Excavation

Safety
 Excavation Hazards
Cave-ins are the greatest risk

Other hazards include:

 Asphyxiation due to lack of oxygen
 Inhalation of toxic materials
 Fire
 Moving machinery near the edge of the
excavation can cause a collapse
 Accidental severing of underground utility
lines
An employee was installing a small
diameter pipe in a trench 3’ wide, 12-
15’ deep and 90 feel long. The trench
was not sloped or shored nor was
there a box or shield to protect the
employee. Further, there was
evidence of a previous cave-in. The
employee apparently reentered the
trench, and a second cave-in
occurred, burying him. He was found
face down in the bottom of the trench.
Four employees of a mechanical
contractor were laying a lateral sewer line
at a building site. The foreman, a plumber
by trade, and a laborer were laying an
eight-inch, 20-foot long plastic sewer
pipe in the bottom of a trench 36 inches
wide, nine feet deep, and approximately
50 feet long.

The trench was neither sloped nor

shored, and there was water entering it
along a shale seam near the bottom. The
west side of the trench caved in near the
bottom, burying one employee to his
chest and completely covering the other.
Rescue operations took two and five
hours - too late to save the men.
 1468
501(b)(1) - M
994
100(a) - E
948
451(g)(1) - L
785
21(b)(2) - C
783
451(e)(1) - L
755
652(a)(1)- P
660
451(b)(1) - L
609
503(a)1)- M
595
20(b)(2) - C
522
1053(b)(1) - X
 S)(1)
652(a ubpart P - E x c a v a t io n s 755
( 1 9 2 6 .6 5 0 - 6 5 2 )

651(c )(2) 351

Standard - 1926.

651(k)(1) 345

651(j)(2) 263

651(k)(2) 83

N u m b e r o f S e rio u s V io l a tio n s - F Y 0 0 16
 Definitions
Excavation – a man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression
formed by earth removal.
Trench – a narrow excavation. The depth is greater than
the width, but not wider than 15 feet.
Shield - a structure able to withstand a cave-in and protect
employees
Shoring - a structure that supports the sides of an
excavation and protects against cave-ins
Sloping - a technique that employs a specific angle of
incline on the sides of the excavation. The angle
varies based on assessment of impacting site
factors.
 Competent Person
Required for all excavation activities and who:
– Is responsible for conducting daily inspections of excavation,
adjacent areas, and protective systems prior to each shift
– Is responsible for inspection after every rainstorm or other
hazard
– Must have knowledge of soils and soil classification
– Understands design and use of protective systems
– Has authority to stop work and take corrective actions when
conditions change
– Has the ability to recognize and test hazardous atmospheres
– Has formal documentation of training as an Excavation
Competent Person
– Is physically located at the excavation while work is in progress
 What is Soil?
Soil is a mixture of rock,
water, air and a variety
of other substances.

Soil is made up of rock

in the form of small
particles and spaces
called voids. Normally
some part of these
voids is filled with water.
 Weighing in on Soil…
Solid Rock weighs about 167 lbs. Per
cubic foot. Since a cubic foot of soil is
about ½ rock it will weigh about 83 lbs.
Add in water and the weight begins to
rise to around 114 lbs. (if saturated).
Do the math and a simple cubic yard of
soil can weigh over 3000 lbs! That is a
ton and a ½!
 Mechanics of a Cave-In
•
 Soils Classification
For our purposes all soils will be classified as…
“Type C”
…unless otherwise designated in writing by a
Registered Professional Engineer with experience in
soils classification.
 “Type A” Soils

