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give me a trenching safety plan

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A trenching safety plan should include several key elements to protect workers from cave-ins and other hazards. Here's a breakdown of essential components:

  1. Pre-Excavation Planning: Before starting any excavation work, it's crucial to identify and mark the estimated locations of underground utility installations such as sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, and water lines [1]. Contact utility companies or owners to establish the exact location of these installations [1]. If they cannot respond within 24 hours, proceed with caution using detection equipment or other acceptable means to locate the utilities [1]. Also, assess the stability of adjacent structures and provide support systems like shoring, bracing, or underpinning if their stability is endangered by the excavation 4, 19.
  1. Protective Systems: Implement adequate protective systems to prevent cave-ins. This can include sloping or benching the sides of the excavation, using support systems such as shoring, or installing shield systems like trench boxes [2]. Excavations in stable rock or those less than 5 feet (1.52m) deep may not require a protective system if a competent person determines there is no potential for a cave-in 7, 10.
  1. Competent Person Inspections: A competent person must conduct daily inspections of excavations, adjacent areas, and protective systems for any evidence of potential cave-ins, failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions 7, 16. Inspections should occur before the start of work and as needed throughout the shift, especially after rainstorms or other hazard-increasing events 7, 16. If any hazardous conditions are found, employees must be removed from the area until the necessary precautions are taken 7, 16.
  1. Atmospheric Hazards: Test the atmosphere in excavations, especially those in landfill areas or near hazardous substance storage, before employees enter, particularly if the excavation is deeper than 4 feet (1.22 m) [3]. Ensure adequate precautions are in place to prevent exposure to hazardous atmospheres, including providing proper respiratory protection or ventilation 4, 18. Emergency rescue equipment, such as breathing apparatus, safety harnesses, and lifelines, should be readily available where hazardous atmospheric conditions exist or are likely to develop 4, 18.
  1. Water Accumulation: Prevent employees from working in excavations with accumulated water unless adequate precautions have been taken 4, 18. These precautions may include special support or shield systems, water removal, or the use of safety harnesses and lifelines 4, 18. If water removal equipment is used, it should be monitored by a competent person to ensure proper operation 4, 18.
  1. Access and Egress: Provide a stairway, ladder, ramp, or other safe means of egress in trench excavations that are 4 feet (1.22 m) or more in depth, ensuring no more than 25 feet (7.62 m) of lateral travel is required [3]. Walkways with guardrails should be provided where employees or equipment are required to cross over excavations, especially if the walkway is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels 7, 16.
  1. Protection from Falling Loads and Equipment: Ensure that employees are not permitted underneath loads handled by lifting or digging equipment [3]. When mobile equipment is operated near an excavation edge, use warning systems such as barricades, hand or mechanical signals, or stop logs [3]. Keep excavated materials and equipment at least 2 feet (.61 m) from the edge of excavations or use retaining devices to prevent them from falling into the excavation 7, 19.
  1. Sloping and Benching: If using sloping or benching systems, ensure that the slopes and configurations are selected and constructed in accordance with regulatory requirements 2, 10. Employees should not work on the faces of sloped or benched excavations above other employees unless those at lower levels are adequately protected from falling materials or equipment 2, 17.
  1. Shield Systems: Ensure shield systems are not subjected to loads exceeding their design capacity and are installed to restrict lateral movement 2, 17. Protect employees from cave-in hazards when entering or exiting areas protected by shields, and do not allow employees in shields during installation, removal, or vertical movement 2, 17.
  1. Shoring Systems: Coordinate the installation of support systems closely with the excavation of trenches 2, 17. Ensure shoring is installed and removed in a manner that protects workers from cave-ins and structural collapses, and that shoring components are securely connected to prevent failure [4].
  1. Emergency Procedures: Develop and communicate emergency procedures, including readily available emergency rescue equipment and trained personnel 4, 18. Ensure that a competent worker is stationed on the surface to alert workers in the trench of any potentially unsafe conditions and to provide assistance in an emergency [4].

By incorporating these elements into your trenching safety plan, you can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and ensure a safer working environment.

4 source record(s)

Sources used for this answer

[1] Safety and Health Regulations for Construction (OSHA)

Page 92

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## 29 CFR 1926 (OSHA) Failure means the breakage, displacement, or permanent deformation of a structural member or connection so as to reduce its structural integrity and its supportive capabilities. Hazardous atmosphere means an atmosphere which by reason of being explosive, flammable, poisonous, corrosive, oxidizing, irritating, oxygen deficient, toxic, or otherwise harmful, may cause death, illness, or injury. Kickout means the accidental release or failure of a cross brace. Protective system means a method of protecting employees from cave-ins, from material that could fall or roll from an excavation face or into an 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. Ramp means an inclined walking or working surface that is used to gain access to one point from another, and is constructed from earth or from structural materials such as steel or wood. Registered Professional Engineer means a person who is registered as a professional engineer in the state where the work is to be performed. However, a professional engineer, registered in any state is deemed to be a 'registered professional engineer' within the meaning of this standard when approving designs for 'manufactured protective systems' or 'tabulated data' to be used in interstate commerce. Sheeting means the members of a shoring system that retain the earth in position and in turn are supported by other members of the shoring system. Shield (Shield system) means a structure that is able to withstand the forces imposed on it by a cavein and thereby protect employees within the structure. Shields can be permanent structures or can be designed to be portable and moved along as work progresses. Additionally, shields can be either premanufactured or job-built in accordance with §1926.652 (c)(3) or (c)(4). Shields used in trenches are usually referred to…

