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excavation depth

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Under Alberta OHS Part 32, excavation protection is triggered when a worker will work in an excavation more than 1\.5 m deep and closer to the wall or bank than the depth of the excavation. In that case, the employer must protect the worker from cave-ins or sliding/rolling material by cutting back the walls, installing temporary protective structures, or using a combination of both. A trench in solid rock throughout is exempt from those protection methods. There is no single universal "maximum allowable depth" stated for all excavations in the cited Alberta provisions; instead, allowable depth depends on the protective method used and whether engineering design is required. [7] [4] [4]

Key Alberta depth and protection requirements:

  • More than 1\.5 m deep: protection from cave-in/sliding hazards is required if the worker is close enough to the wall or bank to be exposed.
  • More than 1\.5 m deep trench: a safe entry/exit point must be within 8 m of the worker.
  • More than 1\.5 m deep trench: the trench must be supported or sloped so the worker can reach the safe point to enter and leave.
  • Temporary protective structures in excavations 3 m deep or less must be strong enough to prevent cave-in or wall movement.
  • Temporary protective structures in excavations more than 3 m deep must be designed, constructed and installed to a professional engineer's specifications.
  • For trenches from 1\.5 m to 6 m, shoring/stringers/bracing built to Schedule 9 or equivalent materials may be used as an alternative protective structure.
  • If the trench is less than 2\.4 m deep and the soil is hard and compact, stringers are not required.
  • Additional engineer-certified protection is required where traffic, machinery, heavy loads, or adjacent structures increase trench loading.

[4] [1] [1] [1] [1] [6] [6] For sloping/cutting back, Alberta requires the slope to match the soil classification. In hard and compact soil, walls may be sloped to within 1\.5 m of the bottom at not less than 30 degrees from the vertical. In likely-to-crack-or-crumble soil, walls must be sloped to within 1\.5 m of the bottom at not less than 45 degrees from the vertical. In soft, sandy or loose soil, the walls must be sloped from the bottom at not less than 45 degrees from the vertical. For hard and compact or likely-to-crack-or-crumble soil, cutting back may leave a remaining vertical wall only up to 1\.5 m high. [4] [4] [4]

Soil classification is fundamental because it determines the required slope and shoring approach. Alberta recognizes three soil classes: hard and compact, likely to crack or crumble, and soft, sandy or loose. If more than one soil type is present, the excavation must be treated as the least stable soil type. Indicators of hard and compact soil include very dense, dry soil with no seepage that is extremely difficult to excavate by hand. Likely-to-crack-or-crumble soil includes previously excavated soil or soil showing cracking or localized seepage. Soft, sandy or loose soil includes soil that is easy to excavate, unstable when disturbed, wet, granular below the water table, or subject to hydraulic pressure. [8] [8] [3] [3]

For shoring and shielding/protective structures, Alberta defines a temporary protective structure broadly to include shoring, bracing, piles, planking or cages. In trenches from 1\.5 m to 6 m, Schedule 9 gives minimum component dimensions and spacing by soil type and depth. As depth increases and soil stability decreases, required member sizes increase and spacing decreases. For example, in hard and compact soil at 1\.5 to 3\.0 m depth, uprights may be 38 x 235 mm at 1800 mm maximum spacing, while in likely-to-crack-or-crumble soil at the same depth the same uprights are limited to 1200 mm spacing. In soft, sandy or loose soil, Schedule 9 requires heavier and closer shoring members. [9] [1] [2] [2] [2]

Shoring installation and removal must be controlled to prevent collapse during the work. Workers installing shoring, stringers or bracing must use a ladder and work down from the top, installing each brace in descending order. Removal must be done using a ladder and working upward from the bottom, removing braces in ascending order. If ground conditions deteriorate so that normal removal is unsafe, the employer must ensure the system is removed by a method that does not require the worker to be in the trench. [6] [6] [6]

Cave-in prevention and safe excavation procedures should include the following:

  • Classify the soil before entry and reclassify whenever conditions change.
  • Use the least stable soil classification if layers differ.
  • Provide sloping, shoring, or another temporary protective structure before workers enter an exposed excavation over 1\.5 m deep.
  • Keep spoil piles at least 1 m back from the edge and no steeper than 45 degrees from the horizontal.
  • Scale and trim loose material from excavation sides and spoil piles.
  • Keep excavations free of hazardous water accumulation.
  • Mark or barricade excavations where workers or equipment could fall in.
  • Provide safe access/egress and keep access points within 8 m for trenches over 1\.5 m deep.
  • Use barriers or stop blocks where powered mobile equipment could enter the excavation.
  • Locate and expose buried utilities before mechanical excavation in the hand expose zone, and protect exposed facilities.

