Sample Written Program

for
Excavation Safety
provided as a public service by
OSHCON
Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program
Publication No. HS!"!#$%"!&
'evised %(!!(!
1926, Subpart P
Excavation Safety Program
The following excavation safety program is provie only as a guie to assist employers
an employees in complying with the re!uirements of "S#$%s Excavation Stanar, 29
&'( 1926, Subpart P, as well as to provie other helpful information) *t is not intene to
supersee the re!uirements of the stanar) $n employer shoul review the stanar for
particular re!uirements which are applicable to their iniviual situation an ma+e
a,ustments to this program that are specific to their company) $n employer will nee to
a information relevant to their particular facility in orer to evelop an effective,
comprehensive program)
2
)*!+, Subpart P
-able of Contents
Excavation Safety Program
*) "b,ective
**) $ssignment of (esponsibility
$) Employer
-) Program .anager
&) Employees
***) Training
$) Training Scheule
-) Training &omponents
&) Training an /uties of Program .anager
*0) Excavation (e!uirements
$) 1tilities an Pre23or+ Site *nspection
-) Surface Encumbrances
&) 1nergroun *nstallations
/) Protection of the Public
E) Protection of Employees
') Exposure to 0ehicular Traffic
4) Exposure to 'alling 5oas
#) 3arning System for .obile E!uipment
*) #a6arous $tmospheres
7) Personal Protective E!uipment
8) 3al+ways an 4uarrails
5) Protection from 3ater $ccumulation #a6ars
.) Stability of $,acent Structures
9) Protection from 'alling "b,ects an 5oose (oc+s or Soil
") *nspection by Program .anager
0) Protective System (e!uirements
$) Protection of Employees
-) /esign of Sloping an -enching Systems
&) /esign of Support, Shiel, an "ther Protective Systems
/) .aterials an E!uipment
E) *nstallation an (emoval of Supports
') Sloping an -enching Systems
4) Shiel Systems
0*) $ccient *nvestigations
0**) &hanges to Program
0***) 4lossary
:
Excavation Safety Program
for
Company Name
.. O/0EC-.1E
This Excavation Safety Program has been evelope to protect employees from safety
ha6ars that may be encountere uring wor+ in trenches an excavations) This program
is intene to assure that;
$) Employees who perform wor+ in excavations are aware of their
responsibilities an +now how to perform the wor+ safely)
-) Company Name has appointe one or more iniviuals within the company to
assure compliance with the re!uirements of this program)
&) The responsibilities of Responsible Person(s) an wor+ers are clearly
etaile)
/) $ll persons involve in excavation an trenching wor+ have receive
appropriate training in the safe wor+ practices that must be followe when
performing this type of wor+)
... #SS.2N3EN- O4 'ESPONS./.5.-6
$) Employer
*n aministering the Excavation Safety Program, Company Name will;
1) .onitor the overall effectiveness of the program)
2) Provie atmospheric testing an e!uipment selection as neee)
:) Provie personal protective e!uipment as neee)
<) Provie protective systems as neee)
=) Provie training to affecte employees an supervisors)
6) Provie technical assistance as neee)
>) Preview an upate the program on at least an annual basis, or as
neee)
-) Program .anager
<
The Responsible Person acts as the competent person for Company Name in
reference to this program, an must assure that;
1) The proceures escribe in this program are followe)
2) Employees entering excavations or trenches are properly traine an
e!uippe to perform their uties safely)
:) $ll re!uire inspections, tests, an recor+eeping functions have been
performe)
&) Employees
$ll employees, incluing contractor personnel, who wor+ in or aroun
excavations must comply with the re!uirements of this program) Employees are
responsible for reporting ha6arous practices or situations to Company Name
management, as well as reporting incients that cause in,ury to themselves or
other employees to Responsible Person)
.... -'#.N.N2
$) Training Scheule
1) $ll personnel involve in trenching or excavation wor+ shall be
traine in the re!uirements of this program by Responsible Person
with assistance from the appropriate supervisors)
2) Training shall be performe before employees are assigne uties in
excavations)
:) (etraining will be performe when wor+ site inspections inicate that
an employee oes not have the necessary +nowlege or s+ills to safely
wor+ in or aroun excavations, or when changes to this program are mae)
<) Training recors will be maintaine by Responsible Person ,
an shall inclue;
a) ate of the training program?
