Excavations are recognized as one of the most hazardous operations in the construction industry. Excavation cave-ins can cause serious and often fatal injuries to employees. OSHA places very strict regulations governing the design of an excavation, cave-in prevention methods and employee training. Employees working in or around excavations need to be knowledgeable of safety requirements.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL EXCAVATIONS
All employees working in an excavation must receive initial training.
A competent person must be clearly identified for all excavations. This person must be knowledgeable in assessing soil conditions, the use of protective systems and OSHA requirements.
The soil type must be identified by the competent person on site:
- Type A - clay, silty clay, sandy clay, clay loam and cemented soils (hardpan)
- Type B - angular gravel, silt, silt loam and sandy loamExcavated material must be placed at least two feet away from the edge of any excavation.
Precautions must be taken to ensure vibrating equipment/vehicular traffic does not cause a cave-in.
No employee shall enter an excavation that contains standing or seeping water.
Access (ladder/ramp) must be provided and located so no worker must travel more than 25 feet to exit.
Employees at the edge of an excavation six feet or more in depth shall be protected from falling.
If conditions change in or around the excavation, employees must exit the excavation and a competent person must re-inspect and give approval for employees to re-enter.
EXCAVATIONS 5 FEET OR GREATER IN DEPTH
Sloping, benching, or other approved cave-in protection systems must be utilized.
Trench boxes/shoring must be a designed and approved system.
The trench box should extend at least 18 inches above the surrounding ground surface.
Excavations greater than 20 feet must be designed by an engineer.
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