WORK METHOD STATEMENT FOR EXCAVATION &

BACKFILLING

Project Name: Supply & Installation of Fiber Optic Cable

AADC Contract No: A/11916

Client: Al Ain Distribution Company

Contractor: Intelligent Telecommunication Systems

SCOPE:

The method statement describes the activities and process involved in;

1. Civil works including the hand excavation, back filling, dewatering, grading and levelling
2. Crossing of  Existing  220  KV  Under  Ground  Cables  &  Existing  220  KV  overhead Power
Transmission line and Existing Water Transmission Pipeline.
3. Transportation, Storage, Drum handling, Installation of Fibre Optic Cables (FOC) in AQABIYA-
ZAKHER & ZAKHER-MANASHEER route.
RESPONSIBILITY:
Project Manager: Lead all construction activities and enforce strict adherence to all project
Field Engineer: Ensure that all related works are carried out in accordance with the approved drawing
and project specification. Report to the project manager.
QA/QC Engineer: Responsible for the necessary quality control implementation by following the
customer specification.
Supervisor: Supervise field installations and report to the field engineer.
HSE Officer: Ensure that all the site activities are carried out in accordance with the project health and
safety plan.

METHOD OF STATEMENT:

Mobilization

 Obtain permit for outside security area and/or permit for use within for security area as required
 Receive 1 Set of latest “Approved for Construction” Drawings and Construction NOC from CLIENT.

Workmanship:
 All activities conform to given requirements / specifications or drawings / sketches;
 Accepted practices are followed, neatness and good house-keeping are maintained;
Requirements of these work instructions are complied with.

Page 1 of 10
 WORK METHOD STATEMENT FOR EXCAVATION &
BACKFILLING

3. EXCAVATION & BACKFILLING

Preparations and Preconditions

 Organize all the necessary equipment at the site

 The proposed cable route is studied to plan proper division of the route into different section
depending on the number of bends, route length, etc.
 Both the areas of the conduit area will be barricaded by warning tape and safety cones.
 No unauthorized person is allowed to enter the barricaded area.
 Required sign boards such as “DEEP EXCAVATION” “MEN WORKING” “DANGER” and warning
boards will be placed to indicate the excavation work.
 Proper temporary supports shall be provided to the adjacent structure prior to start excavation.
 Check the area of excavation to find out any underground facilities other than listed in
topographical survey by:
 Using appropriate detective equipment, such as cable detector, metal detector etc.
 Check existing exposed excavation nearby area to find out existing underground facilities.
 Refer available As-built drawings from the Company, other agencies , other contractors doing
projects nearby areas and mark in the area.
 Take trial/ test pits to find out existing underground pipes, structures.
 Check the indication marks, signs, manholes nearby area and find out the path of services.
 For any heavy vehicle enters to the existing transmission line, concrete slab shall be used as per
Transco standard for protection of existing utilities

EXCAVATION:

Trial Pit and Excavation Procedures:

 Prior to star of any excavation, the area shall be checked for the existing services/utilities by
obtaining the approvals with reference to the relevant drawings.
 The necessary excavation activities shall start only after getting the notice intent from the client /
customer.
 Excavation of the trial pits shall be done manually as per the size indicated in the approved
drawings up to the required length and level.
 Manual excavation will be carried out to expose the existing utilities, if any, which has to be
identified.
 The trenches shall be kept dry during cable installation operation. The contractor shall deal with
the dispose of water so as to prevent any risk to the cables and other materials.
 The required control measures shall be developed and implemented while performing the works
and more importance will be given for public safety and environmental issues.
 While performing the work the trenches shall be straight, free from any sharp objects/edges
likely to injure the cable or accessories and filled with soft sand and sieved sand to form smooth
bedding before the cables are laid.

