Benching means a method of protecting workers 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. Benching cannot be done in Type C soil
Other types of excavation protective systems include sloping, shoring, and shielding.
Source: OSHA Trenching and Excavation Safety Fact Sheet
Additional Resources
- OSHA 1926 Subpart P App B – Sloping and Benching
- Excavations: Hazard Recognition in Trenching and Shoring
- Sloping and Benching Systems
- What does Benched Excavation mean?
- Back To Basics: Sloping And Benching
At Ron Meyer & Associate Excavating, Inc, we’ve been providing underground and commercial construction to private and commercial businesses for 39 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!
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.