b) name@sA of the instructor@sA who conucte the training?
c) a copy of the written material presente? an
) name@sA of the employee@sA who receive the training)
/) Training &omponents
The training provie to all personnel who perform wor+ in excavations shall
inclue;
=
1) The wor+ practices that must be followe uring excavating or
wor+ing in excavations)
2) The use of personal protective e!uipment that will typically be
re!uire uring wor+ in excavations, incluing but not limite to safety
shoes, harhats, an fall protection evices)
:) Proceures to be followe if a ha6arous atmosphere exists or coul
reasonably be expecte to evelop uring wor+ in an excavation)
<) The "S#$ Excavation Stanar, 29 &'( 1926, Subpart P)
=) Emergency an non2entry rescue methos, an the proceure for
calling rescue services)
6) Company Name policy on reporting incients that cause in,ury to
employees)
E) Training an /uties of Program .anager
The Program .anager, Responsible Person, shall receive the training etaile in
this program as well as training on the re!uirements etaile in the "S#$
Excavation Stanar) The Program .anager shall;
1) &oorinate, actively participate in, an ocument the training of all
employees affecte by this program)
2) Ensure on a aily basis, or more often as etaile in this program, that
wor+site conitions are safe for employees to wor+ in excavations)
:) /etermine the means of protection that will be use for each
excavation pro,ect)
<) Ensure, if re!uire, that the esign of a protective system has been
complete an approve by a registere professional engineer before wor+
begins in an excavation)
=) .a+e available a copy of this program an the "S#$ Excavation
Stanar to any employee who re!uests it)
.1. E7C#1#-.ON 'E89.'E3EN-S
$) 1tilities an Pre23or+ Site *nspection
6
Prior to excavation, the site shall be thoroughly inspecte by Responsible
Person to etermine if special safety measures must be ta+en)
-) Surface Encumbrances
$ll e!uipment, materials, supplies, permanent installations @i)e), builings or
roawaysA, trees, brush, boulers, an other ob,ects at the surface that coul
present a ha6ar to employees wor+ing in the excavation shall be remove or
supporte as necessary to protect employees)
&) 1nergroun *nstallations
6) The location of sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water, or any other
unergroun installations or wires that may be encountere uring
excavation wor+ shall be etermine an mar+e prior to opening an
excavation) $rrangements shall be mae as necessary by Responsible
Person with the appropriate utility entity for the protection, removal,
shutown, or relocation of unergroun installations)
>) *f it is not possible to establish the exact location of these installations,
the wor+ may procee with caution if etection e!uipment or other safe
an acceptable means are use to locate the utility)
)
B) Excavation shall be one in a manner that oes not enanger the
unergroun installations or the employees engage in the wor+) 1tilities
left in place shall be protecte by barricaes, shoring, suspension, or other
means as necessary to protect employees)
') Protection of the Public
-arricaes, wal+ways, lighting, an posting shall be provie as necessary for the
protection of the public prior to the start of excavation operations)
1) 4uarrails, fences, or barricaes shall be provie on excavations
a,acent to wal+ways, riveways, an other peestrian or vehicle
thoroughfares) 3arning lights or other illumination shall be maintaine as
necessary for the safety of the public an employees from sunset to
sunrise)
2) 3ells, holes, pits, shafts, an all similar ha6arous excavations shall
be effectively barricae or covere an poste as necessary to prevent
unauthori6e access) $ll temporary excavations of this type shall be
bac+fille as soon as possible)
:) 3al+ways or briges protecte by stanar guarrails shall be
provie where employees an the general public are permitte to cross
>
over excavations) 3here wor+ers in the excavation may pass uner these
wal+ways or briges, a stanar guarrail an toeboar shall be use to
prevent the ha6ar of falling ob,ects) *nformation on the re!uirements for
guarrails an toeboars may be obtaine by contacting Responsible
Person )
4) Protection of Employees
Stairs, laers, or ramps shall be provie at excavation sites where employees
are re!uire to enter trench excavations over four @<A feet eep) The maximum
istance of lateral travel @along the length of the trenchA necessary to reach the
means of egress shall not excee 2= feet)
1) Structural (amps
a) Structural ramps use solely by employees as a means of
access or egress from excavations shall be esigne by a
