What this template includes
This template covers every section of a compliant Excavation & Ground Works Permit to Work, designed around UK regulatory requirements and the standard expected by insurers and the HSE.
- Permit details — permit number, site, excavation location, dimensions (length, width, depth), permit issuer, permit holder, validity period
- Service detection record — CAT and Genny scan completed, cable/pipe plans obtained, plan reference number, scan operative
- Hand-dig exclusion zone — 500mm hand-dig zone confirmed around all identified services
- Ground conditions assessment — soil type, made ground/fill, groundwater level, nearby structures
- Trench support requirements — unsupported (under 1.2m), shoring method, battering/benching method
- Flooding and groundwater risk — drainage arrangements, pump on standby, weather forecast reviewed
- Contamination risk — ground contamination suspected, sampling required, waste classification
- Overhead hazards — overhead lines, structures, mobile plant exclusion zone
- Identified hazards — standard excavation hazards pre-populated (pre-filled version)
- Safety controls & precautions — standard controls pre-populated (pre-filled version)
- Authorisation — print name, job title, and signature fields
- Permit holder acknowledgement — print name, company, signature, and date
- Closure inspection — excavation reinstated, backfill compacted, site left safe
Pre-filled vs blank — which should I use?
The pre-filled version is the best starting point for most uses. Standard hazards, controls, and procedures are pre-populated — you review them, add or remove items to reflect your specific job and site, and fill in the job-specific details. Think of it as an AI-drafted permit you review and adjust, rather than a form you fill in from scratch.
The blank version has all the same sections but with empty fields throughout. Use this if you prefer to populate everything yourself, or if your organisation has its own standard content you want to use.
How to use this template
- Open the .docx file in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. All sections are clearly labelled.
- Fill in the permit details, work description, and validity period for your specific job.
- Review the hazards and controls. Add site-specific items and remove anything that doesn't apply.
- Complete all checklist fields and inspection records before authorising the permit.
- Print and obtain authorisation and permit holder acknowledgement signatures in person.
- Keep a copy on file. Complete the closure section once work is finished.
Legal requirements
Excavation permits are required on construction sites under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), which require the Principal Contractor to have arrangements in place to prevent unplanned collapse, falls, flooding, and contact with underground services.
HSG47 — Avoiding Danger from Underground Services is the key HSE guidance document. It requires that all underground services are identified before any excavation begins — using cable avoidance tools (CAT), signal generators (Genny), service plans, and ground-penetrating radar where appropriate. A 500mm hand-dig exclusion zone applies around all identified services.
Under BS 6031:2009, excavations deeper than 1.2m generally require shoring, battering, or benching to prevent trench collapse. The decision depends on soil type, surcharge loads, groundwater, and nearby structures.
→ Read our full guide to Excavation & Ground Works permits
Want permits without the paperwork?
Service strikes and trench collapses are the two most common causes of serious injury and death in excavation work. Paper permit processes frequently miss service detection steps or lack a formal record that the CAT scan was completed before digging started.
PermitDesk generates excavation permits digitally, with the service detection record and trench support assessment built in, permit holder sign-off captured on record, and a full timestamped audit trail from permit issue to closure.