Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
By Steven Settelmayer
Published On: Monday, April 27, 2015 7:58 PM
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COMPETENT PERSON
When inspecting a jobsite to determine where trenches will be, it is important to consider
the many factors that come into play to provide the safest environment. Soil type, presence
of ground water in the trench, surface encumbrances, location of existing structures and
utilities (both underground and overhead) are but a few of the many things that must be
taken into account to ensure worker safety. Per OSHA, it is also required to have a
competent person, who is an individual responsible for monitoring worker safety on a
jobsite. This person is required to be on all trench or excavation sites anytime there is
potential employee exposure.
SOIL TYPES
A trench or excavation must have a protective system 5 feet or more in depth. Excavations
less than 5 feet deep may still require a protective system if there is potential for cave-in.
This call is the responsibility of the competent person. OSHA rules specify that a competent
person on a jobsite will classify the soil type as Stable Rock, Type A, Type B or Type C in
accordance with the definitions in 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P Appendix A. The competent
person will classify the soil based on a visual and a manual test prescribed in Appendix A. It
is also permissible to assume the soil is Type C and soil testing would not be required.
When working in Type B soil, the protective systems minimum earthen slope is 1 horizontal
to 1 vertical (45 degrees). The vertical height of benches in Type B soil cannot exceed
4 feet. When working in Type C soil, the protective systems minimum earthen slope is 1.5
horizontal to 1 vertical (34 degrees). The competent person is required to perform a daily
inspection before prior to work and after each rainstorm or other hazard increasing
occurrence.
Type A:
o
clay, silty clay and hardpan, which resist penetration. No soil is classified as Type A if it
is fissured, subject to vibration, was previously disturbed, is part of a sloped or layered
system with a slope 4 horizontal to 1 vertical or greater or is seeping water.
Type B:
o
cohesive soil with an unconfined compressive strength greater than 0.5 tons per
square foot (TSF), but less than 1.5 TSF;
granular cohesionless soils, including angular gravel (similar to crushed rock), silt, silt
loam, sandy loam and, in some cases, silty clay loam and sandy clay loam;
previously disturbed soils, except those that would otherwise be classed as Type C
soil; and
soil that meets the unconfined compressive strength or cementation requirements for
Type A, but is fissured or subject to vibration.
Type C:
o
soft cohesive soil with unconfined compression strength greater than 0.2 tons per
square foot, but less than 0.5 tons per square foot;
soft cohesive soil with unconfined compression strength less than 0.2 tons per square
foot;