competent person Structural ramps use for access or egress of
e!uipment shall be esigne by a person !ualifie in structural
esign, an shall be constructe in accorance with the esign)
b) (amps an runways constructe of two or more structural
members shall have the structural members connecte together to
prevent movement or isplacement)
c) Structural members use for ramps an runways shall be of
uniform thic+ness)
) &leats or other appropriate means use to connect runway
structural members shall be attache to the bottom of the runway
or shall be attache in a manner to prevent tripping)
e) Structural ramps use in place of steps shall be provie with
cleats or other surface treatments on the top surface to prevent
slipping)
2) 5aers
a) 3hen portable laers are use, the laer sie rails shall
exten a minimum of three @:A feet above the upper surface of the
excavation)
b) 5aers shall have nonconuctive sie rails if wor+ will be
performe near expose energi6e e!uipment or systems)
B
c) Two or more laers, or a ouble2cleate laer, will be
provie where 2= or more employees will be conucting wor+ in
an excavation where laers serve as the primary means of egress,
or where laers serve two2way traffic)
) 5aers will be inspecte prior to use for signs of amage or
efects) /amage laers will be remove from service an
mar+e with C/o 9ot 1seD until repaire)
e) 5aers shall be use only on stable an level surfaces unless
secure) 5aers place in any location where they can be
isplace by wor+place activities or traffic shall be secure, or
barricaes shall be use to +eep these activities away from the
laers)
f) 9on self2supporting laers shall be positione so that the foot
of the laer is one2!uarter of the wor+ing length away from the
support)
g) Employees are not permitte to carry any ob,ect or loa while
on a laer that coul cause them to lose their balance an fall)
#) Exposure to 0ehicular Traffic
Employees expose to vehicular traffic shall be provie with, an shall wear
warning vests or other suitable garments mar+e with or mae of reflectori6e or
high2visibility material) 3arning vests worn by flagmen shall be re or orange,
an shall be reflectori6e material if worn uring night wor+) Emergency lighting,
such as spotlights or portable lights, shall be provie as neee to perform wor+
safely)
*) Exposure to 'alling 5oas
9o employee is permitte unerneath loas being hanle by lifting or igging
e!uipment) Employees are be re!uire to stan away from any vehicle being
loae or unloae to avoi being struc+ by any spillage or falling materials)
"perators may remain in the cabs of vehicles being loae or unloae when the
vehicles provie ae!uate protection for the operator uring loaing an
unloaing operations)
7) 3arning System for .obile E!uipment
$ warning system shall be use when mobile e!uipment is operate a,acent to
the ege of an excavation if the operator oes not have a clear an irect view of
the ege of the excavation) The warning system shall consist of barricaes, han
9
or mechanical signals, or stop logs) *f possible, the grae shoul be away from the
excavation)
8) #a6arous $tmospheres
Responsible Person will test the atmosphere in excavations over four @<A
feet eep if a ha6arous atmosphere exists or coul reasonably be expecte to
exist) $ ha6arous atmosphere coul be expecte, for example, in excavations in
lanfill areas, areas where ha6arous substances are store nearby, or near or
containing gas pipelines)
1) $e!uate precautions shall be ta+en to prevent employee exposure to
atmospheres containing less than 19)= percent oxygen an other ha6arous
atmospheres) These precautions inclue proviing proper respiratory
protection or force ventilation of the wor+space)
2) 'orce ventilation or other effective means shall be use to prevent
employee exposure to an atmosphere containing a flammable gas in excess
of ten @1EA percent of the lower flammability limit of the gas)
:) 3hen controls are use that are intene to reuce the level of
atmospheric contaminants to acceptable levels, continuous air monitoring
will be performe by Responsible Person ) The evice use for
atmospheric monitoring shall be e!uippe with an auible an visual
alarm)
<) $tmospheric testing will be performe using a properly calibrate
irect reaing gas monitor) /irect reaing gas etector tubes or other
acceptable means may also be use to test potentially toxic atmospheres)
=) Each atmospheric testing instrument shall be calibrate by
Responsible Person on a scheule an in the manner recommene by
the manufacturer) *n aition;
a) $ny atmospheric testing instrument that has not been use
within :E ays shall be recalibrate prior to use)
b) Each atmospheric testing instrument shall be calibrate at least
