Excavation design for type B
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Published by SALUSWhile my knowledge base does not contain specific requirements for excavation design involving Type B soil, I can provide general safety guidance based on industry best practices and regulatory standards.
OSHA and other regulatory bodies require that all excavations 4 feet (1\.2 meters) or deeper be protected against cave-ins. For Type B soil, this typically involves sloping, shoring, or benching. The design of these protective systems must ensure worker safety and prevent collapses. [2]
Sloping involves cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation. For Type B soil, a common recommendation is a 1:1 slope (45 degrees), meaning for every foot of depth, the trench is cut back one foot horizontally. [1]
Shoring uses support systems to stabilize the trench walls. This can include:
- Timber shoring: Using wood panels and bracing to support the soil.
- Aluminum hydraulic shoring: Utilizing hydraulic cylinders and aluminum panels.
- Steel shoring: Employing steel plates and beams for heavy support. [1]
Benching involves creating a series of horizontal steps or levels in the trench wall. The vertical rise of each bench should not exceed 5 feet, and the step back should extend to the angle of repose. [7] [6]
Additional safety considerations include:
- Competent Person: A competent person must inspect the excavation daily for hazards.
- Underground Utilities: Locate and mark all underground utilities before digging.
- Spoil Piles: Keep spoil piles at least 2 feet away from the edge of the excavation.
- Access and Egress: Provide a safe means of entering and exiting the excavation, such as a ladder or ramp, every 25 feet.
- Water Removal: Remove any accumulated water to prevent instability. [5]
Sources used for this answer
[1] Construction Safety and Health Standards (MIOSHA)
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Open source documentSource excerpt
MIOSHA-STD-1306 (01/24) 18 Pages For further information Ph: [redacted phone] www.michigan.gov/mioshastandards # DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY # CONSTRUCTION STANDARD Filed with the Secretary of State on August 17, 1979 (as amended November 23, 1982) (as amended January 11, 1988) (as amended July 8, 1993) (as amended September 3, 1996) (as amended March 14, 2013) (as effective January 3, 2024) These rules take effect immediately upon filing with the secretary of state unless adopted under section 33, 44, or 45a(9) of the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.233, 24.244, or 24.245a. Rules adopted under these sections become effective 7 days after filing with the Secretary of State. (By authority conferred on the director of the Michigan department of labor and economic opportunity by sections 19 and 21 of the Michigan occupational safety and health act, 1974 PA 154, MCL 1019 and 408.1021, and Executive Reorganization Order Nos. 1996-2, 2003-1, 2008-4, 2011-4, and 2019-3, MCL 445.2001, 445.2011, 445.2025, 445.2030, and 125.1998) R 408.[redacted postal code], R 408.[redacted postal code], R 408.[redacted postal code], R 408.[redacted postal code], R 408.[redacted postal code], R 408.[redacted postal code], R 408.[redacted postal code], R 408.[redacted postal code], R 408.[redacted postal code], R 408.[redacted postal code], R 408.[redacted postal code], and R 408.[redacted postal code] of the Michigan Administrative Code are amended, as follows: PART ## 9, EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, AND SHORING Table of Contents: <table><tr><th colspan="3">Table of Contents:</th></tr><tr><td>R 408.[redacted postal code]. Scope and referenced standards 1</td><td>R 408.[redacted postal code]. Excavation; angle of repose.</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>R 408.[redacted postal code]. Definitions A to Q. 1</td><td>R 408.[redacted postal code]. Supporting systems; angle of repose;</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>R 408.[redacted postal code]. Definitions; …
[2] Trenching and Excavation
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Open source documentSource excerpt
# Trenching and Excavation (cont.) ## Temporary protective structure (cont.) - Trench Boxes are commonly used in open areas that are away from utilities, roadways, and foundations. Trench boxes can be used to protect workers in cases of cave-ins, but not to shore up or support trench walls. They can support trench walls if the space between the box and the trench wall is backfilled with soil and compacted properly. Otherwise, a cave-in or collapse may cause the trench box to tilt or turn over. Workers should not be present in the box when it has to be moved. - Other: In some cases, the trench or excavation walls are made of rock but are not entirely stable. Support the walls by using rock bolts, wire mesh, or a method that provides equivalent support. ## What should NOT be done during an excavation? - Do not enter an unprotected trench deeper than 1.2 metres (4 feet), or as specified in the legislation. - Do not start digging before locating and de-energizing the buried services. - Do not enter a trench before testing the air for hazardous gasses and vapours, or the lack of oxygen. - Do not place the sections of pipes, piles of spoil, unused tools, and timber, and other materials within 1 metre from the trench's edge. - Do not rely on natural freezing to act as a method of soil stabilization. - Do not work under suspended or raised loads and materials. - Do not stand behind a backing vehicle. ## What can be included in a trenching and excavation inspection checklist? The following are some points to consider. Each circumstance will be different, so be sure to adapt the questions to suit your situation. ## Underground or Utility Services - Know the contact numbers? - Located, identified and informed respective parties? - Grounded, isolated, de-energized, or protected from unplanned release? ## Housekeeping Trenching and Excavation CCOHS
[3] Trenching and Excavation
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Open source documentSource excerpt
# 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…
[4] Construction Safety and Health Standards (MIOSHA)
