safety practices for excavating near gas lines

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# Exposure To Vehicular Traffic [29 CFR 1926.651(d)] (cont.) ## Emergency Rescue Equipment (cont.) This material is for training use only # Hazardous Atmospheres [29 CFR 1926.651(g)] ## Trenches are confined spaces! Check for: ✓ Oxygen deficiency, ↓ Explosives/Flammables, - Toxins; and to ensure acceptable atmospheric conditions through: - Atmospheric testing, - Removal of the substance, ↓ Proper ventilation, ✓ Respiratory protection, - etc. BW GASALERTMAX LOW ALARM 000 000 CO pp 196 000 02 % 'D 1 CAL MAX TWA Lab Safety Supply ## Testing and Controls Atmospheric testing is required where oxygen deficiency (less than 19.5 percent oxygen), or a hazardous atmosphere (flammable and/or toxic) exists or could reasonably be expected to exist. The competent person must be able to recognize where these conditions are expected. Some gases are heavier than air and can accumulate at the bottom of the trench. For example, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and vapors from fuels are heavier than air. Other gases, like methane and carbon monoxide, are lighter than air and this is important to know when sampling. There may also be oxygen deficient situations where purging with an inert gas had occurred (e.g. decommissioned gas lines). Remember sources may come from outside the trench and "creep”in or come from - inside the trench (i.e. gas lines, contaminated soil, gas-powered tools/equipment, etc.). OR-OSHA 302 Excavation Safety 12

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## ASK THE CREW THESE QUESTIONS: (cont.) 2. What do the different colors of USA markings mean? • White-excavation border • Blue water lines • Orange-communication lines • Purple-reclaimed water lines • Red-electric lines • Yellow-natural gas/liquid petroleum lines • Green sewer lines 3. How far outside the white border lines can we dig? • You can't dig outside the excavation border. You don't know what utility lines are down there. The area could be unsafe. USA must mark the new area. 4. At what depths are different utilities found? • There's no general rule. It's unpredictable. Utilities are not usually placed at specific depths. • Digging near a utility line presents a great danger of electric shock, pipe rupture, or explosion. You may find that a particular utility line is six feet deep at one location on a site, but only one foot deep just 100 yards away. So digging must always proceed very carefully. 5. At what point do we stop mechanical excavation and begin to excavate by hand? • Stop mechanical excavation when you get too close to a known underground line. - On this site, we stop - feet away. ## CAL/OSHA REGULATIONS Explain: Most of the safety measures we've talked about are required by Cal/OSHA. We have to take these precautions—it's the law. I have a Checklist of the Cal/OSHA regulations on underground utilities. If you'd like to know more, see me after the meeting. ## COMPANY RULES (Only if applicable.) Besides the Cal/OSHA regulations, we have some additional company rules about underground utilities. Discuss company rules: California Tailgate Training Underground Service Alert-Page 2

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# Module 7: Electrical Hazards (cont.) ## What If Contact Happens? (cont.) Instruction Zone Roadway Safety - Electrical Hazards A Road Construction Industry Consortium Awareness Program 28 NOTES: ## Can We Be Safe Around Buried Utilities? Contact with buried utilities can cause explosion, fire, and electrocution. Digging equipment used to open trenches and excavations can contact live buried utilities such as electrical, gas, and communication lines. This can result in explosions, fires, electrocutions and loss of essential services — and puts both the worker and the public in danger. Before digging: • Call electrical, gas, and commu- nications utilities. • Review marked out areas. Marked out areas may not be exact. Dig by hand within 3 feet of mark-out. Be careful. Sometimes the utility can be wrong. When digging, look for signs of utilities: - foreign debris in excavation, • changes in soil types, . asphalt patches or depressions indicating previous digging, and • concrete, plastic or gravel. DANGER UNDERGROUND LINES CALL BEFORE DIGGING --- Fig. EH-4. Contact with buried utilities is just as hazardous as contact with overhead lines. It can cause explosion, fire, electrocution. If a line is hit, you must report it to the utility company - even if you only dented or bent it. Even a small bend or dent in a utility line can lead to serious hazards later. Often there is one number to call about below ground utilities (for example, Miss Utilities). Color code painted on surface: YELLOW Gas Line RED Electrical BLUE Water ORANGE Telecommunications GREEN Sewer Some utility companies use ribbons as identifiers. If you hit a gas line, evacuate the area, secure the area, and call the fire department. Ask trainees: What do you do if you hit a gas line?