every six @6A months)
6) Each atmospheric testing instrument will be fiel chec+e immeiately
prior to use to ensure that it is operating properly)
5) Personal Protective E!uipment
1) $ll employees wor+ing in trenches or excavations shall wear approve
harhats an steel2toe shoes or boots)
1E
2) Employees expose to flying fragments, ust or other materials
prouce by rilling, sawing, saning, grining, an similar operations
shall wear approve safety glasses with sie shiels)
:) Employees performing weling, cutting, or bra6ing operations, or are
expose to the ha6ars prouce by these tas+s, shall wear approve
spectacles or a weling faceshiel or helmet, as etermine by
Responsible Person )
<) Employees entering bell2bottom pier holes or other similar eep an
confine footing excavations shall wear a harness with a lifeline securely
attache to it) The lifeline shall be separate from any line use to hanle
materials an shall be iniviually attene at all times while the
employee wearing the lifeline is in the excavation)
=) Employees shall wear, as etermine by Responsible Person,
approve gloves or other suitable han protection)
6) Employees using or wor+ing in the immeiate vicinity of hammer
rills, masonry saws, ,ac+hammers, or similar high2noise proucing
e!uipment shall wear suitable hearing protection, as etermine by
Responsible Person)
>) Each employee wor+ing at the ege of an excavation six @6A feet or
more eep shall be protecte from falling) 'all protection shall inclue
guarrail systems, fences, barricaes, covers, or a tie2bac+ system meeting
"S#$ re!uirements, as etermine by Responsible Person )
B) Emergency rescue e!uipment, such as breathing apparatus, a safety
harness an line, an a bas+et stretcher, shall be reaily available where
ha6arous atmospheric conitions exist or may evelop uring wor+ in an
excavation) This e!uipment shall be attene when in use) "nly personnel
who have receive approve training an have appropriate e!uipment
shall attempt retrieval that woul re!uire entry into a ha6arous
atmosphere) *f entry into a +nown ha6arous atmosphere must be
performe, then Responsible Person shall be given avance notice
so that the ha6ars can be evaluate an rescue personnel place on
stanby if necessary)
.) 3al+ways an 4uarrails
3al+ways shall be provie where employees or e!uipment are permitte to
cross over excavations) 4uarrails shall be provie where wal+ways, accessible
only to on2site pro,ect personnel, are six @6A feet or more above lower levels)
11
9) Protection from 3ater $ccumulation #a6ars
1) Employees are not permitte to wor+ in excavations that contain or are
accumulating water unless precautions have been ta+en to protect them
from the ha6ars pose by water accumulation) Precautions may inclue
special support or shiel systems to protect from cave2ins, water removal
to control the level of accumulating water, or use of safety harnesses an
lifelines)
2) *f water is controlle or prevente from accumulating by the use of
water removal e!uipment, the water removal e!uipment an operation
shall be monitore by a person traine in the use of that e!uipment)
:) *f excavation wor+ interrupts the natural rainage of surface water
@such as streamsA, iversion itches, i+es, or other suitable means shall be
use to prevent surface water from entering the excavation) Precautions
shall also be ta+en to provie ae!uate rainage of the area a,acent to the
excavation) Excavations sub,ect to runoff from heavy rains shall be
reinspecte by Responsible Person after each rain incient to
etermine if aitional precautions, such as special support or shiel
systems to protect from cave2ins, water removal to control the level of
accumulating water, or use of safety harnesses an lifelines, shoul be
use)
<) Responsible Person shall inform affecte wor+ers of the precautions
or proceures that are to be followe if water accumulates or is
accumulating in an excavation)
") Stability of $,acent Structures
Responsible Person will etermine if the excavation wor+ coul affect the
stability of a,oining builings, walls, siewal+s, or other structures)
1) Support systems @such as shoring, bracing, or unerpinningA shall be
use to assure the stability of structures an the protection of employees
where excavation operations coul affect the stability of a,oining
builings, walls, or other structures)
2) Excavation below the level of the base or footing of any founation or
retaining wall that coul be reasonably expecte to pose a ha6ar to
employees shall not be permitte, except when;
a) a support system, such as unerpinning, is provie to ensure
the safety of employees an the stability of the structure?
b) the excavation is in stable roc+?