[3] [3] [4] [4] [3] [3] [3] [6] [10] [10] On competent person inspection, the cited Alberta excavation provisions provided here do not use the OSHA phrase "competent person" or specify an inspection frequency in the extracted sections. However, as a best-practice compliance approach, the employer should designate a trained, knowledgeable person to inspect the excavation before each shift, after rain, thaw, vibration, blasting, surcharge loading, water intrusion, or any condition change, and to stop work if signs of distress appear. Warning signs include tension cracks, sloughing, bulging, heaving at the base, seepage, displaced shoring, or movement of adjacent structures. Workers should never enter a trench showing active deterioration until protection is restored.

Regarding OSHA excavation standards, the principal U.S. federal rule is 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P (Excavations), which generally requires a competent person, daily inspections, utility locating, spoil setback, safe access in trenches 4 ft or deeper, and protective systems for most excavations 5 ft or deeper unless made entirely in stable rock. OSHA also recognizes sloping/benching, shoring, and shielding as protective systems. If your project is in Alberta, the controlling requirements are the Alberta OHS Code provisions cited above; if your project is in the U.S., you must comply with OSHA Subpart P and any stricter state-plan rules. For multinational or cross-border contractors, the safest compliance strategy is to apply the more stringent requirement where standards differ and document soil classification, protective-system selection, inspections, utility locates, and worker training.

For practical regulatory compliance, an excavation/trenching program should document: soil classification; depth and dimensions; selected protective system; engineer-stamped designs where required; utility locates and hand exposure; spoil pile control; water control; access/egress; mobile-equipment barriers; inspection records; and worker training. Under Alberta Part 32, employers must also ensure workers do not enter excavations that do not comply with the Code, and workers themselves must not enter non-compliant excavations. [3] [3] [5]

10 source record(s)

Sources used for this answer

[1] Occupational Health and Safety Code (Alberta Regulation 191/2021)

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# Part 32 Excavating and Tunnelling (cont.) ## Classification of soil type (cont.) Section 443 # OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Part 32 AR 191/2021 (b) it is easy to excavate with hand tools; (c) it is solid in appearance but flows or becomes unstable when disturbed; (d) it runs easily into a well-defined conical pile when dry; (e) it appears to be wet; (f) it is granular below the water table, unless water has been removed from it; (g) it exerts substantial hydraulic pressure when a support system is used. - 442(4) If an excavation contains soil of more than one soil type, for the purposes of this Part an employer must operate as if all of it is the soil type with the least stability. ## Soil stabilization - 443(1) Subject to subsection (2), an employer must stabilize the soil in (a) an excavation by shoring or cutting back, or (b) a tunnel, underground shaft or pit by shoring. - 443(2) An employer may stabilize the soil in an excavation, tunnel, underground shaft or pit using an artificial soil stabilization technique, including freezing soil by artificial means or grouting if the process used is (a) designed by a professional engineer to control soil conditions, and (b) performed in accordance with the professional engineer's specifications. - 443(3) A person must not use natural freezing of the soil as an alternative or partial alternative to a temporary protective structure, or to stabilize the soil in an excavation, tunnel or underground shaft. AR 191/2021 s443;242/2022 ## Marking an excavation 444 If there is a danger of a worker or equipment falling into an excavation, an employer must ensure that workers are made aware of the excavation through flagging, marking, safeguards or other appropriate and effective means. ## Water hazard 445 An employer must ensure that an excavation that a worker may be required or permitted to enter is kept free of an accumulation of water that may pose a hazard to the worker. ## Worker acc…