Page 2 of 10
 WORK METHOD STATEMENT FOR EXCAVATION &
BACKFILLING

 The contractor shall take the necessary precautions to prevent damage to the road or ground
surface due to a slip or breaking away from the side walls of the trench including the pedestrian
safety as well.
 Where ever there is a crossover of the existing services/utilities, these shall be protected with
utmost care with the prior permission of concerned authorities and approved methods. The
contractor shall obtain the necessary approval from the client / consultant or the concerned
authorities to according to the scope of the work.
 Excavate the area by using only hand tools as per the markings and levels with proper protection
of sides. If excavation depth exceeds 1.2 m proper shoring and shuttering should be provided as
per the safety norms or the excavation shall be stepped, wide enough to get stable slope on
sides of wall from soil sliding.
 Excavations in sand shall be to a slope of 1:3, one vertical to three horizontal. If any permanent
slope is to be kept in the sand it shall be stabilized by one of the following means,
 If the excavation level is below the local water table level suitable dewatering system (well point
method and/or pump and sump method, refer section 6.0) shall be designed and installed in such
a way that alterations and extensions to the system during operations are possible.
 For Rock excavation hard excavation shall be carried out by ripping, excavation, wedging,
chiselling using jack hammers, or by other recognised methods approved by OWNER/ENGINEER.
Blasting will not to be adopted under any circumstances for rock excavation.
 The bottom of the excavation shall be levelled and trimmed to receive the permanent works. The
bottom of the excavation shall be moisture conditioned to + 2% of optimum and mechanically
compacted to a density of not less than 95% of the maximum dry density.
 Precautions shall be taken to protect the bottom of the excavation and, if the bottom of the
excavation becomes unsuitable either by exposure to weather conditions, water, or due to any
other reasonably foreseeable event, it shall be removed and replaced with suitable materials.
 Provide proper rigid barriers around excavations include provision of ladders, emergency escape
way, adequate side slopes or shoring and shuttering, detours.
 If fossil content is noticed during excavation shall be brought in notice of the OWNER.
 The top width of excavation shall be increased or depend upon the depth of excavation , It is
required to provide suitable slope to side of excavation to avoid soil sliding, then the top
trench width shall be increased accordingly by step cutting method. If the top width of
excavation is restricted due to existing facilities then protect the side of excavation with
proper shoring.
 If the bottom of excavation is loose strata then excavate 300 mm more to select fill
materials to form a hard and compacted grade strata for construction.
 If the bottom of excavation is below the water table level, provide proper shoring prior to
excavate below the water table level then excavate 300 mm more to fill Aggregates or
Gravel to form a hard grade strata.

Page 3 of 10
 WORK METHOD STATEMENT FOR EXCAVATION &
BACKFILLING

EXCAVATION ADJACENT/CROSSING TO UNDERGROUND SERVICES:

 Excavation near/on the existing 220  KV  Under  Ground  Cables  and &  Existing  220  KV 
overhead Power Transmission line and Existing Water Transmission Pipeline shall take all
necessary precautions to protect the services with proper supports & covers.
 All existing structures, foundations, pipes and cables, if any, which are to be incorporated into the
final work, shall be adequately protected from damage.
 All underground services located during excavation shall be mapped for consideration during
construction of the works.
 If any underground service is noticed other than specified in the area during excavation shall be
brought in notice of the OWNER.
 Excavation shall not be carried out adjacent to or near existing building foundations, without
suitable shoring/sheet piling.
 For any heavy vehicle enters to the existing transmission line, Transco standard concrete slab
shall be used for protection of existing utilities.

STOCKPILES AND DISPOSAL:

 Excavation material shall be removed, stockpiled or deposited away from the excavation area for
reuse, or disposed in the approved dumping area as directed by OWNER/Engineer’s.
 Debris, rocks and unusable materials shall be removed on daily basis from the site to approved
dumping area or final destination whether in the work or in the waste areas, including any
necessary temporary stockpiling and the additional loading and transporting.
 Only permitted materials or selected materials from excavation shall be stored or stockpiled for
re-use.

