Excavation and trenching - Nevada

Nevada operates an OSHA-approved State Plan covering most private sector workers and all state and local government workers. Nevada has adopted specific standards for excavation or demolition near subsurface installations. These requirements are discussed below.

Subsurface installations

Nevada OSHA has established notification rules for excavations near subsurface installations. These rules require excavators to give notice to an association of subsurface installation operators prior to excavation so that the association can notify operators to locate and mark their installations to prevent damage, interruption of services, and worker injury. The rules are found in Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 455.080 – 455.180.

Erection of fence or other safeguard around excavation

Any person, company or corporation, who digs, sinks or excavates, or cause the same to be done, or being the owner or owners, or in the possession under any lease or contract, of any shaft, excavation or hole, whether used for mining or otherwise, or whether dug, sunk or excavated for the purpose of mining, to obtain water, or for any other purpose, within Nevada, must, during the time they may be employed in digging, sinking or excavating, or after they may have ceased work upon or abandoned the same, erect, or cause to be erected, good and substantial fences or other safeguards, and keep the same in good repair, around such works or shafts, sufficient to guard securely against danger to persons and animals from falling into such shafts or excavations.