What are the hazards?
All excavations are hazardous because soil can be unstable. If workers are not using protective systems or equipment while working in trenches or excavations that are five feet or greater in depth, they are in danger of being crushed by a cave-in.
To manage the hazards:
Pre-job planning is vital to incident-free excavation work; safety cannot be compromised as work progresses. The following concerns must be addressed by a competent person:
- Evaluate soil conditions and select appropriate protective systems. [29 CFR 1926 Subpart P Appendix A and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P Appendix F].
- Construct protective systems in accordance with the standard requirements. [29 CFR 1926.652]
- Plan ahead; contact utilities (gas, electric, water and sewage) to locate underground lines, plan for traffic control if necessary, be prepared to support utilities (pipes/ducts) passing through excavations when necessary, and determine proximity to structures that could affect choice of protective system.
- Test for hazardous atmospheres such as low oxygen, hazardous fumes, and toxic gases, especially when gasoline engine-driven equipment is running, or when the soil has been contaminated by leaking lines or storage tanks. When necessary, ensure that there is adequate ventilation or respiratory protection.
- Provide appropriate protections if water accumulation is a problem (i.e., remove water, divert water flow).
- Maintain safe access into and out of the excavation.
- Inspect the excavation, adjacent areas, and protective systems daily at the start of the shift, after a rainstorm or after any other hazard increasing event. The inspection shall be conducted by a competent person, who looks for evidence of a situation that could result in a possible cave-in, indication of failure of the protective system, hazardous atmospheres or other hazardous conditions.
- Keep excavations open only for the minimum amount of time needed to complete operations.
More Information:
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P, Excavations. OSHA Standard.
- 1926.652, Requirements for protective systems
For additional information, see eTool Construction » Trenching and Excavation.
At Ron Meyer & Associates Excavating, we’ve been providing underground and commercial construction to private and commercial businesses for 40+ years. As the general contractor or subcontractor, our experienced foremen, equipment operators, pipe layers, truck drivers and well-maintained equipment fleet make us an undeniable choice for your excavating services. Let’s talk about your project!
Sources:
As 45 years of experience as an underground/site contactor and a third generation contractor, Ron takes time to go through each individual project with the supervisor and is responsible for all scheduling and equipment logistics. He’s also involved in all troubleshooting for projects.