Excavation and trenching - Wyoming

Wyoming operates an OSHA-approved State Plan covering most private sector workers and all state and local government workers. The Wyoming Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Wyoming OSHA) is part of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. The federal OSHA rules contained in 29 C.F.R. §§ 1926.650 - 1926.652 (2016), as in effect on June 19, 2018, are adopted by the Wyoming’s Department of Workforce Services.

In addition to federal OSHA rules, the following excavation requirements exist in Wyoming.

Underground facilities

The Wyoming Underground Facilities Notification Act requires excavators to notify a notification center of proposed excavations so that owners and operators of underground facilities can be notified by the center and mark their facilities to prevent damage and injury to excavation workers. The requirements for excavators, operators, and the notification center are found in Wyo. Stat. § 37-12-301 – 37-12-307.

Open excavations

Reasonable precautions must be taken to ensure the safety of all persons working in and about open excavations, pits and quarries. Overhanging banks must not be permitted in any excavation, pit or quarry. Sides and banks must be sloped to an angle, in view of the nature and material and the depth of the excavation, that will minimize the danger of materials sliding or falling.

Visitation restrictions

No person may enter or remain in any mine, excavation, pit, quarry, mill, or processing plant unless authorized by the owner or operator or by law. No person other than the owner and operator, his employees and agents, and inspectors may enter, be permitted to enter or remain in any mine, excavation, pit, quarry, mill, or processing plant unless accompanied by the owner, operator or other authorized person.

Emissions of particulate matter -- Fugitive dust

Sources operating within the State of Wyoming are required to control fugitive dust emissions. Any person engaged in clearing or leveling of land, earthmoving, excavation, or movement of trucks or construction equipment over access haul roads or cleared land must take steps to minimize fugitive dust from those activities. Such control measures may include frequent watering and/or chemical stabilization.