[2] Occupational Health and Safety Code (Alberta Regulation 191/2021)

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# OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE (cont.) ## Part 26 Ventilation Systems (cont.) OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE AR 191/2021 <table><tr><th>410</th><th>Exemption from disclosure</th></tr><tr><td>411</td><td>Duty to disclose information</td></tr><tr><td>412</td><td>Information - confidential</td></tr><tr><td>413</td><td>Information to medical professional</td></tr><tr><td>414</td><td>Limits on disclosure</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Requirements Applicable to Specific Industries and Activities</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Part 30</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Demolition</td></tr><tr><td>415</td><td>Worker in charge</td></tr><tr><td>416</td><td>Location of equipment</td></tr><tr><td>417</td><td>Hazardous substances</td></tr><tr><td>418</td><td>Use of explosives</td></tr><tr><td>419</td><td>Disconnecting services</td></tr><tr><td>420</td><td>Materials chute</td></tr><tr><td>421</td><td>Dismantling buildings</td></tr><tr><td>422</td><td>Building shaft demolitions</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Part 31</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Diving Operations</td></tr><tr><td>423</td><td>Application</td></tr><tr><td>424</td><td>Employer responsibilities</td></tr><tr><td>437</td><td>Intakes, pipes and tunnels</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Part 32</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Excavating and Tunnelling</td></tr><tr><td>441</td><td>Disturbing the ground</td></tr><tr><td>442</td><td>Classification of soil type</td></tr><tr><td>443</td><td>Soil stabilization</td></tr><tr><td>444</td><td>Marking an excavation</td></tr><tr><td>445</td><td>Water hazard</td></tr><tr><td>446</td><td>Worker access</td></tr><tr><td>447</td><td>Locating buried or concrete-embedded facilities</td></tr><tr><td>448</td><td>Exposing buried facilities</td></tr><tr><td>449</td><td>Exemption</td></tr><tr><td>450</td><td>Methods of protection</td></tr><tr><td>451</td><td>Cutting back walls</td></tr><tr><td>452</td><td>Loose materials</td></tr><tr><td>453</td><td>Spoil piles</td></tr><tr><td>454</td><td>Power pole support</td></tr><t…

[3] Occupational Health and Safety Code (Alberta Regulation 191/2021)

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# OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE (cont.) ## Alternatives to temporary protective structures (cont.) Section 458 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Part 32 AR 191/2021 - 457(4) Despite section 456, an employer may install additional protection certified by a professional engineer in trenches to compensate for passing vehicular traffic, working machinery or a heavy object placed within a distance equal to the depth of the trench, measured from the near edge of the bottom of the trench to the traffic, machinery or heavy object. - 457(5) Despite section 456, an employer may install additional protection certified by a professional engineer in a trench to compensate for the stress created because the trench is adjacent to or abuts a building or other structure. ## Installation of shoring, stringers or bracing - 458(1) An employer must ensure that a worker who installs shoring, stringers or bracing uses a ladder and works down from the top of the trench, installing each brace in descending order. - 458(2) An employer must ensure that a worker who removes shoring, stringers or bracing uses a ladder and works upward from the bottom of the trench, removing each brace in ascending order. - 458(3) A worker must install shoring, stringers or bracing in accordance with subsection (1) and remove them in accordance with subsection (2). - 458(4) Despite subsections (2) and (3), if the quality of the ground in which a trench has been dug has deteriorated during operations to the extent that it is unsafe to use the method of removal required by subsection (2), an employer must ensure that the shoring, stringers or bracing are removed using a method that does not require the worker to be in the trench. ## Access for powered mobile equipment 459 An employer must ensure that the open side of an excavation or a route used by powered mobile equipment to gain access to an excavation has a barrier high enough to stop the equipment from sliding or rolling into the excavat…

[4] Occupational Health and Safety Code (Alberta Regulation 191/2021)