Backfilling:

 Backfilling area shall be backfilled with approved material compacted in layers by suitable
equipment like plate compactors, vibratory roller compactors, etc., until the specified density has
been obtained to the satisfaction of the OWNER/ENGINEER.
 Compacting shall be carried out with special care by means of mechanical tampers of a type
approved by OWNER/ENGINEER to avoid damage to structures.
 BACKFILLING MATERIALS
 Backfilling materials shall be free from stones or rocks larger than 50 mm, or other material
which might prevent proper compaction or cause the compacted fill or embankment to perform
inadequately.
 Backfilling materials shall be free from fossil content, clay, vegetations and its roots, waste
materials, Material containing gypsum or other soluble salts greater than the allowable limits.
 Following classified materials shall not be used for backfilling.

Page 4 of 10
 WORK METHOD STATEMENT FOR EXCAVATION &
BACKFILLING

o Organic material, logs stumps and perishable materials.

o Material susceptible to spontaneous combustion
o Materials with undefined properties.
o Materials having moisture content greater than the maximum specified.
o Building rubble and domestic and industrial wastes
o Soils and rock susceptible to deterioration/change of their properties.
o Clay, silt and other loose or soft soils not in accordance with compaction criteria.
o Dredged material.
 Rock materials

FILLING OF MATERIALS:

 Fill material shall be spread and compacted in 300 mm layers, with a compacted layer thickness
not exceeding 300 mm where mechanical compactors like vibratory plate/drum compactors are
used.
 The thickness of fill material shall not exceed 150 mm where manual compaction methods are
adopted.
 If the thickness of loose fill layers required to exceed 300 mm written approval including
methods of compaction shall be required from the OWNER/ENGINEER.
 If the surfaces receiving fill layers is smooth, then scarified to obtain a good friction/key
between the new fill layer and the sub grade.
 Rock fill or aggregate fill materials shall be deposited under water with the
 OWNER/ENGINEER's permission. Fill materials like cohesive soil (i.e. soils that possess low shear
strength, are plastic and compressible, deforms plastically under constant load, changes volume
in the presence of water) shall not be permitted deposit under water.
 Where swamps, bogs or other similar wet areas must be traversed by the works, they shall be
drained as directed by the OWNER/ENGINEER’S according to the material and conditions
encountered. Prior to the formation of embankments, fill, etc...., any unsuitable material
occurring on the site shall be removed to such depths and widths as may be directed by the
OWNER/ENGINEER’S and approved excavations shall be properly backfilled with suitable and
approved excavated materials and shall be deposited and compacted to the satisfaction of the
OWNER/ENGINEER’S . Similarly, soft or weak spots encountered will be removed and, as with
any voids, will be backfilled as specified.
 Final layer of backfilling shall not contain soft rock fragments exceeding 50mm upon placement
to the satisfaction of the OWNER/ENGINEER’S.
 Trench backfilling containing pipes shall be properly packed at the sides with sand which shall
be well rammed with narrow wooden rammers before filling further. The filling shall then be
carried up to 150 mm above any sand or concrete surround with fine selected material and well
watered and rammed. The remainder of the trench shall then be refilled in layers not exceeding
300 mm thickness, watered and rammed until the ground is thoroughly consolidated. No

Page 5 of 10
 WORK METHOD STATEMENT FOR EXCAVATION &
BACKFILLING

mechanical rammer shall be used with 300 mm of the top of any pipe or surround and material
shall not be drooped from a height.
 The top surface area shall be dense and level without any protruding rock fragments in excess
of 50 mm, recesses or soft spots, to the satisfaction of the OWNER/ENGINEER’S.
 Tolerance level shall be maintained as per the specifications
 Excavated materials may only be used for backfilling after obtaining satisfactory approved lab
test results; otherwise fill materials shall be imported to the site.

