Earth retaining safety framework and system

Abstract

A safety framework and a safety system are typically positioned in an excavation, the safety framework defining a work space within which a worker can work in the excavation in relative safety. The safety framework has a first substantially rectangular framework portion made from first elongate support members in the form of square hollow steel sections and second elongate support members in the form of square hollow steel sections secured to the first support members. A second substantially rectangular framework portion is secured to the first framework portion by means of spacer members in the form of square hollow steel sections. The spacer members are supported on mounting portions in the form of eight mounting blocks which project from the first support members and third support members respectively. The safety system comprises a safety framework and a plurality of panel members that are placed in a vertical arrangement around the framework. The panel members are positioned side by side abutting against the support members of the framework to form a wall around the framework. In this way soil or debris is prevented from entering the work space.

1 . A safety framework for positioning in an excavation, the framework comprising: 
 a first substantially rectangular framework portion and a second substantially rectangular framework portion; and    a plurality of elongate spacer members for retaining said second framework portion in a spaced apart relationship relative to the first framework portion, each said spacer member being mechanically coupled to said first and second framework portions by mounting means comprising a pin connection so as to facilitate a degree of lateral movement of the second framework portion relative to the first framework portion, and wherein said first and second framework portions together define a work space within which a worker can work in the excavation in relative safety.    
   
   
       2 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first framework portion comprises a pair of substantially parallel, opposed first elongate support members and a pair of substantially parallel, opposed second elongate support members substantially perpendicular to said first support members and secured to said first support members in an abutting arrangement.  
   
   
       3 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said second framework portion comprises a pair of substantially parallel, opposed third elongate support members and a pair of substantially parallel, opposed fourth elongate support members substantially perpendicular to said third support members and secured to said third support members in an abutting arrangement.  
   
   
       4 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second framework portions are of substantially the same size and shape.  
   
   
       5 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said mounting means are provided on the first support members and comprise first mounting portions for positioning of the spacer members on the first support members.  
   
   
       6 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said mounting means are also provided on the third support members and comprise second mounting portions for positioning of the spacer members on the third support members.  
   
   
       7 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 6 , wherein when the framework is assembled, the first mounting portions and the second mounting portions are in substantially vertical alignment so that the spacer members are retained in a substantially vertical orientation.  
   
   
       8 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 5 , wherein each of said first mounting portions is positioned respectively at a distance away from each end of the respective first support member.  
   
   
       9 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 8 , wherein each of said second mounting portions is positioned respectively at a distance away from each end of the respective third support member.  
   
   
       10 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 5 , wherein each of said mounting portions is positioned at an equal distance from the respective ends of the respective support members.  
   
   
       11 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said mounting portions are in the form of mounting blocks projecting from the first and third support members.  
   
   
       12 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said spacer members are generally hollow, and wherein the upper and lower ends of the hollow spacer members may be positioned over the mounting blocks respectively.  
   
   
       13 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 12 , wherein each of the mounting blocks is provided with block apertures for alignment with spacer apertures provided in the ends of each spacer member.  
   
   
       14 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the spacer members are secured to the mounting blocks by positioning a securing means through the aligned block apertures and spacer apertures to provide said pin connection.  
   
   
       15 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said securing means includes some form of locking means for locking the securing means in the apertures.  
   
   
       16 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said securing means comprises a pin, and said locking means comprises a sprung safety clip.  
   
   
       17 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the safety framework comprises four spacer members to retain the second framework portion in a substantially horizontal orientation spaced at a desired distance from the first framework portion.  
   
   
       18 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the spacer members are of equal length so that the first framework portion and the second framework portion are in substantially parallel alignment.  
   
   
       19 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said support members are generally rectangular in cross-section.  
   
   
       20 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the second support members and the fourth support members comprise connecting members extending from the ends thereof to facilitate connection of the first and second support members to each other, and of the third and fourth support members to each other.  
   
   
       21 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the connecting members are in the form of flanges extending from two sides of each end of the second and fourth support members respectively.  
   
   
       22 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the connecting members are secured by securing means received through aligned apertures in the flanges and the ends of the first and third support members respectively.  
   
   
       23 . A safety framework as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first framework portion further comprises attachment means to allow for attachment of the ends of chains or ropes to lower the framework into an excavation.  
   
   
       24 . A safety system for positioning in an excavation, the system comprising: 
 a framework comprising: 
 a first substantially rectangular framework portion and a second substantially rectangular framework portion; and  
 a plurality of spacer members for retaining said second framework portion in a spaced apart relationship relative to the first framework portion, each said spacer member being mechanically coupled to said first and second framework portions by mounting means comprising a pin connection so as to facilitate a degree of lateral movement of the second framework portion relative to the first framework portion; and  
   a plurality of panel members adapted to be supported by the framework on the respective sides of the first and second framework portions, wherein said first and second framework portions and the panel members together define a work space within which a worker can work in the excavation in relative safety.    
   
   
       25 . A safety system as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said first framework portion comprises a pair of substantially parallel, opposed first elongate support members and a pair of substantially parallel, opposed second elongate support members substantially perpendicular to said first support members and secured to said first support members in an abutting arrangement.  
   
   
       26 . A safety system as defined in  claim 25 , wherein said second framework portion comprises a pair of substantially parallel, opposed third elongate support members and a pair of substantially parallel, opposed fourth elongate support members substantially perpendicular to said third support members and secured to said third support members in an abutting arrangement.  
   
   
       27 . A safety system as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said first and second framework portions are of substantially the same size and shape.  
   
   
       28 . A safety system as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the panel members are positioned in a substantially vertical orientation supported by the framework.  
   
   
       29 . A safety system as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the panel members are positioned side by side abutting against the support members of the framework to form a wall around the framework so that soil or debris is prevented from entering the work space.  
   
   
       30 . A safety system as defined in  claim 29 , wherein each panel member has an outer face and an inner face, said inner face abutting against the support members and the outer face preventing the soil entering the work space.  
   
   
       31 . A safety system as defined in  claim 30 , wherein the inner face is provided with a raised pattern to reduce the friction of the inner face against the support members when the panel members are placed in position in the safety system.  
   
   
       32 . A safety system as defined in  claim 24 , wherein a lower portion of each of the panel members is positioned in the ground below the floor of the excavation in use, whereby the panel members are anchored in the ground to retain the panel members in an upright configuration against the framework.  
   
   
       33 . A safety system as defined in  claim 32 , wherein each panel member has first flanges extending from opposing vertical sides of the panel member whereby, in use, the panel members are positioned in side by side arrangement with the first flanges extending away from the work space.  
   
   
       34 . A safety system as defined in  claim 33 , wherein each of the panel members is further provided with a second flange extending from the upper edge of each panel member to assist in inhibiting soil and debris from entering the work space.  
   
   
       35 . A safety system as defined in  claim 34 , wherein the lower edge of each panel member has no flange extending there from, and thus forms a cutting edge which can be readily driven into the soil of the floor of the excavation.  
   
   
       36 . A safety system as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the panel members are each provided with a panel aperture to allow for a crane hook or other means to lift the panel members for positioning in the system.