Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA): Primary legislation establishing general duties for employers to ensure worker safety and responsibilities to other persons affected by work activities

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM): Specific requirements for construction work planning, duties of principal contractors and contractors, and requirements for risk management in construction projects

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: Sets out requirements for risk assessments, principles of prevention, and general health and safety arrangements

Work at Height Regulations 2005: Legislation specifically dealing with protection against falls, including falls into excavations

Confined Spaces Regulations 1997: Regulations applying to work in confined spaces, which may include certain types of excavations

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER): Regulations governing the use and maintenance of excavation equipment and machinery

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH): Regulations for managing risks from hazardous substances, including contaminated soil encountered during excavation

Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992: Requirements for managing risks associated with manual handling activities during excavation work

Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992: Requirements for the provision and use of PPE for workers involved in excavation activities

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER): Regulations covering the use of lifting equipment that might be used during excavation works

BS 5930:2015: Code of practice for ground investigations, providing industry standards for excavation work