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# OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE (cont.) Section 1 # OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Part 1 AR 191/2021 "shunt" means the act of connecting a piece of conductive material to the end of a leg wire of an electric detonator to prevent an unintended detonation; "significant threshold shift" means a change in hearing threshold relative to a reference audiometric test that indicates (a) an average shift of equal to or greater than 10 dB in either ear, or 30 dB or more in both ears combined, at 2000, 3000 and 4000 Hz, or (b) a shift of equal to or greater than 15 dB in either ear at 3000 or 4000 Hz; "silica" means crystalline silicon dioxide, including quartz and cristobalite; "small utility vehicle" in Part 18 means a small vehicle designated for off-road use, equipped with a bench type seat and a steering wheel and designed to transport more than one person; "snow vehicle" means a motor vehicle designated or intended to be driven exclusively or chiefly on snow or ice; "snubbing" means the act of moving drill pipes, drill collars, tubing, casing or rods into or out of a pressurized wellbore; "snubbing unit" means equipment used for snubbing; "specifications", other than manufacturer specifications, includes the written instructions, procedures, drawings or other documents of a professional engineer or other person designated in the regulations under the Act; "split" in Part 36 means a separate fresh air ventilation circuit in which the intake air comes directly from the main intake airway and the return air goes directly to the main return airway; "spoil pile" means waste material excavated from an excavation, tunnel or underground shaft; "stemming" means the act of placing a non-combustible material in the portion between the top of the explosive column and the collar of a blast hole; "stemming material" means non-combustible material used for stemming; "surface mine" means a mine worked by strip mining, pit mining or other surface method, inc…

[5] Occupational Health and Safety Code (Alberta Regulation 191/2021)

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# Schedule 8 Saw Blade Crack Limits (cont.) Schedule 9 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE S9-1 # Schedule 9 Shoring Component Dimensions [ See subsections 457(1), 457(2) ] Shoring components used in excavations, trenches, tunnels and underground shafts <table><tr><th></th><th></th><th colspan="2">Uprights</th><th colspan="2">Stringers</th><th colspan="4">Cross-braces</th></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">Soil type</td><td rowspan="3">Depth of excavation (metres)</td><td rowspan="3">Minimum dimensions (millimetres)</td><td rowspan="3">Maximum horizontal spacing (millimetres)</td><td rowspan="3">Minimum dimensions (millimetres)</td><td rowspan="3">Maximum vertical spacing (millimetres)</td><td colspan="2">Minimum dimensions (millimetres)</td><td colspan="2">Maximum spacing (millimetres)</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Width of trench</td><td rowspan="2">Vertical</td><td rowspan="2">Horizontal</td></tr><tr><td>Less than 1.8 metres</td><td>1.8 to 3.7 metres</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="6">Hard and compact Likely to crack or crumble</td><td>1.5 to 3.0</td><td>38 X 235</td><td>1800</td><td>89 X 140</td><td>1200</td><td>89 X 89</td><td>140 X 140</td><td>1200</td><td>1800</td></tr><tr><td>More than 3.0 to 4.5</td><td>38 X 235</td><td>1200</td><td>89 X 140</td><td>1200</td><td>89 X 140</td><td>140 X 140</td><td>1200</td><td>1800</td></tr><tr><td>More than 4.5 to 6.0</td><td>38 X 235</td><td>10</td><td>140 X 140</td><td>1200</td><td>140 X 184</td><td>140 X 184</td><td>1200</td><td>1800</td></tr><tr><td>1.5 to 3.0</td><td>38 X 235</td><td>1200</td><td>89 X 140</td><td>1200</td><td>89 X 140</td><td>140 X 140</td><td>1200</td><td>1800</td></tr><tr><td>More than 3.0 to 4.5</td><td>38 X 235</td><td>900</td><td>140 X 140</td><td>1200</td><td>140 X 140</td><td>140 X 184</td><td>1200</td><td>1800</td></tr><tr><td>More than 4.5 to 6.0</td><td>38 X 235</td><td>10</td><td>140 X 184</td><td>1200</td><td>140 X 184</td><td>140 X 184</td><td>1200</td><td>1800</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">Soft, san…

[6] Occupational Health and Safety Code (Alberta Regulation 191/2021)

