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Foundation Excavation & Groundworks Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
Describe the foundation type, excavation depth, ground conditions and duration — we generate a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment covering excavation collapse, structural loading, shoring and weather-related risks in minutes.
Used by groundworkers, structural contractors, civil engineering firms and sole traders across the UK
🏗️ Digging foundations over several weeks in uncertain weather? Mention the duration and depth — we'll include controls for water ingress, freeze-thaw ground movement, and mandatory daily inspections of open excavations by a competent person.
Legal requirements for foundation excavation
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 require that excavation and foundation work is planned and managed to prevent risk to workers and others. Regulation 12 specifically covers excavations, requiring that no excavation work takes place unless steps have been taken to prevent collapse of any side, roof or nearby structure, and that inspections are carried out by a competent person at the start of every shift and after any event likely to affect stability, such as heavy rain.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for foundation work under Regulation 3(1). For foundation excavation specifically, this must go beyond generic groundworks and address structural loading from formwork, concrete and plant, ground bearing capacity, proximity to existing structures, and the risks of prolonged exposure of open excavations to weather over multi-week programmes.
HSE guidance HSG47 (avoiding danger from underground services) and the general principles of prevention set out in UK risk assessment legal requirements also apply directly to foundation excavation — you must identify buried services before digging, and document safe systems of work for excavation support, spoil management and machinery operating near open trenches.
How It Works
1. Describe the job
Tell us the foundation type (strip, pad, raft, pile), excavation depth, ground conditions, expected duration and whether the work is near existing structures or buried services. If you are not sure whether a formal assessment is needed, check our do I need a risk assessment guide first.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant foundation excavation risk assessment referencing CDM 2015 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, tailored to your ground conditions and structural loading.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. Hand it to your principal contractor, share with building control, or use our AI risk assessment generator to update it as ground conditions change. £29, no subscription.
What it covers
Every foundation excavation and groundworks risk assessment is written in full — covering structural, ground and site-specific hazards.
Excavation collapse — battering, benching and shoring requirements
Structural loading from formwork, concrete pours and plant
Ground bearing capacity and stability assessment
Proximity to existing structures and underpinning risk
Underground service strikes — gas, electricity, water, telecoms
Weather exposure over extended multi-week excavation programmes
Water ingress, pumping and freeze-thaw ground movement
Daily competent person inspections of open excavations
Safe access, egress and edge protection around trenches
Vibration and ground movement from plant and machinery
Spoil heap stability and storage away from excavation edges
Manual handling of formwork, rebar and concrete equipment
Falls into open excavations — barriers and signage
Concrete pour sequencing and curing safety
Works for
From strip foundations to piled foundations for structures like bridges, Anyrisks covers every type of foundation and groundworks job.
What customers say
"We were digging foundations for a bascule bridge structure over eight weeks with the weather changing constantly. Anyrisks covered the excavation stability, water ingress and daily inspection requirements properly — not just a generic template."
Dave R.
Civil engineering contractor, East Anglia
"Piled foundation work next to an existing warehouse. The assessment picked up on vibration and ground movement risks to the neighbouring structure that I would have missed writing it myself."
Karen M.
Groundworks site manager, North West
"Building control asked for a proper written risk assessment for a deep raft foundation dig. Anyrisks referenced CDM 2015 directly and had it approved within the day."
Tom S.
Self-employed groundworker, Yorkshire
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| CDM 2015 Regulation 12 excavation requirements referenced | ✓ | ✗ |
| Covers structural loading, not just service trenches | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ground stability and shoring requirements included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Extended multi-week programme weather controls | ✓ | ✗ |
| Underground service strike prevention (HSG47) included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate risk assessment for foundation excavation?
Yes — foundation excavation carries specific risks beyond general groundworks, including structural loading, excavation collapse near deep pours, and prolonged open-trench exposure. Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires a suitable and sufficient assessment covering these site-specific hazards, not just a generic groundworks template.
What does CDM 2015 require for foundation and groundworks?
Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, principal contractors must ensure a construction phase plan is in place before excavation begins, and that risk assessments address ground conditions, services, and structural stability. For projects with more than one contractor, this documentation is a legal requirement, not optional paperwork.
How does this differ from a general excavation risk assessment?
Foundation work involves structural loading considerations that pure drainage or service excavations do not — including bearing capacity, formwork and shuttering stability, concrete pour sequencing, and the risk of ground movement affecting adjacent structures. Describe the foundation type (strip, pad, raft, pile) and depth, and the assessment reflects these specific structural risks.
What if the job runs over several weeks in changeable weather?
Mention the expected duration and that the work is exposed to weather. The assessment will include controls for excavation stability in wet weather, water ingress and pumping, freeze-thaw effects on open trenches, and the need for daily competent person inspections under Regulation 12 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 throughout an extended dig.
Does it cover excavation collapse and shoring requirements?
Yes — all excavation risk assessments cover the risk of collapse, the need for battering, benching or shoring/trench boxes depending on ground type and depth, and safe access and egress. HSE data shows that trench collapse remains a leading cause of serious injury and death in excavation work, and this is treated as a principal hazard in every assessment.
Are underground services and utility strikes covered?
Yes — the assessment includes locating and protecting buried services (gas, electricity, water, telecoms) before excavation starts, in line with HSE guidance HSG47. Describe whether utility searches or CAT scanning have been carried out and this will be reflected in the control measures.
Can it cover working near existing structures or foundations?
Yes — describe whether the excavation is near existing buildings, retaining walls or party structures. The assessment will address underpinning risk, ground movement monitoring, and vibration control where machinery is operating close to existing foundations.
How long does it take to generate?
Under 2 minutes. Describe the foundation type, excavation depth, ground conditions and expected duration, and Anyrisks produces a fully written, regulation-referenced foundation excavation and groundworks risk assessment ready to download as PDF and Word.
Also see: The ultimate guide to risk assessment · Do I need a risk assessment · Risk assessment legal requirements · AI risk assessment generator