[2] Rules for the Administration of the Oregon Safe Employment Act (Construction, Division 3, OSHA Oregon)

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<!-- image --> ## SPECIFIC EXCAVATION REQUIREMENTS Oregon Administrative Rules Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division - (ii) Ramps and runways constructed of two or more structural members shall have the structural members connected together to prevent displacement. - (iii) Structural members used for ramps and runways shall be of uniform thickness. - (iv) Cleats or other appropriate means used to connect runway structural members shall be attached to the bottom of the runway or shall be attached in a manner to prevent tripping. - (v) Structural ramps used in lieu of steps shall be provided with cleats or other surface treatments on the top surface to prevent slipping. - (2) Means of egress from trench excavations. 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. - (d) 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. - (e) 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. Operators may remain in the cabs of vehicles being loaded or unloaded when the vehicles are equipped, in accordance with §1926.601(b)(6), to provide adequate protection for the operator during loading and unloading operations. - (f) Warning system 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, han…

[3] Safety and Health Regulations for Construction (OSHA)

Page 93

Open source document

Source excerpt

## 29 CFR 1926 (OSHA) Support system means a structure such as underpinning, bracing, or shoring, which provides support to an adjacent structure, underground installation, or the sides of an excavation. Tabulated data means tables and charts approved by a registered professional engineer and used to design and construct a protective system. Trench (Trench excavation) means a narrow excavation (in relation to its length) made below the surface of the ground. In general, the depth is greater than the width, but the width of a trench (measured at the bottom) is not greater than 15 feet (4.6 m). If forms or other structures are installed or constructed in an excavation so as to reduce the dimension measured from the forms or structure to the side of the excavation to 15 feet (4.6 m) or less (measured at the bottom of the excavation), the excavation is also considered to be a trench. Trench box. See 'Shield.' ## Trench shield. See 'Shield.' Uprights means the vertical members of a trench shoring system placed in contact with the earth and usually positioned so that individual members do not contact each other. Uprights placed so that individual members are closely spaced, in contact with or interconnected to each other, are often called 'sheeting.' Wales means horizontal members of a shoring system placed parallel to the excavation face whose sides bear against the vertical members of the shoring system or earth. ## §1926.651 Specific excavation requirements. - (a) Surface encumbrances. All surface encumbrances that are located so as to create a hazard to employees shall be removed or supported, as necessary, to safeguard employees. - (b) Underground installations. (1) The estimated location of utility installations, such as sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water lines, or any other underground installations that reasonably may be expected to be encountered during excavation work, shall be determined prior to opening an excavation. - (2) Utility companies or…

[4] Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 (Sask. Reg. 10/2020)

Page 146

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Source excerpt

## OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, 2020 - (3) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a temporary protective structure in an excavation more than 3 metres deep is designed and certified as safe by a professional engineer and installed, used, maintained and dismantled in accordance with that design. 31 Dec 2020 c S-15.1 Reg 10 s17-6. ## Protection against cave-in of trenches - 17-7 (1) If a worker is present in a trench that is more than 1.2 metres deep, an employer or contractor shall ensure that the worker is protected from cave-ins or sliding material by: - (a) cutting back the upper portion of the walls of the trench in accordance with subsection 17-4(2); - (b) installing a temporary protective structure; or - (c) a combination of cutting back the walls to the slope specified in subsection 17-4(2) and installing a temporary protective structure that extends at least 300 millimetres above the base of the cut-back. - (2) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a temporary protective structure required by clause (1) (b) or (c) is: - (a) designed and installed using shoring made of number 1 structural grade spruce lumber having the dimensions set out in Table 14 of the Appendix for the type of soil and the depth of the trench or made of material of equivalent or greater strength; or - (b) designed by a professional engineer and constructed, installed, used, maintained and dismantled in accordance with that design. - (3) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a temporary protective structure in a trench more than 6 metres deep in type 1, type 2 or type 3 soil or in a trench more than 4 metres deep in type 4 soil is designed and certified as safe by a professional engineer and installed, used, maintained and dismantled in accordance with that design. - (4) An employer or contractor shall ensure that: - (a) shoring is installed and removed in a manner that protects workers from cave-ins and structural collapses and from being struck …

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