The draft Code of practice, Excavation work, has been developed by the Work Health and Safety Commission. The Code builds on the transitional code of practice, Excavation, developed under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984, and incorporates new requirements following the introduction of the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act).
The Code assists a person conducting a business or undertaking to meet the requirements of the WHS Act and associated regulations in relation to excavation work. The Code also provides guidance on:
- controlling access to excavations, including not allowing people into excavations when they are not required
- minimising the time workers spend in excavations
- providing suitable access to and egress from excavations
- mechanising work to be carried out in excavations
- providing adequate induction, training and information for those involved in excavation work
- conducting emergency planning.
The WHS Act provides for the approval, variation and revocation of codes of practice by the Minister for Industrial Relations. Under section 275 of the WHS Act, the Minister may only approve a code of practice if it was developed by a process involving consultation between the unions and employer organisations.
Getting involved
The Work Health and Safety Commission is inviting public submissions on the draft Code of practice, Excavation work.
Please use the cover sheet and feedback template to submit your comments to wspublications@lgirs.wa.gov.au.
Unless advised by the submitter, all submissions may be collectively made available to the public in a consultation summary. Published submissions will be verbatim with the submitter listed. Submissions close: 5.00 pm AWST, Friday 13 March 2026.
Next step
After submissions close, the next step will involve the review of your feedback. The Commission will consider all submissions when finalising the code of practice.
Publication
Codes of practice are approved by the Minister and then gazetted. WorkSafe will then publish the code on its website and promote through news alerts.
