Write a risk assessment for make a risk assessment for deep excavation

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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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# EXCAVATION CHECKLIST (To be completed by a Competent Person) (cont.) ## Indicate for each item: YES - NO - or N/A for not applicable (cont.) <table><tr><th>D. Structural ramps used for equipment designed by a registered professional engineer (RPE).</th><th></th></tr><tr><td>E. Ramps constructed of materials of uniform thickness, cleated together on the bottom, equipped with no-slip surface.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>F. Employees protected from cave-ins when entering or exiting the excavation.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>4. Wet Conditions:</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>A. Precautions take to protect employees from the accumulation of water.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>B. Water removal equipment monitored by a competent person.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>C. Surface water or runoff diverted or controlled to prevent accumulation in the excavation.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>D. Inspections made after every rainstorm or other hazard-increasing occurrence.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5. Hazardous Atmosphere:</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>A. Atmosphere within the excavation tested where there is a reasonable possibility of an oxygen deficiency, combustible or other harmful contaminant exposing employees to a hazard. B. Adequate precautions taken to protect employees from exposure to an atmosphere containing less than 19.5% oxygen and/or to other hazardous atmospheres.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>C. Ventilation provided to prevent employee exposure to an atmosphere containing flammable gas in excess of 10% of the lower explosive limit of the gas.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>D. Testing conducted often to ensure that the atmosphere remains safe. E. Emergency equipment, such as breathing apparatus, safety harness and lifeline, and/or basket stretcher readily available where hazardous atmospheres could or do exist.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>F. Employees trained to use personal protective and other rescue equipment.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>G. Safety harness and lifeline used and individually a…

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# Trench Safety: Protecting Lives Below Ground "renches, vital for construction and Trenches, vital for constructioquickly become death traps if safety measures are ignored. Trench collapses, falling objects, and hazardous atmospheres pose grave risks. Hence, ensuring trench safety is paramount. Precautions like shoring, sloping, and trench boxes are essential to prevent cave-ins. Adequate training and supervision are vital to equipping workers with knowledge to identify hazards and respond swiftly. Regular inspections, especially after rainfall, can detect unstable conditions. Protective measures such as barricades, helmets, and harnesses further reduce risks. By prioritizing trench safety, lives are safeguarded, accidents are minimized, and productivity flourishes. Remember, when it comes to trenches, safety must always be at the forefront. ## Site Assessment Questions from OSHA's Technical Manual: During first and subsequent visits to a construction or facility maintenance location, the site's safety officer or other competent person may find the following questions useful. Is the cut, cavity, or depression a trench or an excavation? - Is the cut, cavity, or depression more than 4 ft (1.2 m) in depth? - Is there water in the cut, cavity, or depression? - Are there adequate means of access and egress? - Are there any surface encumbrances? - Is there exposure to vehicular traffic? - Are adjacent structures stabilized? - Does the mobile equipment have a warning system? Is a competent person in charge of the operation? Is equipment operating in or around the cut, cavity, or depression? Are procedures required to monitor, test, and control hazardous atmospheres? Does a competent person determine soil type? Was a soil testing device used to determine soil type? Is the soil placed 2 ft (0.6 m) or more from the edge of the cut, cavity, or depression? Is the depth 20 ft (6.1 m) or more for the cut, cavity, or depression? Has a registered professional eng…

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OSHA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY # Fact sheet # Trenching and excavation safety From 2014 through 2019, four Minnesota workers died in a trench, excavation or ground collapse. Cave-ins pose the greatest risk and are much more likely than other excavation-related accidents to result in worker fatalities. Minnesota law requires employers to provide a workplace free of recognized hazards that may cause serious injury or death. This includes the trenching and excavation requirements of 29 CFR 1926.651 and 1926.652. An excavation is any man-made cut, cavity, trench or depression in an earth surface, formed by earth removal. A trench - or a trench excavation - is 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. ## Dangers of trenching and excavation In addition to cave-ins, other potential hazards include falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres and incidents involving mobile equipment. Two cubic yards of soil can weigh about 6,000 pounds or as much as a small car. An unprotected trench is an early grave. Do not enter an unprotected trench. ## Trench safety measures Trenches five feet deep or greater require a protective system unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock. If the trench is fewer than five feet deep, a competent person may determine a protective system is not required. Trenches 20 feet deep or greater require that the protective system be designed by a registered professional engineer or be based on tabulated data prepared and/or approved by a registered professional engineer in accordance with 1926.652(b) and (c). ## Competent person OSHA standards require employers ensure trenches - before worker entry - are inspected by a competent person daily and as conditions change, to ensure elimination of excavation hazards. A competent person is an individual: who is capab…

