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METHOD STATEMENT FOR EXCAVATION WORK
PROJECT xxxxxxx
EMPLOYER xxxxxxx
CONTRACTOR xxxxxxx
Preparation & Issue
Name Position Signature Date
Section In-charge /
Prepared by Construction Manager
Reviewed by QA/QC Manager
Approved by Project Manager
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CONTENTS
Sl No. Content
01 Purpose
02 Key References
03 Key Staff involved
04 Plant and Machinery
05 Work Procedure
06 Quality Assurance/Control
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1.0 PURPOSE:
The purpose of this method statement is to establish a standardized procedure for all
earthwork operations, including site clearance, excavation in all types of soil and rock,
dewatering, shoring, and subsequent filling activities. It ensures that all work complies with
safety standards and specified technical tolerances
2.0 Key References
• CPWD Specifications 2019: Sub Head 2.0 Earth Work.
• IS: 3764: Safety code for excavation work and designing shoring/strutting.
• National Building Code (NBC): For mandatory safety rules.
• Explosive Act, 1884 & Explosive Rules, 1983: For blasting operations in rock
.
3.0 Key Staff involved
• Engineer-in-Charge: Holds final authority on soil classification, approval of sand filling, and
decisions regarding foul positions.
• Executive Engineer: Responsible for a 10% test check of levels and ensuring assessed
quantities do not exceed actual work.
• Assistant Engineer: Conducts a minimum 50% test check of all recorded levels.
• Contractor/Authorized Agent: Responsible for setting out, maintaining safety measures for
workers, and protecting adjacent structures.
4.0 Plant and Machinery
Excavation Equipment:
• Dipper-shovel: For excavating against a face or bank.
• Backhoe: For trenching and small basements.
• Dragline: For large open excavations and basements beyond backhoe limits.
• Clamshell: For deep excavations of limited area.
Tractor-based Equipment:
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• Bulldozers/Angledozers: For clearing, leveling, and moving loose soil.
• Scrapers: For excavating and hauling materials over distances of 120m to 1200m.
Transport & Compaction:
• Dumpers: For horizontal movement of excavated material.
• Vibratory Rollers: For compaction of embankments and granular soils.
• Sheepsfoot Rollers: For densification of cohesive soils.
• Iron Rammers/Crowbars: For manual consolidation in confined spaces.
5.0 PROCEDURE
A. Preparatory Works & Setting Out
1. Original Ground Levels: Before starting any earthwork, original ground levels
must be recorded in Level Books in the presence of the contractor and signed by
both parties. All local mounds and depressions must be clearly indicated in
drawings.
2. Permanent Baseline: A suitable baseline must be fixed with permanent masonry
pillars (Burjis) at distances not exceeding 150 meters to provide a permanent
reference line. These must be maintained until final payment is made.
3. Bench Marks: Precise plans showing initial levels and locations of bench marks
must be prepared and signed before commencement.
4. Test Checks: The Assistant Engineer must perform a test check of at least 50% of
the levels, and the Executive Engineer must check at least 10%.
B. Site Clearance & Jungle Clearance
1. Surface Dressing: This includes cutting and filling up to a depth of 15 cm and
clearing shrubs, grass, and trees with a girth up to 30 cm. High portions are cut and
hollows filled to provide an even, tidy look.
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2. Jungle Clearance: Involves uprooting rank vegetation, brushwood, and stumps.
Roots of trees must be removed to a depth of 60 cm below ground level, 30 cm
below formation level, or 15 cm below sub-grade level, whichever is lower.
3. Protection: Existing trees, poles, fences, pipelines, and cables that are not to be
disturbed must be protected by the contractor.
C. Excavation Process
1. Trench Profiles:
o In firm soils, sides must be kept vertical up to a depth of 2 meters from the
bottom.
o For depths greater than 2 meters, excavation profiles must be widened by
allowing steps of 50 cm on each side after every 2 meters from the bottom.
2. Pipe Trenches:
o For depths up to 1 meter, the width is the external diameter of the pipe plus
25 cm.
o For depths exceeding 1 meter, an allowance of 5 cm per meter of depth for
each side of the trench is added.
3. Rock Excavation: Mixed ordinary and hard rock must be stacked separately for
measurement. A deduction of 50% is applied to stack measurements to allow for
voids.
4. Blasting: If required for hard rock, it must be performed as per specific safety
protocols.