12
c) a registere professional engineer has approve the
etermination that the structure is sufficiently remove from the
excavation so as to be unaffecte by the excavation activity? or
) a registere professional engineer has approve the
etermination that such excavation wor+ will not pose a ha6ar to
employees)
:) Siewal+s, pavements, an appurtenant structures shall not be
unermine unless a support system or other metho of protection is
provie to protect employees from the possible collapse of such
structures)
<) 3here review or approval of a support system by a registere
professional engineer is re!uire, Responsible Person shall secure
this review an approval in writing before the wor+ begins)
P) Protection from 'alling "b,ects an 5oose (oc+s or Soil
1) $e!uate protection shall be provie to protect employees from loose
roc+ or soil that coul pose a ha6ar by falling or rolling from an
excavation face) Such protection shall consist of;
a) scaling to remove loose material?
b) installation of protective barricaes, such as wire mesh or
timber, at appropriate intervals on the face of the slope to stop an
contain falling material? or
c) benching sufficient to contain falling material)
2) Excavation personnel shall not be permitte to wor+ above one another
where the anger of falling roc+ or earth exists)
:) Employees shall be protecte from excavate materials, e!uipment, or
other materials that coul pose a ha6ar by falling or rolling into
excavations)
<) Protection shall be provie by +eeping such materials or e!uipment at
least two @2A feet from the ege of excavations, by use of restraining
evices that are sufficient to prevent materials or e!uipment from falling
or rolling into excavations, or by a combination of both if necessary)
=) .aterials an e!uipment may, as etermine by Responsible Person ,
nee to be store further than two @2A feet from the ege of the excavation
if a ha6arous loaing conition is create on the face of the excavation)
6) .aterials pile, groupe, or stac+e near the ege of an excavation
must be stable an self2supporting)
1:
F) *nspection by Program .anager
1) The Program .anager, Responsible Person , shall conuct aily
inspections of excavations, a,acent areas, an protective systems for
evience of a situation that coul result in possible cave2ins, failure of
protective systems, ha6arous atmospheres, or other ha6arous conitions)
$n inspection shall be conucte by Responsible Person prior to the start
of wor+ an as neee throughout the shift) *nspections shall also be mae
after every rainstorm or other ha6ar2increasing occurrence) These
inspections are only re!uire when the trench will be or is occupie by
employees)
2) 3here the Responsible Person fins evience of a situation that coul
result in a possible cave2in, failure of protective systems, ha6arous
atmosphere, or other ha6arous conitions, expose employees shall be
remove from the ha6arous area until precautions have been ta+en to
assure their safety)
:) Responsible Person shall maintain a written log of all inspections
conucte) This log shall inclue the ate, wor+ site location, results of
the inspection, an a summary of any action ta+en to correct existing
ha6ars)
1. P'O-EC-.1E S6S-E3 'E89.'E3EN-S
$) Protection of Employees
<) Employees in an excavation shall be protecte from cave2ins by using
either an ae!uate sloping an benching system or an ae!uate support or
protective system) The only exceptions are;
a) excavations mae entirely in stable roc+? or
b) excavations less than five @=A feet in epth where examination
of the groun by Responsible Person provies no inication of a
potential cave2in)
=) Protective systems shall be capable of resisting all loas that coul
reasonably be expecte to be applie to the system)
() /esign of Sloping an -enching Systems
The slope an configuration of sloping an benching systems shall be selecte
an constructe by Responsible Person in accorance with the following
options;