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# Tennessee OSHA's Special Emphasis Program on Trenching & Excavation Because trenching and excavation collapse is deadly and often involves multiple victims, Tennessee OSHA has established a special emphasis program to focus attention and resources on these hazards. It is impossible to predict when an excavation or trench will collapse. The sudden collapse of the walls makes escape almost impossible. The only way to prevent collapse is to slope or shore the walls or install a trench shield and follow the TOSHA trenching and excavation standards contained in 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P. Under this special emphasis program, all TOSHA compliance and consultative services personnel will be on the lookout for trenching or excavation work sites. Personal observation, reports of imminent danger, fatality/catastrophe reports, safety and health agency referrals, employee complaints, and media reports are also used to locate trenching and excavation work. Each occurrence is handled with an appropriate intervention by TOSHA. ## Hazards on the Excavation Site Excavation workers are exposed to many hazards, but the chief hazard is cave-in. TOSHA requires that all employees exposed to potential cave-ins be protected by sloping or benching the sides of the excavation, shoring the sides of the excavation, or placing a shield between the sides and the work area. In addition to cave-in hazards, workers must also be protected from adjacent utility lines, exposure to vehicular traffic, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, and fall hazards. Utility lines such as gas, electrical, sewer, and water must be located and supported prior to placing employees in an excavation. Employees working in, or near, roadways must wear high visibility vests. Workers are not to work beneath suspended loads, and walkways crossing excavations must be equipped with guardrails. Precautions, including atmospheric testing and emergency rescue procedures and equipment, must be taken when workers enter excavat…

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# EXCAVATIONS AND TRENCHES WAC [redacted identifier] defines an excavation as "Any person-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth's surface, formed by earth removal." A trench is "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. 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." One cubic yard of soil can weigh up to 3000 pounds - approximately the weight of a small car. The fatality rate for excavation work is 112% higher than the rate for general construction, according to data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The agency lists "employee injury from collapse" as the primary hazard of excavation work and includes "no protective system" among the leading causes of worker injuries. ## EXCAVATION AND TRENCHING HAZARDS Trenching and excavation work presents serious hazards to all workers involved. Cave-ins pose the most significant risk and are more likely than other excavation- related incidents to result in worker fatalities. One cubic yard of soil can weigh as much as a car. • Collapse of soils and materials (cave-in) due to lack of, inadequate, or weak protective systems • The striking or damaging of underground utility services • Persons falling into excavations due to a lack of barriers or inadequate fencing • Asphyxiation from toxic gases which have collected in the excavation/trench • Spoil (soil from excavation/trench) or materials/equipment being placed too close to the sides of the excavation/trench, which then become overloaded and collapse • Failure to check and maintain shoring, particularly after incle…

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Trench Safety Working in an unprotected trench is dangerous - Protect workers from cave-ins when trenches are at least 5' deep and from shallower trenches where a cave-in hazard exists. - o Do this by supporting the walls with shoring, shielding workers with trench boxes, or sloping the walls back wide enough, per the OSHA Excavation Standard. - o Protect employees from water accumulation by pumping out ground or utility water. - Provide ladders to workers when working in trenches of at least 4'. Call Dig Safe at 1-(888) 344-7233 to identify underground utilities. Ensure that workers wear high-visibility clothing when working around vehicle traffic. - Use Part 6 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices to determine appropriate work zone signage and traffic channeling devices. • Spoils must be placed 2 feet from the trench edge. • Do not allow employees to work under suspended or raised loads or materials. A competent person must inspect each trench worksite, including the soil protective system, before the start of work, and again if there is a hazard-increasing change in conditions, like a rainstorm. ## Resources from the Department of Labor Standards Download a copy of our Trench Template Program and Inspection Worksheet at mass.gov/doc/trench-template-program-and-worksheet ## For more information, visit mass.gov/dls MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF MASSsafety Works! LABOR STANDARDS Workplace Safety is No Accident 3-20-24

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# Trenching and excavation safety (cont.) ## General trenching and excavation rules (cont.) • Test for atmospheric hazards, such as low oxygen, hazardous fumes and toxic gases when greater than four feet deep. • Inspect trenches at the start of each shift and following a rainstorm or other water intrusion. • Do not work underneath suspended or raised loads and materials. • Inspect trenches after any occurrence that could have changed conditions in the trench. • Ensure personnel wear high-visibility or other suitable clothing when exposed to vehicular traffic or mobile earth-moving equipment. ## Protective systems There are different types of protective systems – sloping, shoring and shielding. <table><tr><th>Type of protective system</th><th></th><th>Illustration of system</th></tr><tr><td>Sloping involves cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation.</td><td>20 MAX</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Shoring requires installing aluminum hydraulic or other types of supports to prevent soil movement and cave-ins.</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Shielding protects workers by using trench boxes or other types of supports to prevent soil cave-ins. Designing a protective system can be complex because many factors must be considered: soil classification; depth of cut; water content of soil; changes caused by weather or climate; surcharge loads (spoil, other materials to be used in the trench); and other operations in the vicinity.</td><td></td><td></td></tr></table> ## More information To learn more about excavation safety, view the standards at osha.gov. Revised March 2025

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# EXCAVATIONS: HAZARD RECOGNITION IN TRENCHING AND SHORING (cont.) ## II. Definitions (cont.) Ingress and Egress mean "entry" and "exit," respectively. In trenching and excavation operations, they refer to the provision of safe means for employees to enter or exit an excavation or trench. Protective System refers to a method of protecting employees from cave-ins, from material that could fall or roll from an excavation face or into an excavation, and 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. Registered Professional Engineer is a person who is registered as a professional engineer in the state where the work is to be performed. However, a professional engineer who is registered in any state is deemed to be a "registered professional engineer" within the meaning of Subpart P when approving designs for "manufactured protective systems" or "tabulated data" to be used in interstate commerce. Support System refers to structures such as underpinning, bracing, and shoring that provide support to an adjacent structure or underground installation or to the sides of an excavation or trench. Subsurface Encumbrances include underground utilities, foundations, streams, water tables, transformer vaults, and geological anomalies. Surcharge means an excessive vertical load or weight caused by spoil, overburden, vehicles, equipment, or activities that may affect trench stability. Tabulated Data are tables and charts approved by a registered professional engineer and used to design and construct a protective system. Underground Installations include, but are not limited to, utilities (sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water, and other product lines), tunnels, shafts, vaults, foundations, and other underground fixtures or equipment that may be encountered during excavation or trenching work. Unconfined Compressive Strength is the l…

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FACE INJURY NARRATIVE Washington Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation Pipe Layer Severely Injured in Trench Collapse Industry: Water and Sewer Line Construction Task: Measuring trench depth Occupation: Pipelayer Type of Incident: Trench collapse In September 2014, a 29-year-old pipelayer suffered multiple serious injuries when the wall of the trench he was working in collapsed. He had worked for the employer, a small underground utility construction contractor, for approximately one- and-a-half years. On the day of the incident, the company was laying drainage pipe on a downhill gradient. The task had been started the previous day. The excavator operator, who was also one of the company's owners, would lower a section of pipe into the trench and the pipelayer would attach it to the previous section. He would also measure the depth and grade of each section of pipe by aligning a measuring stick with the beam of a laser level situated above the trench. Because of the required slope, the trench depth increased with each section. At the time of the incident, the crew had completed laying approximately 200 feet of pipe, and the trench depth was over 6 feet. Both a trench box and a manhole box were available on site, Incident Date: September 9, 2014 Release Date: September 17, 2015 SHARP Report No.: 71-140-2015 Location where worker was pinned against wall Collapsed trench wall Photo of incident scene showing the collapsed trench wall and the position of the injured worker. but no shielding or shoring was being used in the trench, and the walls were not sloped. The pipelayer had just entered the trench to take a grade measurement when the west wall collapsed, pinning him to the opposite wall. The owner heard a scream, and saw him buried to his waist in dirt and rock. The owner and other employees were able to dig the worker free before first responders arrived. The force of the cave-in fractured both of his hip sockets, pelvis, and two ribs. He was finally rele…

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# 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?…

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# 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

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# Trench and Excavation Safety Trench collapses, or cave-ins, are the leading hazard in excavation work. Safe trenching helps prevent falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, and incidents involving mobile equipment. ## Trench Safety Measures Trenches 5 feet or deeper require a protective system unless dug in stable rock. For trenches less than 5 feet, a competent person must decide if protection is needed. Trenches 20 feet or deeper must have a protective system designed or approved by a registered professional engineer, as required by OSHA 1926.652(b) and (c). ## Competent Person Before workers enter a trench, a competent person must inspect it daily and after any condition changes to ensure safety. This person is trained to identify hazards, determine soil types, select protective systems, and has the authority to correct issues immediately. ## Access and Egress • Keep heavy equipment and spoils at least 2 feet from trench edges - Locate underground utilities before digging • Test for atmospheric hazards in trenches over 4 feet deep • Inspect trenches daily, at the start of each shift, after storms, and after conditions change • Never work under suspended loads - Wear high visibility clothing when near traffic # Protective Systems • Benching: a method of protecting workers from cave-ins by cutting the sides of an excavation into horizontal steps. Benching is not allowed in Type C soil. • Sloping: involves cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from excavation. • Shoring: requires installing aluminum hydraulic or other types of supports to prevent soil movement and cave-ins. • Shielding: protects workers by using trench boxes or supports to prevent cave-ins. Designing these systems can be complex, as factors like soil type, trench depth, moisture, weather, nearby loads, and site activity must all be considered. OSHA standards require that employers provide workplaces free of recognized hazards. The employer must compl…

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Case 394. 47-year-old Hispanic male pipe layer died in a trench wall collapse. A 47-year-old Hispanic male pipe layer died in a trench wall collapse. The construction site had a high water table. The incident location was part of a 175-foot long trench, part of which had been filled in. The 25-foot long trench in the incident area was approximately 7-feet wide at its top, 6½-feet deep and 4-feet wide at its base. An 18-inch bench was cut on the north and south sides of the trench approximately 18 inches below the top of the trench (approximately 5-feet up from the base of the trench). The trench had a 1 ½-foot seam of wet sand at its base, and then 5 feet of wet clay. A sand/clay ramp located on the east side of the trench provided access. The excavator operator noticed moisture in the trench and asked the decedent if he would like to utilize the trench box which was located on the site; the decedent declined. The decedent and his coworker were preparing to install drain tile pipe when the competent person who had just arrived at the excavation after performing other site work, noticed the impending wall collapse. He yelled to the two workers to get out of the trench. Both ran toward the ramp. One worker was able to exit safely. The decedent was struck by the falling earth. The falling clay forced a shovel to strike his right side, pinning him against the opposite side of the excavation and burying him to his waist. His coworkers entered the trench and manually dug him out. They carried him out of the trench and called for emergency response. Emergency responders transported him to a local hospital where he was declared dead in the emergency room. MIOSHA Construction Safety and Health Division issued the following Serious citations to the employer at the conclusion of its investigation. ## SERIOUS: EXCAVATING, TRENCHING AND SHORING, CS PART 9. - RULE 408.[redacted postal code](4): - An ongoing inspection of an excavation or trench shall be made by a qualified…

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# Table of Contents (cont.) Only CSHOS who are trained in evaluating, controlling, and documenting trench and excavation hazards may conduct these inspections. The training must address UOSH's trenching and excavation inspection protocols and procedures, evidence gathering techniques, interviewing questions, and soil evaluation techniques. Training can be achieved through in-person courses, online courses, webinars, and/or on-the-job training. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Training Institute (OTI) currently incorporates trenching and excavation inspection techniques the following courses: in 1. # 2000 Construction Standards. 2. #3010 Excavation, Trenching and Soil Mechanics. 3. #0134 Documenting Trenching Inspections Webinar. B. Safety. - CSHO safety is paramount while conducting excavation inspections. CSHOs shall avoid exposure to hazards they are likely to encounter while performing such inspections. CSHOs shall adhere to the following: 1. UOSH FOM, May, 2020. 2. Utilize the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and other equipment outlined in paragraph C of this section. 3. Never enter a trench, regardless of depth. 4. Never approach an excavation without inspecting for tension cracks, fissures, undermined areas, and any other circumstances that could lead to a potential collapse or cave-in, such as a spoil pile next to the edge of an excavation. When possible, inspect from multiple angles prior to approaching an excavation. 5. Avoid all struck-by and caught-in between hazards due to equipment operation near the excavation. C. Equipment. - When conducting excavation inspections, the CSHO shall use the following equipment as needed: 1. Safety and PPE. a. High-visibility vest. b. Head protection. c. Safety-toe footwear. d. Eye protection. e. Hearing Protection. The CSHO shall have ready access to hearing protection. The CSHO shall evaluate noise levels and wear adequate hea…

