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Protect employees
  • Safe access and egress should be available for all employees working in trench excavations four feet or deeper.
  • OSHA urges companies to have an emergency response procedure in place and rescue equipment ready for any accident.

There are certain things an employer can do to protect employees working in excavations:

  • Provide means of access and egress,
  • Supply protective equipment,
  • Inspect the excavation and site, and
  • Provide emergency response equipment.

Provide means of access and egress

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires an employer to provide safe access and egress for all excavations, including ladders, steps, ramps, or other safe means of exit for employees working in trench excavations four feet or deeper. These devices must be located in the excavation within 25 feet of all workers.

Any structural ramps used in an operation must be designed by a competent person if they are used for employee access or egress, or by a competent person qualified in structural design if they are used for vehicles. Also, structural members used for ramps or runways must be uniform in thickness and joined in a manner to prevent tripping or displacement.

Supply protective equipment

An employee who enters a bell-bottom pier hole or similar deep and confined footing excavation must wear a harness with a lifeline. The lifeline must be attached securely to the harness and must be separate from any line used to handle materials. Also, while the employee wearing the lifeline is in the excavation, an observer must be on hand to ensure that the lifeline is working properly and communication with the employee is maintained.

Inspect the excavation and site

The standard requires that a competent person inspect an excavation and the areas around it daily for possible cave-ins, failures of protective systems and equipment, hazardous atmospheres, or other dangerous conditions. Inspections also are required after natural events such as heavy rains or man-made events such as blasting that may increase the potential for hazards. If the inspector finds any unsafe conditions during an inspection, employees must be cleared from the hazardous area until safety precautions are taken.

Larger and more complex operations should have a full-time safety official who makes recommendations to improve implementation of a safety plan. In a smaller operation, the safety official may be part-time and usually will be a supervisor.

Supervisors are the contractor’s representatives on the job and should conduct inspections, investigate accidents, and anticipate hazards. They should ensure that employees receive on-the-job safety and health training. Supervisors also should review and strengthen overall safety and health precautions to guard against potential dangers, get the necessary worker cooperation in safety matters, and make frequent reports to the contractor.

Provide emergency response equipment

Emergency rescue equipment is required by OSHA when a hazardous atmosphere exists or may reasonably be expected to develop during excavation work.

However, the agency recommends that companies have emergency response procedures in place, and rescue equipment ready, in case any accident occurs. Ensure the procedure includes:

  • Who will provide immediate jobsite rescue and aid;
  • Who will notify the authorities and rescue personnel;
  • Who will meet, advise, and direct rescue personnel; and
  • What emergency response equipment will be available on the jobsite, where it will be kept, and who will be trained to use it.

If there is an accident at the excavation site, the time between when the accident happened and when rescue personnel arrive is critical. Any assistance that workers can give the victim, without endangering themselves, should be done immediately. Using heavy equipment in a rescue attempt of a trapped person should be avoided. Extreme caution should be taken in situations where serious injuries or death have occurred.