Stop when unclear
Unknown utilities, unstable excavation, energized wet equipment or sewage exposure require escalation.
Safety first
Safety Considerations for Stormwater and Flood-Protection Work
Flood-resilience work can combine excavation, buried utilities, electricity, sewage, traffic, lifting and unstable wet conditions.
- Risk-firstbefore product choice
- Evidencebefore claims
- Lifecycleinspection and maintenance
Who this is for
Use the guidance within a defined role and scope.
- Contractors and workers
- Building and facility teams
- Inspectors and project managers
- Homeowners planning work
RSM scope
Independent education and standards-informed practice guidance.
External authority
Law, code, municipal rules, permits, manufacturer instructions and qualified professional decisions remain controlling.
Project responsibility
Owners, designers, contractors, inspectors and authorities retain assigned duties.
Core principles
Build practice around clear decisions and verifiable outcomes.
Use the applicable safety system
Employer procedures, Ontario law, permits and competent-person requirements control the work.
Separate public and work areas
Protect occupants, pedestrians and unauthorized people.
Plan emergencies
Do not enter hazardous spaces or water to improvise a rescue.
Practice detail
Excavation and buried infrastructure
Ontario One Call must be contacted before breaking ground where infrastructure may be affected. Locate information must be reviewed in the field. Trench and excavation work requires controls for soil, depth, access, water, support, spoil placement and worker protection.
Practice detail
Electrical and contaminated-water hazards
Water and electricity can create lethal shock risk. Flooded panels, cords, pumps and temporary power require safe procedures and qualified electrical support. Sewer backup and contaminated water also require exposure controls and hygiene.
Practice detail
Operational and emergency hazards
Consider lifting, confined spaces, pressurized lines, stored energy, slips, traffic, weather, heat, noise and lone work. Define stop criteria, communication, first aid, emergency contacts and responsibility for securing the site.
Working sequence
A repeatable pathway from question to maintained outcome
- 1
Identify hazards and duties.
- 2
Obtain locates, permits and plans.
- 3
Control access, excavation and energy.
- 4
Monitor weather and site changes.
- 5
Stop, report and respond.
Avoidable failures
Common ways good intentions become unreliable practice
- Entering water near electrical equipment
- Using excavation before protection
- Assuming marks show every private service
- Continuing as rainfall changes conditions
Related pathways
Connect guidance to the next responsible action.
Official and institutional references
Check the controlling source.
RSM summarizes concepts for education. Use current official documents, local authorities and qualified professionals for project decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Important scope and application questions
Is a locate request enough?
No. The package, marks, instructions, expiry and site conditions must be respected.
Can a homeowner enter a flooded basement to shut off power?
Do not enter when water may contact electrical systems. Use emergency and qualified support.
Does this replace a safety plan?
No. It is awareness guidance only.
When should work stop?
When a required control is missing, conditions differ materially or an immediate hazard appears.
Standards-informed practice
Use guidance as part of a complete responsibility system.
Connect knowledge with competent roles, approvals, records, inspection, maintenance and transparent communication.
Published: July 19, 2026 Last reviewed: July 19, 2026
RSM provides independent educational and standards-informed guidance. Confirm current legal, code, municipal, professional, product and project requirements with the appropriate authority and qualified people.
Next steps
Use the standards system
Move from a single topic to the wider guidance, evidence and feedback process.