America’s Trench Box Builder™

Trench Safety & OSHA

Excavation Standards
Presented by Mark Turner
 Today’s Agenda
• Overview and Definitions
• General Conditions & Responsibilities
• Specific Excavation Requirements
• Soil Classification
• Selection & Use of Protective Systems
• Identification of Hazards & Student
Exercises
• Exam & Evaluation
Excavation Fatalities
& Injuries
300
268
250 247

200 191

150
105
100
53
50 35 40 36 33
0
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Fatalities Injuries
29 CFR 1926
– Subpart P
Excavation
& Trenching
 MIOSHA
Part 9
Excavation,
Trenching
and Shoring
T he Power of OSHA
 Competent Per son
“One who is capable of identifying
existing and predictable hazards in
the surroundings, or working
conditions which are unsanitary,
hazardous, or dangerous to
employees, and who has
authorization to take prompt
corrective measures to eliminate
them.”
 •Role of the Competent
Per son
• Responsible for overall safety of
excavation
• Knowledgeable in process of soil
classification
• Responsible for selection and use of
proper protective systems
• Represents employer in OSHA visits
• Has authority to implement protective
measures
 Competent Per son
(cont’d)
• Identified in writing by employer
• Key piece of any good safety program
• Required on every site with excavation
• Has tools and publications necessary
to conduct job
• Can be any trade or position with
company
DEFINITIONS
 Adjacent Ar ea & Spoil
Pile
MIN. Spoil pile
Adjacent 2’
Area

Adjacent area is equal to Spoil piles, materials, and

the depth of the trench or equipment must be set
excavation. back at least 2 feet from
the edge of the excavation.
Minimum 2-feet back

Spoil, tools, pumps, etc.

must be set back at least 2
feet from the edge of the
trench.
 Definitions
• Excavation:
– “Any man-made cut, cavity,
trench or depression in an earth
surface, formed by earth
removal.”1926.650(b)
 Definitions
• Trench:
– “a narrow excavation (in relation to it’s length) made below the
surface of the ground….. 1926.650(b)
 Definitions
• Cave-in
– Separation of a mass of soil or rock material from the side of an
excavation…..1926.650(b)
 Specific Excavation
Requir ements
• Surface Encumbrances
• Underground Installations
• Access & Egress
• Exposure to Vehicular Traffic
• Exposure to Falling Loads
• Hazardous Atmospheres
• Water Accumulation
• Stability of Adjacent Structures
• Protection From Loose Rocks or Soil
• Inspections
• Fall Protection
 Surface Encumbrances
All surface encumbrances that are located
so as to create a hazard to employees
shall be removed or supported.
 Underground Installations
(UTILITIES)
• Estimated Location Must Be Determined
• Call 811
• Exact Location of Installation Must Be Determined by
Safe & Acceptable Means
• While Excavation is Open Exposed Utilities Must Be
Protected, Supported or Removed.
 OVERHEAD POWER LINES

Maintain 10-foot clearance from power

lines up to 50,000 volts and add 4
inches more for each additional 10,000
volts!
 Access and Egress
All Occupied Excavations Four (4) Feet or Deeper Must
Have a Ladder, Ramp or Other Acceptable Means of
Access or Egress Within Twenty-five (25) Feet of
Unobstructed Lateral Travel of Employees.

Less than >4' Less than 4 ft

25 ft. 25 ft.
 Access and Egress (cont’d)

LADDERS
Ladders Must Be SECURE and Extend Three (3)
Feet Above the Point Where Workers Step Off.
Must have firm footing at
step-off point. Backfill or
use approved ramp.
 Access and Egress (cont’d)
RAMPS
An Earth Ramp May Be Used in Place of a Ladder
if it Meets ALL of the Following Requirements

(A) The Ramp Material Shall Be Stable

(B) The Sides of the Excavation Above the Ramp Shall Be
Maintained To the Angle of Repose or Shored Along
Means of Egress
(C) The Degree of the Ramp Shall Not Exceed 45 Degrees
(D) Vertical Height Between the Floor of the Trench and
the Toe of the Ramp Shall Not Exceed 30 Inches
 Exposure to Vehicular Traffic
Employees exposed to vehicular traffic shall be
provided with, and shall wear, warning vests or
other suitable garments marked with or made of
reflectorized or high-visibility material.
Exposure to Falling Loads
Workers must stay out
from under
overhead loads.
 Exposure to Hazardous Atmospheres
Excavations greater than 4 feet deep, which could
contain a hazardous atmosphere, must be tested
before anybody enters.

•Test from outside the trench

•Oxygen must be at least
19.5% but should be 20.9%
•Flammables levels less than
10% LEL
•Toxic materials less than
PEL/TLV
 Exposure to Hazardous Atmospheres
Atmosphere Should Be Tested if Working in or Around The
Following Areas. Or, If the Competent Person Believes There is
a Potential For A Hazardous Atmosphere.

•Landfills
•Chemical Plants
•Waste Water Treatment Plants
•Petroleum Refineries
•Buried Gasoline/Diesel Tanks
•Swamps
 Exposure to Water
Accumulation
OSHA – SUBPART P

• Employee Exposure
– Employees are not to be exposed to accumulating water or
water that has accumulated

• Water Removal Monitoring

– Competent/Qualified person is to confirm that mechanical water
removal devices (pumps, etc.) are functioning properly.
– Contracted dewatering companies shall instruct
competent/qualified person on proper system operation

• Natural Drainage
– Site shall be graded so water runs away from trench and/or excavation.
Ef fects of Water
Accumulation
 STABILITY OF ADJACENT
STRUCTURES
• A Registered Professional Engineer (RPE) is
Required to Design Underpinning for Buildings and
Other Load Bearing Structures
• Competent Person Shall Make Sure All Sidewalks,
Pavements, and Walkways Are Supported
 Exposure to Loose Rock or
Soil
• No Employee Shall Be Exposed to Hazards
Associated With Loose Rock or Soil Sliding or Falling
From Trench Walls, face or Bank.
• Competent Person Must Ensure That Sides of
Excavation or Trench Are Scraped Clean.
 INSPECTIONS
• Competent Person Must Make an Inspection of the
Excavation and Adjacent Area at Least Once Daily at
the Beginning of the Shift
• Additional Inspections Must Be Made After
Rainstorm or Other Hazard Increasing Event.
• Inspections Must Include:
• Soil Type and Composition (If not assumed Type C)
• Condition of Open Trenches
• Condition of Manufactured Protective Systems

WRITE DOWN ALL INSPECTIONS

PERFORMED
 FALL PROTECTION
All Walkways Crossing Trench or Opening Six (6) Feet
Deep or Greater and 30 Inches Wide or Wider Must
Have Handrails and/or Guardrails and Toeboards.
Walkways Must be Designed by the Competent
Person for the Sole Purpose of Employee Use
 SOIL
CLASSIFICATIO
N
 Weight of Soil

One cubic foot

(12”x 12”x 12”)
weighs between
90 to 140
pounds.
One cubic yard 12” ONE
(36”x 36”x 36”) CUBIC FT.
weighs as
much as a 12”
small pickup 12”
truck.
 Appendix A – Soil
Classification
• