OSHA regulations for digging in washington state
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Published by SALUSOSHA has specific regulations for excavation work to protect employees from cave-ins and other hazards [1]. These regulations apply to all open excavations in the earth's surface, including trenches [2].
Key requirements include:
- Protective Systems: Employees in excavations must be protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system, unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock or is less than 5 feet deep and a competent person has examined the ground and found no indication of a potential cave-in 3, 20.
- Sloping and Benching: If sloping or benching systems are used, their design must adhere to specific requirements, such as appropriate angles for different soil types 11, 20. For example, excavations in Type C soil must have a maximum allowable slope of 1 1/2 horizontal to 1 vertical (34 degrees) 11, 19, 20.
- Support Systems: When the stability of adjacent structures is endangered by excavation operations, support systems like shoring, bracing, or underpinning must be provided 1, 18.
- Underground Installations: Before opening an excavation, the estimated location of utility installations (sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water lines, etc.) must be determined [3]. Utility companies should be contacted to establish the exact location of these installations [3].
- Hazardous Atmospheres: Excavations greater than 4 feet in depth must be tested for oxygen deficiency or hazardous atmospheres before employees enter 6, 15. Precautions must be taken to prevent employee exposure to hazardous atmospheres, including providing proper respiratory protection or ventilation 6, 16.
- Water Accumulation: Employees should not work in excavations with accumulated water unless adequate precautions have been taken, such as special support or shield systems, water removal, or safety harnesses and lifelines 1, 16.
- Inspections: Daily inspections of excavations, adjacent areas, and protective systems must be conducted by a competent person for any evidence of potential cave-ins, failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions 3, 14. Inspections are also required after every rainstorm or hazard-increasing occurrence 3, 14.
- Access and Egress: A safe means of egress, such as a stairway, ladder, or ramp, must be located in trench excavations that are 4 feet or more in depth, requiring no more than 25 feet of lateral travel for employees 6, 15.
- Protection from Falling Loads and Equipment: Employees should not be permitted underneath loads handled by lifting or digging equipment and must stand away from vehicles being loaded or unloaded 6, 15.
It's important to consult the full OSHA regulations and any applicable state or local requirements for detailed guidance.
Sources used for this answer
[1] Rules for the Administration of the Oregon Safe Employment Act (Construction, Division 3, OSHA Oregon)
Page 697
Open source documentSource excerpt
Oregon Administrative Rules Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division ## SCOPE, APPLICATION, & DEFINITIONS APPLICABLE TO THIS SUBDIVISION ## SUBDIVISION P ## EXCAVATIONS Authority: Sec. 107, Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (Construction Safety Act) (40 U.S.C. 333); Sections 4, 6, 8, Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657); Secretary of Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754), 8-76 (41 FR [redacted postal code]), or 9-83 (48 FR [redacted postal code]), as applicable; and 29 CFR part 1911. ## §1926.650 Scope, Application, and Definitions Applicable to this Subdivision. - (a) Scope and application. This subpart applies to all open excavations made in the earth's surface. Excavations are defined to include trenches. ## (b) Definitions applicable to this subdivision. Accepted engineering practices means those requirements which are compatible with standards of practice required by a registered professional engineer. Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring means a pre-engineered shoring system comprised of aluminum hydraulic cylinders (crossbraces) used in conjunction with vertical rails (uprights) or horizontal rails (walers). Such system is designed, specifically to support the sidewalls of an excavation and prevent cave-ins. Bell-bottom pier hole means a type of shaft or footing excavation, the bottom of which is made larger than the cross section above to form a belled shape. Benching (Benching system) means a method of protecting employees from cave-ins by excavating the sides of an excavation to form one or a series of horizontal levels or steps, usually with vertical or near-vertical surfaces between levels. Cave-in means the separation of a mass of soil or rock material from the side of an excavation, or the loss of soil from under a trench shield or support system, and its sudden movement into the excavation, either by falling or sliding, in sufficient quantity so that it could entrap, bury, or otherwise injure …
[2] Rules for the Administration of the Oregon Safe Employment Act (Construction, Division 3, OSHA Oregon)
Page 707
Open source documentSource excerpt
Oregon Administrative Rules Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division ## REQUIREMENTS FOR PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS ## §1926.652 Requirements for Protective Systems. ## (a) Protection of employees in excavations. - (1) Each employee in an excavation shall be protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed in accordance with paragraph (b) or (c) of this section except when: - (i) Excavations are made entirely in stable rock; or - (ii) Excavations are less than 5 feet (1.52 m) in depth and examination of the ground by a competent person provides no indication of a potential cave-in. - (2) Protective systems shall have the capacity to resist without failure all loads that are intended or could reasonably be expected to be applied or transmitted to the system. - NOTE: The tables contained in Appendices A, B, C, D, E, and F do not contain sloping or shoring information for excavations over 20 feet deep. The protective systems for excavations over 20 feet in depth must be designed by a registered professional engineer in accordance with 1926.652(b) and (c). - (b) Design of sloping and benching systems. The slopes and configurations of sloping and benching systems shall be selected and constructed by the employer or his designee and shall be in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (b)(1); or, in the alternative, paragraph (b)(2); or, in the alternative, paragraph (b)(3), or, in the alternative, paragraph (b)(4), as follows: - (1) Option (1) - Allowable configurations and slopes. - (i) Excavations shall be sloped at an angle not steeper than one and one-half horizontal to one vertical (34 degrees measured from the horizontal), unless the employer uses one of the other options listed below. - (ii) Slopes specified in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, shall be excavated to form configurations that are in accordance with the slopes shown for Type C soil in Appendix B to this subpart. - (2) Option (2) - Determination of slopes and configurati…
[3] Safety and Health Regulations for Construction (OSHA)
Page 93
Open source documentSource 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…
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