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SAMPLE-Excavation Checklist # EXCAVATION CHECKLIST (To be completed by a Competent Person) SITE LOCATION: <empty> DATE: <empty> TIME: <empty> COMPETENT PERSON: <empty> SOIL TYPE (See attached form): <empty> SOIL CLASSIFICATION: <empty> EXCAVATION DEPTH: <empty> EXCAVATION WIDTH: <empty> TYPE OF PROTECTIVE SYSTEM USED: <empty> ## Indicate for each item: YES - NO - or N/A for not applicable <table><tr><th>1. General Inspection of Jobsite:</th><th></th></tr><tr><td>A. Excavations, adjacent areas, and protective systems inspected by a competent person daily before the start of work.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>B. Competent person has the authority to remove employees from the excavation immediately.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>C. Surface encumbrances removed or supported.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>D. Employees protected from loose rock or soil that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling into the excavation.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>E. Hard hats worn by all employees.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>F. Spoils, materials, and equipment set back at least two feet from the edge of the excavation.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>G. Barriers provided at all remotely located excavations, wells, pits, shafts, etc.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>H. Walkways and bridges over excavations four feet or more in depth are equipped with standard guardrails and toeboards.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>I. Warning vests or other highly visible clothing provided and worn by all employees exposed to public vehicular traffic.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>J. Employees required to stand away from vehicles being loaded or unloaded.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>K. Warning system established and utilized when mobile equipment is operating near the edge of the excavation.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>L. Employees prohibited from going under suspended loads.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>M. Employees prohibited from working on the faces of slopes or benched excavations above other employees.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2. Uti…

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143 Application of Part 17‑2 This Part applies to excavations, trenches, tunnels and excavated shafts other than excavations, trenches, tunnels and excavated shafts that are governed by The Mines Regulations. 31 Dec 2020 c S-15.1 Reg 10 s17-2. Locating underground pipelines, etc. 17‑3(1) An employer or contractor shall accurately establish the location of all underground pipelines, cables and conduits in an area where work is to be done and shall ensure that those locations are conspicuously marked: (a) before commencing work using power tools or powered mobile equipment on an excavation, trench, tunnel, excavated shaft or borehole; or (b) before breaking ground surface with any equipment to a depth that may contact underground utilities. (2) If an operation is to be undertaken involving the disturbance of soil within 600 millimetres of an existing pipeline, cable or conduit, an employer or contractor shall ensure that the pipeline, cable or conduit is exposed by hand digging or other approved method before mechanical excavating is allowed to begin within that area. (3) If an operation mentioned in subsection (2) exposes a pipeline, cable or conduit, an employer or contractor shall ensure that the pipeline, cable or conduit is supported to prevent any damage during backfilling and any subsequent settlement of the ground. (4) If there is contact with or damage to an underground pipeline, cable or conduit, an employer or contractor shall immediately: (a) notify the owner of the pipeline, cable or conduit that contact or damage has occurred; and (b) take steps to protect the health and safety of any worker who may be at risk until any unsafe condition resulting from the contact or damage is repaired or corrected. 31 Dec 2020 c S-15.1 Reg 10 s17-3. Excavating and trenching 17‑4(1) An employer or contractor shall ensure that: (a) before excavating or trenching begins, if the stability of a structure may…

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# yellow background. 1635(c)(4) (cont.) ## Ergonomics in Construction (cont.) C. Some ways to eliminate or reduce RMIS: 1. Proper lifting and material handling 2. Use of equipment to reduce load and strain 3. Employee rotation for repetitive tasks 4. Use of ergonomically designed tools 5. Use of personal protective equipment 6. Appropriately timed rest periods D. Employer should regularly scrutinize the 300 Log to see whether multiple cases of RMI's are being reported. If an employer fails to monitor for such patterns of illness, as reported on the Log, the employer might fail to identify that two or more RMI cases have occurred in the past year, and therefore fail to meet the triggered requirement for more careful assessment of ergonomic risks. ## Excavation, Trenches, and Earthwork Hazards associated with excavation are cave-ins; the striking of underground utilities; falling tools, materials, and equipment; and hazardous air contaminants or oxygen-deficient environments. A. The minimum safety requirements are as follows: 1. Before opening an excavation, these actions must be taken: 1541 a. Must identify subsurface installations prior to opening an excavation and ensure they are marked. b. Two working days before starting the work, notify all regional notification centers and all subsurface installation owners who are not members of the notification centers. - Exception: Emergency repair work to subsurface facilities done in response to an emergency, as defined in Government Code section 4216(d). c. Must receive a positive response from all known owners/operators of subsurface installations. d. Must meet with owners/operators of high priority (such as high-pressure pipelines, natural gas/petroleum pipelines, electrical lines greater than 60,000 volts, etc.) and subsurface installations that are located within 10 ft. of the proposed excavation. e. Only qualified persons (persons that meet training and competency requirements)…