Formation of Cable Trench:

 The formation of the trench shall be in accordance with TRANSCO’s standard and specification S-
CAB-INST-32 (Rev.0-2009) and DWG TR CAB 01 00 05
 The trench shall be excavated upto the required depth of 1.3m from the existing ground level
 Dune sand bedding shall be done for a thickness of 150mm at the bottom of the trench using TR
tested and approved dune sand, prior to the installation of cables.
 Cables and the 4” uPVC pipes for the FO Cables are laid over the dune sand bedding
 Cable protection tiles are laid above the dune sand filling

Non-Disruptive Road crossing by HDD method(Near Water pipe line):

 NDRC Profile drawing with all the existing services and facilities shall be submitted and approved.
 Permits, licenses or approval letters issued by government or statutory bodies have been issued
and are available at site.
 Approval for Road crossing by HDD method shall be obtained from authorities concerned and shall
be available at site.
 Approved drawings shall be available on site
 Mark the location of the road crossing, entry and exit pit as per the drawing.
 Excavate the entry and exit pit of 4 mts length, 4 mtr wide and depth should be as per drawing
depending upon the existing services.
 Locate all the existing services in the work area by trial pits. The foot path and centre median of the
road can also be exposed, if required.
 If excavation is more than 1.5 m deep, step excavation should be done or shoring shall be provided.
 If the drilling tool comes across a boulder during drilling operation, break it by using Hard Rock
breaking tool and if not possible then divert the route to avoid such obstructions, upon approval
from the Engineers.
 The contractor shall monitor road levels before and after drilling work, monthly for a period of six
months. The result of levels is to be informed to authorities concerned. If settlement occurred due
to drilling under asphalted road is found to be more than the Calculated Value, contractor shall
report the findings immediately to Owner/Engineer.
 Ensure all the safety measures have been taken.

Page 6 of 10
 WORK METHOD STATEMENT FOR EXCAVATION &
BACKFILLING

Control measures and specific control measures for the work location:

 While drilling, reaming and pulling preventive measures are made to minimize down Hole
pressures or erosions.
 The drilling fluid flow is analysed to adjust hole dimensions, geological properties, flow rates,
viscosity, gel strength, filtrate and solids content to the annular flow. Geological properties in the
annulus are measured in the field and adjusted as required to conform to the analysed circuit and
ground conditions.
 Issue personal protective equipment to all site personnel appropriate to their nature of works.
 Safety precautions to be maintained for the personnel, Pedestrians and environment within the
occupied area, all as per approved HSE manual.
 Attention shall be paid to regular site cleaning and keeping the working area as confined as
possible.

List of Equipment, Machinery & Materials

 HDPE pipes, Drilling machine, Jet Assembly (Drilling head , water tanker & Bentonite mix ) ,
Transmitter , Receiver , Wire line , Reamer tool , Welding Machine , Towing head , Swivel and
Polymers Extenders

Method:

 To drill soft sediments like clay, sand and medium gravel the rotating drilling head has to cut a
micro tunnel into the soil supported by a high-pressure jet of water and bentonite mix. This
equipment is called a jet assembly. The drilled soiled material flows back into the start pit,
transported by the drilling mud. The size of the pilot hole is approx.70 mm and the mudflow is
approx.40 ltr/min and the pressure is about 60 bars.
 To follow the designed drill run, the drilling tool is equipped with a transmitter, which is given
permanent information about the depth, the distance, the inclination and the direction of the
drilling tool. This information in reported on a drilling report to provide the as-built documents.
 The transmitter gives a signal to the surface above, which is received by a receiver and recorded as
down hole data, for future reference.
 To follow the drilling tool one person will walk and stay over the tool and hold the receiver. On
road crossings one lane has to be blocked for few minutes while the drilling tool is moving under it.
While closing the road, traffic-engineering rule has to be followed.
 The receiver sends the information to a remote control panel on the drilling rig. The driller can
correct the position of the drilling tool and can keep it in the desired level & direction.
 During drilling the position of pilot hole is recorded every 3 mtr along its route and this data will
form a part of the as-built records of the HDD crossing.
 When the pilot hole reaches the exit pit the drill equipment will be re-placed and connected to the
pullback assembly called a reamer tool. There are different shapes of reamers that enable you to
cut soft and hard formations. The number of reaming steps depends on the diameter of the pipe
and the hardness of the geological formations. These operations always start with a small-scale

