Osha requires which of the following in regards to excavations

Excavation and Trenching are two of the riskiest construction operations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established certain standards for excavation and trenching projects. These standards are included in 29 CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Part 1926 and Subpart P – Excavations.

What Is Excavation per OSHA?

The official definition for excavation by OSHA is any human-made cavity, trench, cut, or depression in Earth’s surface by removing soil.

OSHA Excavation Standards

The OSHA excavation standards apply to any open excavation on Earth’s surface. These standards help reduce or prevent risks of excavation-related and cave-in incidents.

The OSHA excavation standards need a competent person to evaluate and classify rocks and soil deposits on the surface, i.e.

• Stable Rock
• Type A Soil
• Type B Soil
• Type C Soil

What Is Trenching per OSHA?

According to OSHA, a trench is a narrow excavation (compared to its length) made beneath the ground’s surface. Usually, a trench’s depth is relatively larger than its width, whereas the width at the bottom is never greater than 4.6 meters or 15 feet.

OSHA Trench Regulations

The cave-in and collapsing incidents in the trenches can risk your workers’ lives. Thus, safe trenches can reduce your workers’ exposure to associated hazards such as falling loads, falls, hazardous atmosphere, etc.

OSHA requires employers to comply with trenching and excavation requirements of 29 CFR 1926.651 and 29 – CFR 1926.652 or any other OSHA-approved state safety standards.

How Deep Can a Trench Be Without Shoring?

Trenches with a depth of 5 feet (1.5 meters) or greater need a protective system unless the entire excavation is in stable rock. If there is anything less than 5 feet, it is up to a competent person’s discretion to determine if there is a need for a protective system.

A trench with a depth of 20 feet (6.1 meters) or greater needs a protective system. However, a registered professional engineer must design this protective system.

If that is not possible, you can create a protective plan based on tabulated data and configuration evaluated, approved, and prepared by a registered professional engineer as per 29 CFR 1926.652(b) and 29CFR 1926.652(c).

5 Common Trenching and Excavation Hazards

Here are five of the top Hazards associated with Trenching and Excavation.

1. Cave-ins

Do you know cave-in incidents kill two workers per month on average? These stats make them a serious hazard to your workers’ safety.

Thus, OSHA requires a registered professional engineer to analyze the soil composition prior to any excavation and trenching activity. The job of this professional engineer is to design and implement a protective system that slopes, shields, and supports the structure.

2. Falls or Falling Load

Working equipment and workers can fall in an excavated area; thus, install a site safety sign or preferably a barrier around the excavation’s parameter as a warning sign.

Similarly, equipment, overhead loads, or excavated dirt can fall in a trench and crush people working below. So, OSHA requires you to store any job site material at least 2 feet away from the excavation or trenches’ edge.

3. Hazardous Atmospheres

Oxygen levels may be depleted within the trenches; so, you must take precautionary measures to deal with such occurrences. Any excavation exceeding 4 feet requires atmospheric testing by a registered professional as per OSHA’s standards.

4. Vehicles

Construction vehicles such as backhoe loaders and dump trucks also pose a threat to your workers. The operators of these vehicles may have an obstructed view at times while approaching trenches. Thus, OSHA recommends you designate a flagger or spotter to direct the vehicles.

5. Utility Lines Hazard

Sometimes, excavation and trenching can cause exponential damage to municipal fixtures such as utility lines. It can result in natural gas leaks and electrocution and cause fatalities.

6 Top Trenching and Excavation Safety Tips

To get you started, here are six tips for safe excavation and trenching operations.

1. Excavation and Trenching Safety Training

You must not simply design a safety system and assign personnel to conduct necessary checks. It is of utmost importance for you to train your employees regularly about health and safety.

2. Protect Yourself

Never enter an unprotected trench; OSHA requires a professional for a job safety analysis of the site before allowing anyone in.

3. Use Appropriate Safety Systems

There are several protective systems you can use, such as:

• Sloping – involves cutting the trench’s wall at an inclined angle away from the excavation.
• Shoring – requires the installation of an aluminum hydraulic or other supports to prevent cave-ins
• Shielding – protects your workers by using supports such as trench boxes to avoid cave-ins

To sum up tip #3, you need a safety and risk management consultant for a thorough and professional worksite analysis and design an appropriate protective system.

4. Keep a Competent Person On-site

Always appoint and designate a competent person on-site for on-going site safety evaluations. This person should have relevant training on trenching and excavation safety standards and be able to communicate safety practices to other employees.

5. Provide Proper Entry and Exit Points

There must be plenty of entry and exit points for the designated number of workers and make sure to mark them and that all workers know where they are. This is very important in case of emergencies and incidents.

These “access and egress” points must be placed within 25 feet of workers for trenches four feet or deeper according to OSHA standards.

6. Practice General Excavation Safety

Apart from all the above tips, always make sure to use common sense and practice other general excavations or health and safety rules for the safety of your site and, most importantly, your workers.

Let Safety By Design Improve or Manage Your Excavation and Trenching Safety

In case you are not sure where to start, you can always seek professional assistance from the experts at Safety By Design. Not only can we offer top-notch safety training services in Houston, but we can also help you establish a safer workplace with our safety management services.

Contact our team today to discuss training or consulting options that make sense for your needs!

Which of the following precautions must be taken during excavation?

Is required for excavation more than 1.2 m deep?

What is the IS Code of Safety for excavation work?

When a trench is 4 feet or more in depth?