D. Planking and Strutting (Shoring)
1. Conditions for Shoring: Required when the depth in soft/loose soil exceeds 2
meters.
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2. Close Planking: Sides are completely covered with 250x38 mm poling boards.
Boards are held by horizontal wallings at a maximum spacing of 1.2 meters and
cross-strutted with ballies.
3. Open Planking: 250x38 mm boards are spaced to leave unsupported strips of
approximately 50 cm average width.
4. Removal: Timber members must be withdrawn systematically and carefully to
prevent collapse or damage to concrete and masonry.
E. Dewatering & Water Management
1. Water Removal: Accumulation from springs, seepage, or broken mains must be
bailed or pumped out.
2. Sump Construction: Pumping must be done from a sump located outside the
excavation to prevent moving water from washing away fresh concrete or mortar.
3. Protection Period: During and for at least 24 hours after laying concrete or
masonry, pumping must continue from a suitable sump separated from the work.
F. Filling and Compaction
1. Material Quality: Earth must be free from organic matter, saltpeter, and boulders
larger than 75 mm. All clods/lumps exceeding 8 cm must be broken.
2. Layering: Filling is done in horizontal layers not exceeding 20 cm in depth.
3. Consolidation: Each layer must be watered and rammed with iron rammers or
blunt-ended crowbars in confined spaces.
4. Sand Filling: Done in a similar manner to earth, but consolidation is achieved
specifically through flooding with water.
5. Final Dressing: The top and sides of the filling must be neatly dressed to the
required levels or slopes
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6. Quality Assurance/Control
Based on the CPWD Specifications 2019, the following detailed Quality Assurance and
Control (QA/QC) measures must be strictly implemented for all excavation and earthwork
operations:
A. Measurement Accuracy & Documentation
• Linear & Depth Precision: Length and breadth of all excavations must be measured
correct to the nearest cm. The depth of cutting or height of filling must be recorded
correct to 5 mm using precise leveling instruments.
• Volume Calculations: All cubical contents must be worked out in cubic meters,
correct to two decimal places.
• Level Books: Measurements must be recorded in officially numbered and accounted
Level Books, treated with the same administrative rigor as Measurement Books.
• Closing Circuits: While recording levels, it is mandatory to ensure the circuit is
closed by taking final levels of the starting point or a known reference point (R.L.) to
verify accuracy.
B. Testing and Verification Protocols
• Mandatory Test Checks: The Assistant Engineer must perform a test check of at
least 50% of the recorded levels, and the Executive Engineer must check at least
10%.
• Red Ink Entry: All test-checked readings must be recorded in red ink in the Level
Book against the original levels, which should be neatly scored out if corrections are
necessary.
• Independent Checks: Test checks must be carried out independently by each officer
to ensure representative accuracy for the entire work area.
C. Material Quality Standards
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• Earth Filling: Earth must be free from all roots, grass, shrubs, organic matter, and
rubbish. It must not contain deleterious materials or salt peter.
• Size Constraints: Any clods or lumps of earth exceeding 8 cm in any direction must
be broken or removed before use in filling. Boulders or stones larger than 75 mm are
prohibited.
• Sand Grading: Sand used for filling must be clean and fall strictly within Grading
Zone IV or V as specified in the 'Mortars' section.
D. Operational Compliance
• Compaction Layers: Filling must be done in regular horizontal layers not exceeding
20 cm in depth. Each layer must be individually watered and consolidated before the
next is laid.
• Sand Consolidation: Unlike earth, sand filling must be consolidated specifically by
flooding with water.
• Excavation Profiles: In firm soils, sides must remain vertical up to 2 meters; beyond
this, steps of 50 cm must be provided every 2 meters to ensure structural stability.
• Inspection Requirement: The surface of consolidated sand filling must not be
covered until it has been formally inspected and approved by the Engineer-in-Charge.
E. Water & Site Management
• Dewatering Safeguards: Pumping of accumulated water must be done from sumps
located outside the foundation trenches to prevent the movement of water from
washing away fresh concrete or mortar.
• Protection Period: Pumping must continue for at least 24 hours after laying concrete
or masonry to allow for proper initial setting.
• Utility Protection: The contractor is responsible for protecting all existing pipelines,
cables, and monuments adjacent to the site; any damage must be rectified at their own
cost.