What is the purpose of shielding during excavation?

The purpose of shielding during excavation is to brace the sides of the excavation and prevent caving in. Excavations can pose significant safety risks if the walls collapse, leading to hazardous situations for workers. Shielding involves using materials such as trench boxes or shoring systems that support the soil walls and maintain stability during the digging process. This is crucial in ensuring worker safety, complying with regulations, and facilitating efficient excavation operations.

Improving visibility of the site, providing protection from weather, or enhancing machine stability are important considerations in excavation work, but they do not directly address the primary safety concern of preventing cave-ins, which is the fundamental role of shielding. Hence, ensuring the sides of an excavation are properly supported is essential for a safe working environment.