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# OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE (cont.) ## Safe entry and exit (cont.) Section 456 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Part 32 AR 191/2021 455(2) An employer must ensure that if a worker is in a trench that is more than 1.5 metres deep, the trench is supported or sloped so that the worker can reach the safe point in order to enter and leave. ## Temporary protective structures - 456(1) An employer must ensure that temporary protective structures in an excavation (a) 3 metres deep or less are of sufficient strength to prevent the walls of the excavation from caving in or otherwise moving into the excavation, and (b) more than 3 metres deep are designed, constructed and installed in accordance with the specifications of a professional engineer. - 456(2) The specifications of a professional engineer for subsection (1)(b) must include (a) the size and specifications of the structure, including the type and grade of materials used in its construction, and (b) the loads for which the structure is designed. - 456(3) An employer must ensure that, before beginning an excavation, a foundation that may be affected by the excavation is supported by a temporary protective structure designed, constructed and installed in accordance with the specifications of a professional engineer. ## Alternatives to temporary protective structures 457(1) Despite section 456, an employer may install the following as temporary protective structures in trenches: (a) if the trenches vary in depth from 1.5 metres to 6 metres, shoring, stringers and bracing constructed of lumber that complies with Schedule 9, or a material that has equal or greater properties to those of the lumber; (b) exterior grade plywood as a substitute for 38 millimetre shoring elements if (i) the plywood meets the requirements of CSA Standard O121-08, Douglas Fir Plywood or CSA Standard O151-04, Canadian Softwood Plywood, (ii) the plywood is at least 19 millimetres thick, (iii) the trench …

[7] Occupational Health and Safety Code (Alberta Regulation 191/2021)

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# OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE (cont.) ## Methods of protection (cont.) Section 451 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Part 32 AR 191/2021 (a) cutting back the walls of the excavation to reduce the height of the remaining vertical walls, if any, to no more than 1.5 metres for "hard and compact soil" and "likely to crack or crumble soil", (b) installing temporary protective structures, or (c) using a combination of the methods in clauses (a) and (b). - 450(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if a trench is constructed in solid rock throughout the entire trench. ## Cutting back walls - 451 If the walls of an excavation are cut back, an employer must ensure that (a) if the soil is classified as "hard and compact soil", the walls are sloped to within 1.5 metres of the bottom of the excavation at an angle of not less than 30 degrees measured from the vertical, (b) if the soil is classified as "likely to crack or crumble soil", the walls are sloped to within 1.5 metres of the bottom of the excavation at an angle of not less than 45 degrees measured from the vertical, and (c) if the soil is classified as "soft, sandy or loose soil", the walls are sloped from the bottom of the excavation at an angle of not less than 45 degrees measured from the vertical. ## Loose materials 452 An employer must ensure that loose materials are scaled and trimmed from the sides of an excavation if workers may be on or near the sides. ## Spoil piles - 453 An employer must ensure that a spoil pile is piled so that (a) the leading edge of the pile is at least 1 metre away from the edge of the excavation, (b) the slope of a spoil pile adjacent to the excavation is at an angle of not more than 45 degrees from the horizontal, and (c) loose materials are scaled and trimmed from the spoil pile. ## Power pole support 454 An employer must ensure that work that disturbs the ground in the vicinity of an overhead power line is performed in a manner that does not reduce …

[8] Occupational Health and Safety Code (Alberta Regulation 191/2021)

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# OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE (cont.) ## Worker access (cont.) Section 447 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Part 32 AR 191/2021 ## Locating buried or concrete-embedded facilities - 447(1) For the purposes of subsection (1.1) and section 448, an owner means an owner or the owner's designate of a pipeline that is within 30 metres of the work site or any other buried or concrete-embedded facility that may be affected by the ground disturbance or removal of existing concrete. - 447(1.1) Before the ground is disturbed or existing concrete is removed at a work site, an employer must (a) contact the owner, (b) advise the owner of the proposed activities, (c) ask the owner to identify and mark the location of the buried or concrete-embedded facility, and (d) not begin disturbing the ground or removing the existing concrete until buried or concrete- embedded facilities have been identified and their locations marked. - 447(2) An employer must ensure that workers are aware of locate marks for buried or concrete-embedded facilities. - 447(3) An employer must ensure that steps are taken to re-establish the locate marks for buried or concrete-embedded facilities if activities at the work site move or destroy the locate marks. - 447(4) Despite subsection (1.1), an employer may use as built record drawings of the buried or concrete-embedded facilities for locating the buried or concrete-embedded facilities if (a) the work does not require excavation or removal of the soil, ground or existing concrete, and (b) the ground is penetrated to a depth of 1 metre or less or the existing concrete is penetrated to depth of 150 millimetres or less. (5) The as-built record drawings referred to in subsection (4) must be certified by the owner of the buried or concrete-embedded facility as the most current drawings of record that indicate the constructed location of the buried or concrete-embedded facility. a ## Exposing buried facilities - 448(1) An employ…