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# Trenching and Excavation (cont.) ## What should occur before beginning an excavation? (cont.) - Check areas near the site for potential hazards and sources that can impact the stability of the soil. Be aware that nearby vehicles and equipment can cause the soil to vibrate and then collapse. - Determine if nearby buildings or structures and their foundations may put pressure on the soil and affect the walls of the trench. - Test for hazardous gas, vapours, and dust before entering. Test for oxygen levels in the space before entering, and during the work as required. - Plan appropriate organization of the work site, and good housekeeping practices including moving debris and excavated soil far enough away from the excavation site. - Remove water from the excavation. - Protect workers from falling into the excavation. - Identify appropriate personal protective equipment including high visibility apparel for vehicular traffic and make sure every worker wears them as required. - Have a worker above ground when a worker is working in the trench to warn those in the trench of danger and to provide emergency help. - Determine if the trench is considered a confined space If so, do not allow workers to enter the trench until the requirements of the organization's confined space program are met, including entry permits and training. - Prepare work permits for work in confined spaces, as appropriate. - Have a means of exit provided from the inside of the trench, usually no more than 8m (25 ft) away from any worker in the trench. - Plan for adverse weather conditions (e.g. hot or cold environments, storms, etc.). - Prepare an emergency plan and rescue procedures. - Keep first aid equipment at the site. - Educate and train workers about all existing and potential hazards and risks and appropriate safety measures. ## What factors determine what is the appropriate protective system to use? In general, trenches that are 1.2 metres (4 feet) deep or great…

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# OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Index bootleg defined, 1 drilling operations, 486 See also explosives boots See footwear bore hole defined, 1 connecting downlines to trunklines, 497 detonating cords, 517.7 ignition precautions, 497.1 quantity of explosives, 477, 488.1 secondary blasting, 517.2 size of bore hole, 487 underground mines day boxes, 517.96 detonating in the same round, 517.993-517.994 explosive atmospheres, 517.99 secondary blasting, 517.9991 See also explosives bottles and boxes See containers bracing, 457-458 alternatives to temporary protective structures, 457 installation and removal, 458 lumber and plywood standards, Schedule 9 shoring component dimensions, Schedule 9 See also temporary protective structures; temporary supporting structures bracket scaffolds design and specifications, 332 See also scaffolds and temporary work platforms Braking Performance - Rubber-Tired, Self-Propelled Underground Mining Machines (CSA), 574 brand name in definition of product identifier, 394.1 See also Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) breathing apparatus, self-contained See self- contained breathing apparatus breathing equipment See respiratory protective equipment bridges for crossing conveyor belts, 373(1)-(2) for logging industry vehicles, 525 overhead cranes, standards, 93-94 standards overhead cranes, 93-94 British Columbia Cave Rescue Companion Rescue Workshop, 841(c)(ii) broadcasting in definition of electromagnetic radiation, 1 See also radiofrequency transmitters brush cutting See tree care operations bucking and felling See forestry buffing disc See grinders buildings See asbestos; demolition building shaft hoists See tower and building shaft hoists building shafts defined, 1 demolitions, 422 safeguards under construction, warning signs, 313(3) main and secondary work platforms, 313(1) no platform at doorway, safety structures, 313(2) safeguards on cage of shaft hoists, 318(7)-(8) bulk fuel storage See fuel storage bulk shi…

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# Trenching and Excavation (cont.) ## What are the hazards associated with trenching and excavation? (cont.) - Contact with buried service lines such as electrical, natural gas, water, sewage, telecommunications, etc. - Contact with overhead electrical lines. - Slips, trips and falls as workers climb on and off equipment, or from inappropriate access and egress methods. - Being struck by moving machinery, or by falling or flying objects. - Hazards related to materials handling (e.g., lifting, struck by, crushed between, etc.). ## What is meant by soil types? Definitions of soil types vary by jurisdiction in Canada. In addition, some jurisdictions have not defined soil types, but do require preventative measures when an excavation reaches a certain depth or proportion. When a soil type is defined, the purpose is to try to identify or predict the potential for the soil to move and cause a collapse while the work is being done. Soil types typically use a scale of 1 to 4 where 1 is hard and dense to 4 which is loose, soft, wet or muddy soil, or a scale of A to C where A is hard and solid, and C is soft, sandy, filled or loose. The soil type is determined by the characteristics of the soil's consistency, ease of removal, appearance, ability to excavate with hand tools vs. machine, water seepage, whether the soil has been excavated before, etc. ## What should occur before beginning an excavation? The employer or supervisor is responsible for the work, and must take the necessary steps to identify all the hazards and risks before beginning any work. These steps include to: - Identify the soil type(s) related to the excavation or trench you are going to dig. Soil properties often vary widely within a single trench (e.g., the soil type changes from top to bottom and along the length of a trench). - Look for the legislative requirements that apply in your jurisdiction and the type of protective measures to be taken. - Locate all buried services. Contact t…