OSHA, Excavation, 29, CFR Part 1926, Subpart P,

The requirement for excavation and trenching work practices that protect employee from hazards associated with excavation.

EXCAVATION
Any man made depression in earth’s surface by earth removal is excavation.

TRENCH
A narrow excavation which has greater depth than width and width is not greater than 4.6 meters

HAZARDS

below are main hazards,

• Cave-in hazard
• Falling equipment/ material
• Hazardous Gases
• Hazardous Chemicals
• Oxygen deficiency
• Electrocution
• Lighting deficiency
• Congested area

NOTE: 0.7 cubic meter of soil can weigh like a Car.

CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL

following are the classification,

STABLE ROCK

Natural solid matter that can excavate with vertical side and persist integral while exposed.

Type A

Clay, silty/sandy/loam clay
A Soil that has compressive strength of 1.5 tons per square foot

Type B

Angular gravel, crushed rock, silt, silt loam, sandy loam, silty clay loam and sandy clay loam
A Soil that has compressive strength of 0.5 tons per square foot and less than 1.5 tons per square foot

Type C

Gravel, sand, and loamy sand, submerged soil or soil, freely seeping water, submerged rock not stable, or material in a sloped
A Soil that has compressive strength of 0.5 tons per square foot or less.

SAFETY FACTORS

• Traffic
• Physical condition of nearby building/structure
• Classification of Soil
• Surface/ground water
• Water table
• Utilities
• Weather
• Fall protection
• Number of ladders
• Other equipment needs

PROTECTIVE SYSTEM

• Slope and bench
• Support the sides
• Place a shield

SLOPING
Not steeper than 1.5:1 (every foot of depth, must excavate trench back 1½ feet).

FURTHER PRECAUTIONS

• Underpinning
• Stable excavation
• Professional engineer certify the excavation

REQUIREMENT

• Securely connected to prevent sliding, dropping, kick outs or foreseeable failure.
• Do not overload support system
• Take additional precaution before temporary removing of support system
• Start dismantling from bottom
• Continue Backfilling along dismantling of support system

PROTECTIVE SYSTEM

• Free from damage or defects, firstly check
• Use according to manufacturer’s recommendations
• Examined by competent person

ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS

• Warning system
• Protective barricades
• Do not work on face of slope and bench
• Check for oxygen deficiency when 4 feet excavation
• Remove any contamination inside excavation
• Remove water accumulation inside excavation
• Provide ladder/safe access when 4 feet excavation

SAFETY PRECUATIONS

• Underground utilities map, to be check
• Keep spoils/material away, at least 2 feet
• Keep heavy equipment away from edges.
• Identify that could affect trench stability.
• Test for atmospheric hazards more than 4 feet deep.
• Inspection in each shift.
• Inspection for other interruption.
• Inspection for condition
• Do not work under loads/materials.
• High-visibility clothing

RIGHTS OF WORKERS: Excavation

• Safe Working conditions/procedures
• Safe workplace and equipment.
• Information and training
• Review records, maintain
• File a complaint
• Exercise rights, before 30 days.

TRAINING

• Provide training yearly
• Tool box talks

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

• Brochures
• Booklets
• Fact Sheets
• Guidance document
• Online Safety and Health Topic
• Posters
• Quick Cards

SAFETY CHECKS

Last of all,

• Excavation/ Civil work permit acquire?
• Over 4ft deep, gases monitoring carried out, before start?
• If excavation is over 5ft deep, shoring or benching, is made?
• Underground Cables, water lines and process lines identified, previously ?
• Authorized person has been assessed and determined safe to enter & work?
• support systems are intact and stable?
• A safe mean of egress provided ?
• Hard barricading around excavation?
• Nobody is allow inside when suspended load is handling?
• Inspection of Machinery and pasted tag, previously?
• Soil stockpiled is 2 feet away from the edge?
• There is no liquid inside on the ground?
• Trained Safety watch man available with emergency procedure?
• Sign displayed, firstly?