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WASHINGTON State FACE Program Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation # CONSTRUCTION FATALITY NARRATIVE FACE INCIDENT FACTS ## Contractor and Laborer Buried in Trench Collapse REPORT #: 71-240-2023 ## SUMMARY A 66-year-old contractor and a 32-year-old laborer died when the trench they were working in collapsed, burying them. The contractor and three employees had been working at a residence for a week to replace a sewer line. The contractor was the competent person on the site. To replace the sewer line they used an excavator to dig a trench that was 26-feet long and 24-feet deep. It was 24-feet wide at the top and 8-feet wide at the bottom. The sides of the trench were steep and nearly vertical. They dug the trench in unstable Type C soil and did not use protective systems such as shoring, shields, trench boxes or sloping and benching of the sides. The day before the incident, the trench collapsed after a rainstorm. REPORT DATE: May 29, 2023 INCIDENT DATE: July 4, 2022 WORKERS: 66 and 32 years old ## INDUSTRY: New Single-Family Housing Construction ## OCCUPATIONS: Contractor and laborer This narrative was developed to alert employers and workers of a tragic incident and is based on preliminary data ONLY and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident or the cause of the injury. Developed by WA State Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (WA FACE) Program and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), WA State Dept. of Labor & Industries. The WA FACE Program is supported in part by a grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH grant# 5U600H008487). For more information visit www.lni.wa.gov/safety-health/safety-research/ongoing-projects/work-related-fatalities-face. SCENE: Residence ## EVENT TYPE: Following the incident, investigators found: Trench collapse • Trench protection (shoring, shielding, benching, and sloping) was not used. • There was some shoring equi…

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# SAMPLE - Daily Trenching Log # DAILY TRENCHING LOG DATE: <empty> SIGNATURE: <empty> WEATHER: <empty> PROJECT: <empty> Was One Call System contacted: Yes [ ] No [ ] Protective system: Trench shield (box) [ ] Wood shoring [ ] Sloping [ ] Other [ ] Purpose of trenching: Drainage [ ] Water [ ] Sewer [ ] Gas [ ] Other [ ] Were visual soil tests made: Yes [ ] No [ ] If yes, what type?: <empty> Were manual soil tests made: Yes [ ] No [ ] If yes, what type?: <empty> Type of soil: Stable Rock [ ] Type A [ ] Type B [ ] Type C [ ] Surface encumbrances: Yes [ ] No [ ] If yes, what type?: <empty> Water conditions: Wet [ ] Dry [ ] Submerged [ ] Hazardous atmosphere exists: Yes [ ] No [ ] (If yes, follow confined space entry procedures policy; complete Confined Space Entry Permit; monitor for toxic gas(es)) Is trenching or excavation exposed to public vehicular traffic (exhaust emission): Yes [ ] No [ ] (If yes, refer to confined space entry procedures; complete Confined Space Entry Permit; monitor for toxic gas(es)) Measurements of trench: Depth: <empty> Length: <empty> Width: <empty> Is ladder within 25 feet of all workers: Yes [ ] No [ ] Is excavated material stored two feet or more from edge of excavation: Yes [ ] No [ ] Are employees exposed to public vehicular traffic: Yes [ ] No [ ] (If yes, warning vests required) Are other utilities protected: Yes [ ] No [ ] (Water, sewer, gas or other structures) Are sewer or natural gas lines exposed: Yes [ ] No [ ] (If yes, refer to confined space entry procedures policy; complete Confined Space Entry Permit; monitor for toxic gas(es)) Periodic inspection: Yes [ ] No [ ] Did employees receive training in excavating: Yes [ ] No [ ]

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TENSIN MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR STANDARDS # Trench Hazard Alert MASSsafety Works! Workplace Safety is No Accident Every year, workers are killed or seriously injured conducting work in trenches, including utility repair, utility inspections, and construction. Trenches are recognized by OSHA as one of the most hazardous construction work conditions, with a fatality rate more than double that for construction work overall. ## Requirements for Trench Work • Protect workers from soil cave-ins in all trenches 5' or deeper, and in shallower trenches where a cave-in hazard exists. Do this by supporting the walls with shoring, shielding workers with trench boxes, or sloping the walls back wide enough, in accordance with the OSHA Excavation Standard. • Provide ladders to workers in trenches 4' or deeper. • Underground utilities must be identified and supported. Call Dig Safe at 1-(888) 344-7233. • Ensure that workers wear high visibility clothing when exposed to vehicle traffic, and use appropriate work zone signage and traffic channeling set-ups. . Spoils must be kept back a minimum of 2' from the trench edge. Keep equipment and heavy material as far back from the trench edge as possible. • Stabilize undermined adjacent structures. • Protect employees from water accumulation by pumping out ground or utility water, and preventing drainage or other water from entering the trench. • Do not allow employees to work under suspended or raised loads or materials. • Conduct pre-job planning and inspections of trench worksites. A competent person must inspect each trench worksite, including the soil protective system, prior to the start of work, and again if there is a hazard-increasing change in conditions such as a rainstorm. Unsafe trenches are dangerous! Trenches more than 20 feet in depth must be designed by a registered professional engineer. ## Workers in trenches face other significant hazards in addition to cave-in of the soil walls, including: . …

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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…