1) $llowable configurations an slopes
1<
a) Excavations shall be slope at an angle no steeper than one an
one2half @1 GA hori6ontal to one @1A vertical @:< egrees measure
from the hori6ontalA, unless one of the options liste below is use)
b) Slopes shall be properly excavate epening on soil type as
shown in 29 &'( 1926, Subpart P, $ppenix -)
2) /etermination of slopes an configurations using 29 &'( 1926,
Subpart P, $ppenices $ an -
The maximum allowable slopes an allowable configurations for sloping
an benching systems shall meet the re!uirements set forth in these
appenices)
:) /esigns using other tabulate ata
The esign of sloping or benching systems may be selecte from, an
shall be constructe in accorance with, other tabulate ata, such as
tables an charts) The tabulate ata use must be in written form an
inclue the following;
a) *entification of the factors that affect the selection of a sloping
or benching system)
b) *entification of the limits of the use of the ata, incluing the
maximum height an angle of the slopes etermine to be safe)
c) "ther information neee by the user to ma+e correct selection
of a protective system)
) $t least one copy of the tabulate ata that ientifies the
registere professional engineer who approve the ata shall be
maintaine at the ,obsite uring construction of the protective
system) $fter that time, the ata may be store off the ,obsite, an
shall be maintaine by Responsible Person)
<) /esign by a registere professional engineer
a) Sloping or benching systems esigne in a manner other than
those escribe in the preceing three options shall be approve by
a registere professional engineer)
b) /esigns shall be in written form an shall inclue at least the
following information;
1=
i) the maximum height an angle of the slopes that
were etermine to be safe for a particular pro,ect? an
ii) the ientity of the registere professional engineers
who approve the esign)
c) $t least one copy of the esign shall be maintaine at the
,obsite while the slope is being constructe) $fter that time, the
esign may be store off the ,obsite, an shall be maintaine by
Responsible Person)
S) /esign of Support, Shiel, an "ther Protective Systems
The esign of support systems, shiel systems, an other protective systems shall
be selecte an constructe by Responsible Person in accorance with the
following re!uirements;
1) /esigns using 29 &'( 1926, Subpart P, $ppenices $, & an /
a) Timber shoring in trenches shall be esigne in accorance
with the re!uirements of the "S#$ guielines)
b) $luminum hyraulic shoring shall be esigne in accorance
with the manufacturer%s tabulate ata or the re!uirements of the
"S#$ guielines)
2) /esigns using manufacturer%s tabulate ata
a) Support systems, shiel systems, an other protective systems
esigne from manufacturer%s tabulate ata shall be constructe
an use in accorance with all specifications, recommenations,
an limitations issue or mae by the manufacturer)
b) /eviation from the specifications, recommenations, an
limitations issue or mae by the manufacturer shall be allowe
only after the manufacturer issues specific written approval)
c) .anufacturer%s specifications, recommenations, an
limitations, as well as the manufacturer%s written approval to
eviate from the specifications, recommenations, an limitations,
shall be +ept in written form at the ,obsite uring construction of
the protective system@sA) $fter that time, the information may be
store off the ,obsite, an shall be maintaine by Responsible
Person)
:) /esigns using other tabulate ata
16
/esigns of support systems, shiel systems, an other protective systems
shall be selecte from an constructe in accorance with tabulate ata,
such as tables an charts)
a) The tabulate ata shall be in written form an shall inclue all
of the following;
i) ientification of the factors that affect the selection
of a protective system rawn from such ata?
ii) ientification of the limits of the use of such ata?
an
iii) information neee by the user to ma+e a correct
selection of a protective system from the ata)
b) $t least one written copy of the tabulate ata, which ientifies
the registere professional engineer who approve the ata, shall
be maintaine at the ,obsite uring construction of the protective
system) $fter that time, the ata may be store off the ,obsite, an
shall be maintaine by Responsible Person )
<) /esign by a registere professional engineer
Support systems, shiel systems, an other protective systems esigne in
a manner other than the preceing three options shall be approve by a
registere professional engineer)
a) /esigns shall be in written form an shall inclue;
i) a plan inicating the si6es, types, an configurations
of the materials to be use in the protective system? an
ii) the ientity of the registere professional engineer
who approve the esign)
b) $t least one copy of the esign shall be maintaine at the
,obsite uring construction of the protective system) $fter that
time, the esign may be store off the ,obsite, an shall be
maintaine by Responsible Person)
T) .aterials an E!uipment
1) .aterials an e!uipment use for protective systems shall be free from
amage or efects that might affect their proper function)
2) .anufacture materials an e!uipment use for protective systems
shall be use an maintaine in accorance with the recommenations of
1>
the manufacturer, an in a manner that will prevent employee exposure to
ha6ars)
:) 3hen materials or e!uipment use for protective systems are
amage, Responsible Person shall ensure that these systems are
examine by a competent person to evaluate suitability for continue use)
*f the competent person cannot assure that the material or e!uipment is
able to support the intene loas or is otherwise suitable for safe use,
then such material or e!uipment shall be remove from service) The
material or e!uipment shall then be evaluate an approve by a
registere professional engineer before being returne to service)
1) *nstallation an (emoval of Supports
1) 4eneral
a) .embers of support systems shall be securely connecte
together to prevent sliing, falling, +ic+outs, or other potential
ha6ars)
b) Support systems shall be installe an remove in a manner
that protects employees from cave2ins, structural collapses, or from
being struc+ by members of the support systems)
c) *niviual members of the support systems shall not be
sub,ecte to loas exceeing those that they were esigne to
support)
) -efore temporary removal of iniviual support members
begins, aitional precautions shall be ta+en as irecte by
Responsible Person to ensure the safety of employees @i)e), the
installation of other structural members to carry the loas impose
on the support systemA)
e) (emoval of support systems shall begin at, an progress from,
the bottom of the excavation) .embers shall be release slowly) *f
there is any inication of possible failure of the remaining
members of the structure or possible cave2in of the sies of the
excavation, the wor+ shall be halte until it can be examine by
Responsible Person )
f) -ac+filling shall progress in con,unction with the removal of
support systems from excavations)
2) $itional (e!uirements
1B
a) Excavation of material to a level no greater than two @2A feet
below the bottom of the members of a support system is allowe,
but only if the system is esigne to resist the forces calculate for
the full epth of the trench) There shall be no inications of a
possible loss of soil from behin or below the bottom of the
support system while the trench is open)
b) *nstallation of a support system shall be closely coorinate
with the excavation of trenches)
0) Sloping an -enching Systems
Employees are not be permitte to wor+ above other employees in the faces of
slope or benche systems, except when employees at lower levels are protecte
from the ha6ars of falling, rolling, or sliing material or e!uipment)
3) Shiel Systems
1) 4eneral
a) Shiel systems shall not be sub,ecte to loas that are greater
than those they are esigne to withstan)
b) Shiels shall be installe in a manner that will restrict lateral or
other ha6arous movement of the shiel an coul occur uring
cave2in or unexpecte soil movement)
c) Employees shall be protecte from the ha6ar of cave2ins when
entering or exiting the areas protecte by shiels)
) Employees are not permitte in trenches when shiels are
being installe, remove, or move vertically)
2) $itional (e!uirements
a) Excavation of material to a level no greater than two @2A feet
below the bottom of the shiel system is allowe, but only if the
system is esigne to resist the forces calculate for the full epth
of the trench)
b) There shall be no inications of a possible loss of soil from
behin or below the bottom of the shiel system while the trench is
open)
1.. #CC.:EN- .N1ES-.2#-.ONS
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$ll incients that result in in,ury to wor+ers, as well as near misses, regarless of their
nature, shall be reporte an investigate) *nvestigations shall be conucte by
Responsible Person as soon after an incient as possible to ientify the cause an
means of prevention to eliminate the ris+ of reoccurrence)
*n the event of such an incient, the Excavation Safety Program shall be reevaluate by
Responsible Person to etermine if aitional practices, proceures, or training are
necessary to prevent similar future incients)
1... CH#N2ES -O P'O2'#3
$ny changes to the Excavation Safety Program shall be approve by Responsible
Person , an shall be reviewe by a !ualifie person as the ,ob progresses to etermine
aitional practices, proceures, or training nees necessary to prevent in,uries) $ffecte
employees shall be notifie of proceure changes, an traine if necessary) $ copy of this
program shall be maintaine at the ,obsite by Responsible Person )
1.... 25OSS#'6
#ccepted engineering practices; the stanars of practice re!uire by a
registere professional engineer)
#luminum hydraulic shoring; a manufacture shoring system consisting of
aluminum hyraulic cyliners @crossbracesA use with vertical rails @uprightsA or
hori6ontal rails @walesA) This system is esigne to support the siewalls of an
excavation an prevent cave2ins)
/ell"bottom pier hole; a type of shaft or footing excavation, the bottom of which
is mae larger than the cross section above to form a bell shape)
/enching system; a metho of protecting employees from cave2ins by excavating
the sies of an excavation to form one or more hori6ontal steps, usually with
vertical or near2vertical surfaces between levels)
Cave"in; the movement of soil or roc+ into an excavation, or the loss of soil from
uner a trench shiel or support system, in amounts large enough to trap, bury, or
in,ure an immobili6e a person)
Competent person; a person who has been traine to ientify ha6ars in the
wor+place, or wor+ing conitions that are unsafe for employees, an who has the
authority to have these ha6ars correcte)
Cross braces; the hori6ontal members of a shoring system installe from sie to
sie of the excavation) The cross braces bear against either uprights or wales)
2E
Excavation; any man2mae cut, cavity, trench, or epression in an earth surface
forme by earth removal)
4aces or sides; the vertical or incline earth surfaces forme as a result of
excavation wor+)
4ailure; the movement or amage of a structural member or connection that
ma+es it unable to support loas)
Ha;ardous atmosphere; an atmosphere that is explosive, flammable, poisonous,
corrosive, oxii6ing, irritating, oxygen eficient, toxic, or otherwise harmful, that
may cause eath, illness, or in,ury)
<ic=out; the acciental movement or failure of a cross brace)
Program 3anager; the iniviual within the company who oversees excavation
wor+ an is responsible for assuring compliance with this program)
Protective system; a metho of protecting employees from cave2ins, from
material that coul fall or roll from an excavation face into an excavation, or from
the collapse of a,acent structures) Protective systems inclue support systems,
sloping an benching systems, shiel systems, an other systems that provie the
necessary protection)
'amp; an incline wal+ing or wor+ing surface that is use to gain access to one
point from another) $ ramp may be constructe from earth or from structural
materials such as steel or woo)
Sheeting; the members of a shoring system that retain the earth in position an in
turn are supporte by other members of the shoring system)
Shield system; a structure use in an excavation to withstan cave2ins an which
will protect employees wor+ing within the shiel system) Shiels can be
permanent structures or portable units move along as wor+ progresses) Shiels
use in trenches are usually referre to as trench boxes or trench shields)
Shoring system; a structure that is built or put in place to support the sies of an
excavation to prevent cave2ins)
Sides; see faces)
Sloping system; sloping the sies of an excavation away from the excavation to
protect employees from cave2ins) The re!uire slope will vary with soil type,
weather, an surface or near surface loas that may affect the soil in the area of
the trench @such as a,acent builings, vehicles near the ege of the trench, etc)A)
21
Stable roc=; natural soli mineral material that can be excavate with vertical
sies that will remain intact while expose)
Structural ramp; a ramp buil of steel or woo, usually use for vehicle access)
(amps mae of soil or roc+ are not consiere structural rams)
Support system; a structure use as unerpinning, bracing or shoring, which
provies support to an a,acent structure, unergroun installation, or the sies of
an excavation)
-abulated data; tables an charts approve by a registere professional engineer
an use to esign an construct a protective system)
-rench; a narrow excavation @in relation to its heightA mae below the surface of
the groun)
-rench box or trench shield; see shield)
9prights; the vertical members of a trench shoring system place in contact with
the earth an usually positione so the iniviual members o not contact each
other) 1prights place so that iniviual members are closely space, in contact
with or interconnecte to each other, are often calle sheeting)
Wales; hori6ontal members of a shoring system place in the irection of the
excavation face whose sies bear against the vertical members of the shoring
system or earth @the uprights or sheetingA)
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