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Open source documentSource excerpt
# CONSTRUCTION STANDARD (cont.) ## R 408.[redacted postal code]. Benching and sloping. - Rule 944. (1) The angle of repose shall be flattened when an excavation has water conditions, silty materials, loose boulders, or areas where erosion, deep frost action, or slide planes appear. (2) When benching the side of an excavation, the vertical rise shall not be more than 5 feet and the step back shall extend at least to the angle of repose as required by table 1. (3) When benching a side of a trench, the height of the lower bench shall not be more than the lesser of 5 feet or width of the trench measured at the bottom. (4) An employee shall not be permitted to work on sloped or benched excavations at levels above another employee, except when an employee at the lower level is protected from the hazard of falling, rolling, or sliding material or equipment. ## R 408.[redacted postal code]. Trenching boxes and shields. - Rule 945. (1) Portable trench boxes or sliding trench shields may be used for theprotection of personnel in place of a shoring system or sloping. Where such trench boxes or shields are used, they shall be designed, constructed, and maintained in a manner that provides protection equal to or greater than the sheeting or shoring required for the trench. (2) The use of benching in conjunction with a portable trench box is permitted when the toe of the trench box is not more than 2 feet above the trench bottom, but only if the trench box is designed to resist the forces calculated for the full depth of the trench and if there are no indications, while the trench is open, of a possible cave-in below the bottom of the trench box. (3) An employee shall not be allowed in shields when shields are being installed, removed, or moved vertically. (4) Shield systems shall not be subjected to loads exceeding those which the system was designed to withstand. (5) Shields shall be installed in a manner to restrict lateral or other hazardous movement of the shield …
[5] Trenching and Excavation
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Open source documentSource excerpt
# Trenching and Excavation (cont.) ## Housekeeping (cont.) - Excavated material, pipes etc. are placed 1 metre away from the edge of the excavation or trench wall? - Are pumps available to remove water? - Is the base and foot of the ladder secure, and free of garbage or water? - Are materials placed on the site obstructing the worker's or vehicle's ability to move freely? - Are established traffic controls used, where required, including adequate signage, personnel, and lighting? - Has the excavation been marked to make the workers and others aware of the excavation (e.g., fence, flags, or other safeguards)? - Are sanitary facilities available at the site, as appropriate? ## General - Are proper barriers or guardrails in place to protect anyone or equipment falling into the excavation or trench? - Has the air in the excavation been tested for low oxygen, and hazardous gasses and vapours? - Is a safe means of entry and exit provided such as a sufficiently long and secured ladder placed at appropriate distances (within 25 feet of all workers)? - Are cracks visible in the ground around the trench or excavation that may indicate soil movement? - Are there any signs of water seeping into the trench or excavation? - Are workers wearing appropriate PPE (e.g., hard hats, respirators, , safety boots, hearing protection)? - Are high visibility vests or clothing provided and worn by all exposed to vehicular traffic? - Is first aid equipment available at the site? - Are operators qualified to operate the heavy machinery or equipment? - Does a competent person regularly inspect the excavation (at the start of each shift before work begins or after any event likely to have affected the strength or stability of the excavation)? - Is there a competent person stationed at the surface of the trench to warn workers in the trench of danger and to provide emergency help? - Is the trench a confined space, and are the requirements of the confined space program met?…
[6] Trenching and Excavation
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Open source documentSource excerpt
# Trenching and Excavation (cont.) ## What factors determine what is the appropriate protective system to use? (cont.) - Water content of soil - Changes due to weather or climate - Surcharge loads (e.g., spoil, other materials to be used in the trench) and - Other operations in the area Always check the legislative requirements in your jurisdiction related to the use of protective systems. ## What are the different types of protective systems used to protect against cave-ins? There are two basic methods of protecting workers against cave-ins: - Sloping - Temporary protective structures (e.g., shoring, trench boxes, pre-fabricated systems, hydraulic systems, engineering systems, etc.) ## Sloping Sloping involves cutting back the trench wall at an angle that is inclined away from the work area of the excavation. The angle of slope required depends on the soil conditions. Benching is a similar method to sloping. ## Temporary protective structure WorkSafe Saskatchewan defines a temporary protective structure as "a structure or device in an excavation, trench, tunnel or excavated shaft that is designed to provide protection from cave-ins, collapse, sliding or rolling materials, and includes shoring, trench boxes, trench shields and similar structures." Shoring is a system that supports the sides or walls. Shoring requires installing aluminum, steel, or wood panels that are supported by screws or hydraulic jacks. Some systems can be installed without the workers entering the trench. This option provides additional safety for those workers. Wherever possible, install the shoring equipment as the excavation proceeds. If there is any delay between digging and shoring, no one should enter the unprotected trench. Trenching and Excavation CCOHS
[7] Trenching and Excavation
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Open source documentSource excerpt
# 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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