Are cohesive soils with an unconfined,

compressive strength of 1.5 ton per square foot
(tsf) (144 kPa) or greater.
– Examples of cohesive soils are: clay, silty clay, sandy
clay, clay loam and, in some cases, silty clay loam
and sandy clay loam. Cemented soils such as caliche
and hardpan are also considered Type A.
 A soil is not “Type A” if:
• The soil is fissured
• The soil is subject to vibration
• The soil has been previously disturbed
• The material is subject to other factors that
would require it to be classified as a less stable
material.
• Water is present
 “Type B” Soils
• Cohesive soil with an unconfined compressive strength greater
than 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) but less than 1.5 tsf (144 kPa); or
• Granular cohesionless soils including: angular gravel (similar to
crushed rock), silt, silt loam, sandy loam and, in some cases, silty
clay loam and sandy clay loam.
• Previously disturbed soils except those which would otherwise be
classed as Type C soil.
• Soil that meets the unconfined compressive strength or
cementation requirements for Type A, but is fissured or subject to
vibration; or
• Dry rock that is not stable; or
• Material that is part of a sloped, layered system where the layers
dip into the excavation on a slope less steep than four horizontal
to one vertical (4H:1V), but only if the material would otherwise be
classified as Type B.
 “Type C” Soils
• Cohesive soil with an unconfined compressive strength
of 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) or less; or
• Granular soils including gravel, sand, and loamy sand;
or
• Submerged soil or soil from which water is freely
seeping; or
• Submerged rock that is not stable, or
• Material in a sloped, layered system where the layers
dip into the excavation or a slope of four horizontal to
one vertical (4H:1V) or steeper;
• Or any soil that has been previously disturbed.
 Protective Systems

“A method of protecting employees from cave-ins,

from material that could fall or roll from an
excavation face or into and 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”
Sloping and Benching – “Type A”
• Simple Slope “Type
A” Soil

• Simple Bench “Type

A” Soil

• Multiple Bench “Type

A” Soil
Sloping and Benching – “Type A”
• Unsupported
vertically sided lower
portion “Type A” –
maximum 8 foot
depth
• Unsupported
vertically sided lower
portion “Type A” –
Maximum 12 foot
depth
Sloping and Benching – “Type B”
• Simple Slope “Type B”
Soil

• Simple Bench “Type

B” Soil

• Multiple Bench “Type

B” Soil
Sloping and Benching – “Type B”

• Unsupported
vertically sided lower
portion “Type B”
Sloping and Benching – “Type C”
• Simple Slope
“Type C” Soil

• Unsupported
vertically sided
lower portion “Type
C”
 Timber Shoring

• Timber shoring for

trenches must be
designed and stamped by
a Registered Professional
Engineer in accordance
with 29CFR Subpart P,
Appendix C.
 Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring
• Aluminum hydraulic
shoring for trenches
must be designed and
stamped by a
Registered Professional
Engineer in accordance
with 29CFR 1926
Subpart P, Appendix D
Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring

Spot Bracing for “Type A” With plywood for less

Cohesive Soils cohesive “Type B” soils
Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring

Waler system for

Type C soils
 Alternatives to Shoring
• Engineered Trench
Boxes
– Trench shields and
boxes must be either
pre-manufactured with
listed load ratings or
designed, stamped
and constructed under
the direction of a
Registered
Professional
Engineer.
 Trench Boxes

• Is it ever acceptable to
move a trench box with
workers in the box?
 Excavations deeper than 20 feet
All protective systems
designed to protect
employees in
excavations deeper
than 20 feet must be
designed and
stamped by a
Registered
Professional
Engineer
 Permit System Components
• Employee training/briefings
• Electrical safety
• Surface encumbrances
• Underground installations
and utilities
• Protective systems
• Access and egress
• Exposure to vehicular
traffic
• Exposure to falling loads
• Warning systems for
mobile equipment
• Testing for hazardous
atmospheres
• Emergency rescue
equipment
• Protection from hazards
associated with water
accumulation
• Stability of adjacent
structures
• Protection of employees
from loose rock
• Inspections
• Fall protection
 Employee Training/briefings
• Conduct daily safety
briefings for all
employees associated
with excavation activities
and document to project
files. Discuss excavation
hazards, protective
measures, and work
practices that will be
applicable to the day's
activities.
 Electrical Safety
• Power tools and other
electrical devices must
be used in conjunction
with GFCI protected
circuits
• Ensure that
underground electrical
lines are identified prior
to mechanical
excavation
• Identify overhead
electrical lines and
clearances prior to work
 Underground Installations
and Utilities
• Do not begin subsurface work (e.g., trenching, excavation, drilling,
etc.) until a check for underground utilities and similar obstructions
has been conducted. The use of as-built drawings must be
confirmed with additional geophysical or other survey.
• Contact utility companies or the state/regional utility protection
service at least two (2) working days prior to excavation activities
to advise of the proposed work, and ask them to establish the
location of the utility underground installations prior to the start of
actual excavation.
• Obtain utility clearances for subsurface work on both public and
private property. Clearances are to be in writing, signed by the
party conducting the clearance.
 Underground Installations
and Utilities
• Protect and preserve the markings of approximate locations of facilities until
the markings are no longer required for safe and proper excavations.

