['Excavations']
['Excavation Inspections', 'Excavation Hazard Identification', 'Excavations', 'Underground Construction', 'Protective Systems']
10/24/2023
Copyright 2024 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.
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Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction operations. Cave-ins pose the greatest risk and are much more likely than other excavation-related accidents to result in worker fatalities. Other potential hazards include falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, and incidents involving mobile equipment.
Scope
Applies to all open excavations made in the earth’s surface. Excavations are defined to include trenches.
The standard does not apply to house foundation/basement excavations, including those that become trenches by definition when constructing formwork, foundations, or walls.
For this exemption to apply, all the following conditions must exist:
- The excavation is less than 7-1/2 feet deep or is benched for at least 2 feet horizontally for every 5 feet or less of vertical height
- The bottom of the excavation, from the excavation face to the formwork or wall, is at least 2 feet wide, and wider if possible;
- No water, surface tension cracks, or other environmental conditions reduce the excavation’s stability;
- No heavy equipment is vibrating the excavation while employees are in it;
- Soil, equipment, and material surcharge loads are no closer to the top edge of the excavation than the excavation is deep. When you use front-end loaders to dig the excavations, place the soil surcharge load as far back from the edge of the excavation as possible, but never closer than 2 feet;
- The fewest crew members possible are performing the work; and
- Workers spend the minimum time possible in the excavation.
This exemption does not apply to utility excavations or trenches, which are covered by 29 CFR 1926.652.
Regulatory citations
- 29 CFR Subpart P — Excavations.
Key definitions
- Cave-in: The separation of a mass of soil or rock material from the side of an excavation, or the loss of soil from under a trench shield or support system, and its sudden movement into the excavation, either by falling or sliding, in sufficient quantity so that it could entrap, bury, or otherwise injure and immobilize a person.
- Competent person: One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings, or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
- Excavation: Any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in an earth surface, formed by earth removal.
- Trench (Trench excavation): A narrow excavation (in relation to its length) made below the surface of the ground. In general, the depth is greater than the width, but the width of a trench (measured at the bottom) is not greater than 15 feet (4.6 m). If forms or other structures are installed or constructed in an excavation so as to reduce the dimension measured from the forms or structure to the side of the excavation to 15 feet (4.6 m) or less (measured at the bottom of the excavation), the excavation is also considered to be a trench.
- Protective system: A method of protecting employees from cave-ins, from material that could fall or roll from an excavation face or into an excavation, or from the collapse of adjacent structures. Protective systems include support systems, sloping and benching systems, shield systems, and other systems that provide the necessary protection.
- Shield (Shield system): A structure that is able to withstand the forces imposed on it by a cave-in and thereby protect employees within the structure. Shields can be permanent structures or can be designed to be portable and moved along as work progresses. Additionally, shields can be either premanufactured or job-built in accordance with 1926.652(c)(3) or (c)(4). Shields used in trenches are usually referred to as “trench boxes” or “trench shields.”
- Shoring (Shoring system): A structure such as a metal hydraulic, mechanical or timber shoring system that supports the sides of an excavation and which is designed to prevent cave-ins.
- Sloping (Sloping system): A method of protecting employees from cave-ins by excavating to form sides of an excavation that are inclined away from the excavation so as to prevent cave-ins. The angle of incline required to prevent a cave-in varies with differences in such factors as the soil type, environmental conditions of exposure, and application of surcharge loads.
Summary of requirements
- Preplan the excavation work.
- Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges.
- Keep surcharge loads (spoil, other materials to be used in the trench) at least two feet from trench edges.
- Provide proper protective systems to safeguard employees working in the excavation.
- Know where underground utilities are located.
- Test for low oxygen, hazardous fumes, and toxic gases.
- Inspect excavations at the start of each shift.
- Inspect excavations following a rainstorm.
- Do not work under raised loads.
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['Excavations']
['Excavation Inspections', 'Excavation Hazard Identification', 'Excavations', 'Underground Construction', 'Protective Systems']
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Copyright 2024 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.