Policy 6.

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EXCAVATION AND TRENCHING PROCEDURES

1.0

PURPOSE:

To establish a program for the safe entry and exit from trenches and excavations under
the control or direction of HydroGeoLogic Inc., personnel and to comply with applicable
federal and state requirements.
2.0

GENERAL:
A. Definitions:
1. Benching: A method of excavation whereby the faces of an excavation or
trench are widened progressively outward with respect to the bottom by a
specific series of horizontal and vertical cuts to provide protection against the
hazards of moving ground.
2. Cave-in: The separation of a mass of soil or rock material from the side of an
excavation, or the loss of soil from under a trench shield or support system,
and its sudden movement into the excavation, either by falling or sliding in
sufficient quantity so that it could entrap, bury, or otherwise injure and
immobilize a person.
3. Competent Person: A person designated by the employer who has had
training in and is knowledgeable about soil analysis and the use of protective
systems in excavations. The competent person shall also be capable of
identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings, or working
conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees; and
of taking prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
4. Excavation: A man-made cut, cavity, trench or depression in an earth surface,
formed by earth removal.
5. Geotechnical Specialist (GTS): A person registered by the State as a Certified
Engineering Geologist, or a Registered Civil Engineer trained in soil
mechanics, or an engineering geologist of civil engineer with a minimum of 3
years applicable experience working under the direct supervision of either a
Certified Engineering Geologist or Registered Civil engineer.

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6. Protective System: A method of protecting employees from cave-ins, form

material that could fall or roll from an excavation face or into an excavation,
or 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.
7. Shoring System: A temporary structure for the support of earth surfaces
formed as a result of excavation work.
8. Sloping: a method of excavation whereby the faces of an excavation or trench
are laid back to provide protection from moving ground.
9. Trench: A narrow excavation made below the surface of the ground. In
general, the depth is greater than the width, but the width of a trench at the
bottom is not greater than 15 feet. If forms or other structures are installed or
constructed in a excavation so as to reduce the dimension measured from the
forms or structure to the side of the excavation to 15 feet or less at the bottom,
the excavation is also considered a trench.
B. The appropriate state or federal OSHA regulations shall be complied with when
performing trenching/excavation work. Those regulations are available through
the HydroGeoLogic Inc., Office Safety Officer.
C. Prior to excavation, the Project Manager shall confirm to the extent practicable,
whether underground installations such as sewer, water, ;fuel electric lines,
telecommunication lines, etc., may be encountered an if so where such
underground installations are located.
D. Whenever possible trenches or excavations that employees enter should be kept
less than 5 feet deep.
E. The wall and faces of trenches and excavations 5 feet or more deep and all
excavations in which employees are exposed to danger from moving ground or
cave-in, shall be protected by a protection system such as a system of shoring,
sloping of the ground, benching, shield system, or other alternate means accepted
by state or federal OSHA.
F. In excavations in which employees may be required to enter, excavated or other
materials (spoils) shall be effectively stored and retained at least two (2) feet or
more away from the edge of the excavation.

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G. Daily inspections of the excavations shall be made by a competent person. If

evidence of possible cave-ins or slides is apparent all work in the excavation shall
cease until the necessary precautions have been taken to safeguard the employees.
H. Do not use an existing wall or structure as a retaining wall until it has been
determined that it will safely support expected loads.
I. Barricade or securely cover all wells, pits, shafts, and caissons that must be
temporarily left unguarded
J. Temporary wells, pits, and shafts shall be backfilled when the operation is
complete.
K. Use diversion ditches, dikes and other effective methods to prevent water from
entering an excavation.
L. Use additional bracing or strengthen shoring and excavations or trenches located
near streets, railroads, or other sources of vibration and external loads. Take
similar precautions when excavations are made in areas that have been previously
filled.
M. If a shoring system is to be used, it must provide devices which allow the upper
cross braces to be set in place from ground level. Workers shall proceed
downward protected by cross braces already set in place. Use reverse procedure
when completing the work.
N. All work in a excavation must be supervised by a qualified person.
O. Before opening any excavation or trench, a site specific health and safety plan
must be developed and approved by the project manager and the Safety Officer.
The applicable state or federal OSHA requirements must be incorporated into the
safety plan.
P. All employees, including standby persons, required to enter an excavation or
trench shall be trained in the site specific health and safety plan and shall be
trained in the operating and safe work practices and procedures for entry and exit
from trenches and excavation. A Safe Plan of Action (SPA) tailgate safety
meeting should be conducted to check that all employees understand the safe
work practices.

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Q. As some states require state issued excavation permits, the project manager shall
check with the local OSHA office for information regarding the permits that may
be necessary before constructing a trench or excavation.
R. Determine whether any underground installations such a sewer, water, or fuel
lines are likely to be encountered. This information can be received by calling the
local utilities or in some cases underground service alert companies. The utilities
shall be supported during excavation operations. Most utility companies will
require at leas 48 hours advance notice before excavation work is conducted to
adequately help you locate an underground utility. Geophysical clearance many
be necessary to locate the utilities on the site.
S. An observer or standby person must be present at the surface of an excavation at
all times when a HydroGeoLogic Inc. employee is in the trench or excavation.
Standby persons must be informed of the trenching/excavation safe-work
practices as specified in the site specific health and safety plan.
T. If any trench or excavation shows any signs of instability, all personnel must exit
the trench immediately and are not allowed to reenter until the trench or
excavation has been evaluated and deemed safe by a competent person.
U. In certain excavations and trenches, a confined space is possible. In the event of a
confined space entry is necessary, the confined space safety procedures identified
in the HydroGeoLogic Inc., Health and Safety Program Manual must be complied
with.
3.0

PROCEDURE:
Responsibility

Project Manager.

Action
1.

Check that a Site Specific Health and Safety

Plan has been developed and implemented.

2.

Check that all permits have been received from

the respective state or federal OSHA office

3.

Make sure that the on-site supervisor is

competent is trenching and excavation safety
orders.

4.

Make sure that all personnel on the project with

exposure to trenching and excavations are

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familiar with the Site Specific Health and Safety

Plan and SPAs/Tailgates are being conducted.

Site Supervisor

Area and Office Safety Officers

Employee

5.

confirm that underground utility companies,

utility locate services or other such services
have been notified at least 48 hour prior to
excavation work.

1.

Comply with the Site Specific Health and Safety

Plan.

2.

Be familiar and implement the requirements of

the applicable state or federal OSHA
requirements.

3.

Supervise and inspect the trenching and

excavation work, paying particular attention to
safe work practices and the use of protective
systems to include, shoring, bracing and sloping
back, etc.

1.

Review the Site Specific Health and Safety Plan

for completeness relative to trenching and
shoring safety.

2.

Make sure that the site supervisor and all

employees involved in the project are properly
trained and understand both the HydroGeoLogic
Inc., Policy and the state or federal requirements
for trenching and shoring.

3.

Support the site supervisor and Project Manager

in whatever way is necessary to accomplish the
task safely.

4.

Periodically audit projects in which trench and

excavation work is being conducted to promote
safety and check on job site safety procedures.

1.

Comply with all applicable OSHA requirements

and those specified in the Site Specific Health

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and Safety Plan for working in excavations and

trenches.
2.

Review and sign the Site Specific Health and

Safety Plan specific for trenching and shoring..

3. Any trench or excavation that is suspect to cavein must be immediately exited by any employees
working in the trench or excavation and reported
to the site supervisor immediately.
4.0

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS (NOT ASSUMED TO BE A COMPLETE

LIST).
A. 29 CFR Part 1926, Safety and Health Standards Excavations.
B. Title 8 California Code of Regulations, Article 6 (Sections 1539 thru 1547)
Excavations, Trenches, Earthwork.
C. U. S. Army Corps of Engineers SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
MANUAL EM-385-1-1 Section 25 Excavations.

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