Page 7 of 10
 WORK METHOD STATEMENT FOR EXCAVATION &
BACKFILLING

reamer and end with a diameter that is around 1.2 times bigger than the overall bundle diameter.
Behind the reamer, drill rods are pulled into the hole, so as to keep a too & fro motion on the
drilling operation, also to maintain an opportunity to with draw & re-position the reaming tool
should the geological structure change.

Final Backfilling:

 Ensure the Concrete Cable Tiles are securely placed.

 Selected sieved materials from the excavated soil shall be backfilled for a thickness of 250mm
above the cable protection tiles. Care shall be taken to avoid stones and boulders mixing with the
backfill material.
 Install Fiber optic Cable Warning Tape.
 Backfill to the required level in similar way.
 Ensure Proper Compaction of soil is done
 Reinstate the area as to its original situation.

COMPACTION & COMPACTION TESTING:

 Required density shall not be less than 95% Modified Proctor under Roads and pavements. This
shall be obtained by compaction in layers by means of rollers and/or dozers, applying as many
passes as may be necessary and to the approval of the OWNER/ENGINEERS.

Page 8 of 10
 WORK METHOD STATEMENT FOR EXCAVATION &
BACKFILLING

 Sweet water or portable water from a source approved by the company shall be sprayed on the
placed material prior to compaction where necessary to achieve the optimal moisture content.
 Brackish or salt water is not allowed to be used in compaction.
 The density of each placed and compacted layer shall be established by testing prior to the
placement of subsequent layers. If the results of test indicates that the required density is not
being achieved further tests shall be carried out.
 All the testing shall be carried out to the satisfaction of OWNER/ENGINEER’S.

TOOLS & EQUIPMENTS

Hand tools for Excavation

 Hand Shovels
 Plastic Buckets
 Wheel Barrows

Equipments:

 Plate compactor, Mechanical Tampers to compact the backfilling materials.

 Air compressors
 Water tankers

SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT:

 The contractor will be responsible for all necessary safety measures at all times. All related works
will be executed in accordance with the project health and safety plan.
 The detailed Risk Assessment plans for the transportation, storage, drum handling and installation
FOC is provided as attachment.
 Safety induction will be conducted at site before the start of the job activities to make all the
personnel associated be aware about the necessary safety precautions.
 Following risk management is performed in general:
 The tools used are suitable and safe to use.
 Supervisor shall be present at work site throughout the execution of the work.
 Scaffoldings are used in the trenches, transformer side and cable cellars for laying and termination
of cables.
 Safety harnesses are being used by personnel working on high-elevated platform.
 Precautionary warning signs for this type of work place are visibly kept in place.
 Supervisor or Foreman in charge shall ensure the proper equipment for lifting are available with
valid test certificates.
 Equipment such as the overhead crane and forklift shall be used with a rate capacity suitable to
weight of the load to be lifted.

Page 9 of 10
 WORK METHOD STATEMENT FOR EXCAVATION &
BACKFILLING

 Supervisor or Foreman in charge shall ensure the proper equipment for lifting is available with valid
test certificates.
 All personnel handling the heavy equipments and associated accessories shall be provided with
proper type of gloves.
 The safety officer shall report any untoward incident and stop any unsafe activity.
 The safety officer shall inform the site engineer and the project manager of any violation against
HSE and report to the HSE manager.

7. Demobilization

7.1 Demobilize all the machinery from the site

7.2 After completing the works, clean and clear the site.

Page 10 of 10