EXcellence in Professional Engineering

Review and Training Solutions

REFRESHER | TERMS

Terminologies Part 4 Kickout means the accidental release or failure of a

cross brace.
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
[MAY 2022] Protective system means a method of
I. Excavations protecting employees from cave-ins, from material
that could fall or roll from an excavation face or into
Accepted Engineering Practices means those
an excavation, or from the collapse of adjacent
requirements which are compatible with standards of
structures. Protective systems include support
practice required by a registered professional
systems, sloping and benching systems, shield
engineer.
systems, and other systems that provide the necessary
Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring means a pre-engineered protection.
shoring system comprised of aluminum hydraulic
Ramp means an inclined walking or working surface
cylinders (cross braces) used in conjunction with
that is used to gain access to one point from another,
vertical rails (walers). Such system is designed,
and is constructed from earth or from structural
specifically to support the sidewalls of an excavation
materials such as steel or wood.
and prevent cave-ins.
Sheeting means the members of a shoring system that
Bell-bottom pier hole means a type of shaft or footing
retain the earth in position and in turn are supported
excavation, the bottom of which is made larger than
by other members of the shoring system.
the cross section above to form a belled shape.
Shield means a structure that is able to withstand the
[MAY 2022] Benching means a method of protecting
forces imposed on it by a cave-in and thereby protect
workers from cave-ins by excavating the sides of an
employees within the structure. Shields can be
excavation to form one or a series of horizontal levels
permanent structures or can be designed to be
or steps, usually with vertical or near-vertical surfaces
portable and moved along as work progresses.
between levels.
Shoring means a structure such as a metal hydraulic,
Cave-in means the separation of a mass of soil or rock
mechanical or timber shoring system that supports
material from the side of an excavation, or the loss of
the sides of an excavation and which is designed to
soil from under a trench shield or support system, and
prevent cave-ins.
its sudden movement into the excavation, either by
falling or sliding, in sufficient quantity so that it could Sloping means a method of protecting employees from
entrap, bury, or otherwise injure and immobilize a cave-ins by excavating to form sides of an excavation
person. that are inclined away from the excavation so as to
prevent cave-ins. The angle of incline required to
Competent person means one who is capable of
prevent a cave-in varies with differences in such
identifying existing and predictable hazards in the
factors as the soil type, environmental conditions of
surroundings, or working conditions which are
exposure, and application of surcharge loads.
unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to workers, and
who has authorization to take prompt corrective Stable rock means natural solid mineral material that
measures to eliminate them. can be excavated with vertical sides and will remain
intact while exposed. Unstable rock is considered to be
Cross braces mean the horizontal members of a
stable when the rock material on the side or sides of
shoring system installed perpendicular to the sides of
the excavation is secured against caving-in or
the excavation, the ends of which bear against either
movement by rock bolts or by another protective
upright or wales.
system that has been designed by a registered
Excavation means any man-made cut, cavity, trench, professional engineer.
or depression in an earth surface, formed by earth
Structural ramp means a ramp built of steel or wood,
removal.
usually used for vehicle access. Ramps made of soil or
Faces or sides means the vertical or inclined earth rock are not considered structural ramps.
surfaces formed as a result of excavation work.
Support system means a structure such as
Failure means the breakage, displacement, or underpinning, bracing, or shoring, which provides
permanent deformation of a structural member or support to an adjacent structure, underground
connection so as to reduce its structural integrity and installation, or the sides of an excavation.
its supportive capabilities.

NOV 2022
Engr. J.A. Margallo
 EXcellence in Professional Engineering
Review and Training Solutions
REFRESHER | TERMS

Trench means a narrow excavation (in relation to its What are supported scaffolds?
length) made below the surface of the ground. In - are platforms supported by legs, outrigger beams,
general, the depth is greater than the width, but the brackets, poles, uprights, posts, frames, or similar
width of a trench (measured at the bottom) is not rigid support.
greater than 4.6 m.
When do supported scaffolds need to be restrained
Uprights means the vertical members of a trench from tipping?
shoring system placed in contact with the earth and - supported scaffolds with a height to base width ratio
usually positioned so that individual members do not of more than 4:1 must be restrained by guying, tying,
contact each other. Uprights placed so that individual bracing, or an equivalent means.
members are closely spaced, in contact with or
What are the footing and foundation requirements for
interconnected to each other, are often called
suspended scaffolds?
“sheeting”.
- supported scaffolds’ poles, legs, posts, frames, and
Wales means horizontal members of a shoring system upright must bear on base plates and mud sills, or
placed parallel to the excavation face whose sides bear other adequate firm foundation.
against the vertical members of the shoring system or
What materials can be used to increase the working
earth.
level height of employees on supported scaffolds?
II. Scaffolding - stilts may be used on a large area scaffold.
[MAY 2022] What are the capacity requirements for What are suspended scaffolds?
all scaffolds? - scaffold that contains one or more platforms
- must support at least 4 times the maximum intended suspended by ropes or other non-rigid means from an
load applied or transmitted to it. overhead structure.
What are the scaffold platform construction
requirements?
- spacing between the platform and uprights not more
than 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide.
- spacing must not exceed 9 inches (24.1) cm when
side brackets or odd-shaped structures result in a
wider opening between the platform and the uprights.
What are the requirements for scaffold planking?
- must be able to support its own weight and at least
four times the intended load.
What is the maximum deflection of a platform?
- must not deflect more than 1/60 of the span when
loaded.
How wide does the work area need to be on
scaffolding?
- must be at least 18 inches (46 cm) wide
- when work area is less than 18 inches (46 cm),
guardrails and/or personal fall arrest systems must be
used
Are guardrails required on all open sides of
scaffolding?
- the standard requires employers to protect each
employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet (3.1 m)
above a lower level from falling to that lower level.
What materials are unacceptable for guardrails?
- steel or plastic banding must not be used as a toprail
or a midrail.

NOV 2022
Engr. J.A. Margallo