– If the markings of utility locations are destroyed or removed before excavation

commences or is completed, the Project Manager must notify the utility
company or utility protection service to inform them that the markings have
been destroyed.

• Do not conduct mechanical-assisted subsurface work (e.g., powered drill

rig, mechanical excavator, etc.) within five (5) feet of a confirmed or
suspected utility or other subsurface structure.

– Confirm minimum distances for mechanical-assisted subsurface work with the

utility owner, as distances beyond this five foot minimum may be required.

– Subsurface work within five feet of a confirmed or suspected utility or other

subsurface structure must be done by hand (e.g., hand auger, shovel) to the
point where the obstruction is visually located and exposed. Once the
obstruction location is confirmed in this manner, mechanical-assisted work
may commence.
 Access and Egress
• A stairway, ladder, ramp
or other safe means of
egress shall be located in
trench excavations that
are 4 feet (1.22 m) or
more in depth so as to
require no more than 25
feet (7.62 m) of lateral
travel for employees.
Exposure to Vehicular Traffic

Employees exposed to
public vehicular traffic shall
be provided with, and shall
wear, warning vests or other
suitable garments marked
with or made of reflectorized
or high-visibility material.
 Protection from Vehicles

• Install barricades
• Hand/mechanical signals
• Stop logs
• Grade soil away from
excavation
• Fence or barricade trenches left
overnight
 Exposure to Falling Loads
• No employee shall be
permitted underneath
loads handled by lifting
or digging equipment.
Employees shall be
required to stand away
from any vehicle being
loaded or unloaded to
avoid being struck by
any spillage or falling
materials.
 Warning Systems for Mobile
Equipment
• When mobile equipment is
operated adjacent to an
excavation, or when such
equipment is required to
approach the edge of an
excavation, and the
operator does not have a
clear and direct view of the
edge of the excavation, a
warning system shall be
utilized such as barricades,
hand or mechanical signals,
or stop logs.
 Testing for hazardous
atmospheres
• Where atmospheric hazards
could exist in excavations deeper
than 4 feet, testing must be
conducted and employees
protected where necessary
• The following should always be
considered prior to employees
entering excavations
– Oxygen to determine not less
than 19.5%
– Carbon Monoxide
– Flammable gases
Emergency Rescue Equipment
• Emergency rescue equipment,
such as:
– breathing apparatus,
– a safety harness and line, or a
basket stretcher

…shall be readily available where

hazardous atmospheric conditions
exist
• Employees entering bell-bottom
pier holes, or other similar deep
and confined footing excavations,
shall wear a harness with a lifeline
securely attached to it.
Protection from Hazards Associated
with Water Accumulation

• Employees must be
protected from
hazards associated
with water
accumulation
 Stability of adjacent structures
• Where the stability of adjoining buildings, walls,
or other structures is endangered by excavation
operations, support systems such as:
– shoring,
– bracing, or
– underpinning

shall be provided to ensure the stability of such

structures for the protection of employees.
 Protection of employees from
loose rock
• Adequate protection shall
be provided to protect
employees from loose
rock or soil that could
pose a hazard by falling
or rolling from an
excavation face.

• Temporary spoil must be

placed no closer than 2 ft
from the surface edge of
the excavation,
measured from the
nearest base of the spoil
to the cut.
 Inspections
• Daily inspections of excavations, the
adjacent areas, and protective systems
shall be made by a competent person
for evidence of a situation that could
result in possible cave-ins, indications
of failure of protective systems,
hazardous atmospheres, or other
hazardous conditions.
• An inspection shall be conducted by the
competent person prior to the start of
work and as needed throughout the
shift.
• Inspections shall also be made after
every rainstorm or other hazard
increasing occurrence. These
inspections are only required when
employee exposure can be reasonably
anticipated. Competent Person
 Fall Protection
• Must use guardrails,
fences, controlled access
zones or barricades if
excavation is not readily
seen
• Protect excavations with
fence or fence panels and
signage when
unattended
 Documentation Summary
• Records required for the Project Safety File:
– Competent person qualifications
– Excavation permits
– Daily Competent Person inspections
– Daily worker briefing documentation
– Daily inspection records
Any issues?
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