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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard requires an employer to provide support systems such as shoring, bracing, or underpinning to ensure that adjacent structures such as buildings, walls, sidewalks, or pavements remain stable. The standard also prohibits excavation below the base or footing of any foundation or retaining wall unless:
Excavations under sidewalks and pavements are prohibited unless an appropriately designed support system or another effective means of support is provided.
Install and remove protective systems
The standard requires the following steps to be taken to protect employees when installing support systems:
In addition, the standard permits excavation of two feet or less below the bottom of the members of a support or shield system of a trench if the system is designed to resist forces calculated for the trench’s full depth. In addition, there must be no indications, while the trench is open, of a possible cave-in beneath the support system. Also, coordinate installation of support systems closely with excavation work.
As soon as work is completed, backfill the excavation when dismantling the protective system. After the excavation is cleared, remove the protective system from the bottom up, taking care to release members slowly.
Maintain materials and equipment
An employer is responsible for maintaining materials and equipment used for protective systems. Defective and damaged materials and equipment can cause failure of a protective system and other excavation hazards.
To avoid possible failure of a protective system, ensure that:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard requires an employer to provide support systems such as shoring, bracing, or underpinning to ensure that adjacent structures such as buildings, walls, sidewalks, or pavements remain stable. The standard also prohibits excavation below the base or footing of any foundation or retaining wall unless:
Excavations under sidewalks and pavements are prohibited unless an appropriately designed support system or another effective means of support is provided.
Install and remove protective systems
The standard requires the following steps to be taken to protect employees when installing support systems:
In addition, the standard permits excavation of two feet or less below the bottom of the members of a support or shield system of a trench if the system is designed to resist forces calculated for the trench’s full depth. In addition, there must be no indications, while the trench is open, of a possible cave-in beneath the support system. Also, coordinate installation of support systems closely with excavation work.
As soon as work is completed, backfill the excavation when dismantling the protective system. After the excavation is cleared, remove the protective system from the bottom up, taking care to release members slowly.
Maintain materials and equipment
An employer is responsible for maintaining materials and equipment used for protective systems. Defective and damaged materials and equipment can cause failure of a protective system and other excavation hazards.
To avoid possible failure of a protective system, ensure that: