Professional Documents
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FACILITIES MANAGMENT
HEALTH AND SAFETY MANUAL
This policy applies to all Facilities Management Group employees who are involved in trenching
and excavation operations, as well as, all contractors who may be involved in trenching and
excavation operations on the Arkansas Tech University campus.
This program shall apply to all open excavations made in the earth’s surface. Excavations
include trenches except for those trenches created by the tillage of fields.
The Occupational Safety Coordinator shall be notified before ANY trenching or excavating
work is to be performed.
B.
The competent person for trenching and excavation work must have met these requirements:
1. have attended a REM approved excavation safety course
2. received a certificate and/or card indicating successful completion of the course
C.
The competent person for trenching and excavation work must be trained in and knowledgeable
in the following areas:
1. Support systems
2. Excavation
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TRENCHING & EXCAVATION
ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
FACILITIES MANAGMENT
HEALTH AND SAFETY MANUAL
3. Trench/ shield box
4. Sloping
5. Hydraulic shoring
6. Trench
7. Registered Professional Engineer (RPE)
8. Failure
9. Uprights
10. Protective systems
D.
Additional information that the competent person is required to know:
1. How to document the trench/excavation using the Daily Trench/Excavation
Inspection Form.
2. How to identify causes of trench cave-ins i.e. inadequate support systems, inadequate
sloping, surcharge loading, etc.
3. Be knowledgeable in the use of manufactures tabulated data. A competent person
must be able to identify proper installation techniques and limitations of hydraulic
shoring.
4. Be able to identify when end plates on a trench shield are required, how to safely
stack shield sections, access and egress requirements, material handling requirements
(tag lines, sling safety, etc.) shield construction requirements, and lateral support
requirements
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TRENCHING & EXCAVATION
ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
FACILITIES MANAGMENT
HEALTH AND SAFETY MANUAL
5. Maintain on-site records of protection systems and inspection reports.
6. If mechanical protection is used, the competent person will oversee the installation of
such system.
7. Verify that ramps and walkways for employee use are constructed in compliance with
industry best practices.
8. Hold safety meetings with all crew members prior to trenching/excavation operations
beginning and during operations as needed.
9. A competent person must be on-site at all times during trenching or excavation
operations.
10. Assure that appropriate emergency rescue is available to meet existing or potential
conditions.
11. Monitor use of water removal equipment.
12. Ensure that the air quality in the trench or excavation is safe and free of flammable,
combustible, or toxic gases ensuring the air is neither oxygen deficient or enriched.
13. The competent person must consult with a Registered Professional Engineer (RPE) if
the trench or excavation is over 20’ deep. Specifically with regards to designed
shoring, bracing or when the excavation could endanger a nearby structure. This
consultation must include written instructions or opinions from the RPE.
14. The competent person must maintain the Daily Trench/Excavation Inspection Form at
the work-site and it must be readily available for review by a supervisor or the
Occupational Safety Coordinator.
By definition, a Class “C” soil is listed as granular soils, including gravel, sand, and loamy sand,
or cohesive soils with unconfined compressive strength less than 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) or any
submerged rock that is not stable, or freely seeping soil or adversely bedded soils.
The requirements for this soil are for any material in a sloped, layered system where the layers
dip into the excavation of a slope, must have a slope of four horizontal to one vertical (4H:1V) or
steeper.
The maximum allowable slope for Class “C” soil is 1 ½:1 (34º).
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TRENCHING & EXCAVATION
ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
FACILITIES MANAGMENT
HEALTH AND SAFETY MANUAL
1. All simple slope excavations 20 feet or less in depth shall have a maximum allowable slope of
1½:1.
SIMPLE SLOPE
2. All excavations 20 feet or less in depth which have vertically sided lower portions shall be
shielded or supported to a height at least 18 inches above the top of the vertical side. All such
excavations shall have a maximum allowable slope of 1½:1.
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TRENCHING & EXCAVATION
ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
FACILITIES MANAGMENT
HEALTH AND SAFETY MANUAL
It is expected that all utilities in the vicinity of the excavation will be marked or located prior to
the disturbance of soil or ground cover.
Any utilities exposed during excavation activities shall be properly supported to prevent
movement of the utility line.
A stairway, ladder, ramp, or other safe means of egress shall be located in trench excavations
that are four (4) feet in depth or greater.
Safe means of egress should be provided so that no more than 25 feet of lateral travel is
necessary for employees to reach the egress. If a ladder is used for access or egress it must be
secure and extend at least 36 inches above the landing.
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TRENCHING & EXCAVATION
ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
FACILITIES MANAGMENT
HEALTH AND SAFETY MANUAL
Atmospheric monitoring should be performed prior to employee entry and continuously during
employee entry into an excavation with a potential for an oxygen deficient or hazardous
atmosphere.
Where hazardous atmospheric conditions exist or may reasonably be expected to develop during
work in during excavation activities the Local Fire Department rescue force MUST be notified.
If excavation work interrupts the natural drainage of surface water, diversion ditches, dikes, or
other suitable means shall be used to prevent surface water from entering the excavation and to
provide adequate drainage of the area adjacent to the excavation.
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TRENCHING & EXCAVATION
ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
FACILITIES MANAGMENT
HEALTH AND SAFETY MANUAL
Trench boxes and hydraulic shoring shall be used according to the manufacturer’s tabulated data,
and shall be in accordance with all specifications, recommendations and limitations issued or
made by the manufacturer.
When a shield (trench box) is used, work shall not be permitted outside the shield.
If it necessary to use timber shoring, it shall be used according to tabulated data. Timber shoring
in a trench greater than 20 feet in depth shall be designed by a registered professional engineer.
A Shield system shall be installed in a manner that will restrict lateral or other hazardous
movement and shall not be subject to loads exceeding its capability. Employees shall be
protected from the hazard of cave-ins when entering or exiting the areas protected by shields.
Employees shall not be allowed in shields when they are being installed, removed, or moved
vertically.
21.12 INSPECTIONS
A.
A competent person shall perform daily inspections before work begins and as needed
throughout the shift.
Inspections should include the following:
1. The excavations, the adjacent areas, and the protective systems.
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TRENCHING & EXCAVATION
ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
FACILITIES MANAGMENT
HEALTH AND SAFETY MANUAL
2. The identification of problems with the excavation that could result in a cave-in or to
identify indications of failure with the protective systems.
3. An evaluation of the potential for a hazardous atmosphere to develop.
Additionally, no employee shall enter an excavation if a hazard is identified until that hazard has
been mitigated.
All inspection and competent person forms must be turned into the Safety Office and kept on file
for a period of one year.
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TRENCHING & EXCAVATION