[9] Occupational Health and Safety Code (Alberta Regulation 191/2021)

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# Part 31 Diving Operations (cont.) ## Intakes, pipes and tunnels (cont.) Section 441 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Part 32 AR 191/2021 # Part 32 Excavating and Tunnelling ## Disturbing the ground - 441 For the purpose of this Part, ground is disturbed if a work operation or activity on or under the existing surface results in a disturbance or displacement of the soil, but not if the disturbance or displacement is a result only of (a) routine, minor road maintenance, (b) agricultural cultivation to a depth of less than 450 millimetres below the ground surface over a pipeline, or (c) hand-digging to a depth of no more than 300 millimetres below the ground surface, SO long as it does not permanently remove cover over a buried facility. ## Classification of soil type 442(1) For the purpose of this Part, soil is classified as "hard and compact" if it closely exhibits most of the following characteristics: (a) it is hard in consistency and can be penetrated only with difficulty by a small, sharp object; (b) it is very dense; (c) it appears to be dry; (d) it has no signs of water seepage; (e) it is extremely difficult to excavate with hand tools; (f) if has not been excavated before. - 442(2) For the purpose of this Part, soil is classified as "likely to crack or crumble" if (a) it has been excavated before but does not exhibit any of the characteristics of "soft, sandy or loose" soil, or (b) it closely exhibits most of the following characteristics: (i) it is stiff in consistency and compacted; (ii) it can be penetrated with moderate difficulty with a small, sharp object; (iii) it is moderately difficult to excavate with hand tools; (iv) it has a low to medium natural moisture content and a damp appearance after it is excavated; (v) it exhibits signs of surface cracking; (vi) it exhibits signs of localized water seepage. - 442(3) For the purposes of this Part, soil is classified as "soft, sandy or loose" if it close…

[10] Occupational Health and Safety Code (Alberta Regulation 191/2021)

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# OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE (cont.) ## Exposing buried facilities (cont.) Section 449 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Part 32 AR 191/2021 (b) if the buried facility is not an electrical cable or conduit, the employer ensures that (i) it is no longer in use, and (ii) the owner of the buried facility gives the employer written consent to excavate or remove the facility. (c) - (e) Repealed. - 448(3) An employer may reduce the width of a hand expose zone for a high pressure pipeline to within 1 metre on each side of the pipeline locate marks if (a) the high pressure pipeline is not governed by the Pipeline Act, and (b) the employer obtains written approval from the owner of the high pressure pipeline. - 448(4) If the ground that will be disturbed lies within a pipeline right of way, an employer must (a) contact the operator or licensee of the pipeline, and (b) get their consent to disturb the ground. - 448(5) An employer must not allow the use of mechanical excavation equipment within 600 millimetres of a buried pipeline unless the use of the equipment is under the direct supervision of a representative of the owner of the buried pipeline. - 448(5.1) If an employer, on behalf of an electric utility, undertakes emergency work that (a) involves ground disturbance to a depth of no more than 500 millimetres below the ground surface, (b) is on the horizontal alignment or right of way of an electric utility structure, and (c) is determined by the employer to be in a location where no buried facilities are present in the area affected by the work, - the employer is exempt from the requirements of subsections (1) to (5). - 448(6) An employer must ensure that any exposed buried facilities are protected and supported SO that workers are not injured. - 448(7) If a pipeline is exposed during a work operation, an employer must notify the pipeline operator or licensee before backfilling the excavation. ## Exemption 4…

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