges.
On this page
Spoil heaps
Piling excavated soil next to a trench is prohibited. A spoil heap at the edge adds load and can fall back in or cause the side to collapse on workers below.
Demolition next to excavations
Where demolition could compromise adjacent structures, an engineer must be present throughout and specify the support for those structures.
Where SupaJack Construct fits
SupaJack Construct does not include a safety or incident module. Inspection records with dates and attached documents sit with each project, and HR records hold each worker's documents, which a safety officer can use alongside a dedicated safety system.
Related tools and guides
See the answers on what counts as grave danger, the midday break, work injury compensation, who pays for injury treatment, leaving company accommodation and written work rules, plus the UAE labour law guide for contractors and quality and handover in SupaJack Construct.
Worked example
A contractor digs a 2.2-metre trench for a drainage line. Because it is deeper than 1.5 metres, the sides are shored, the spoil is placed away from the edge, ladders give access, and the edges are fenced and signed.
Questions people ask
When must trench sides be supported?
Deeper than 1.5 metres.
Can spoil be piled at the edge?
No.
Is safe access required?
Yes, with warning signs at the edges.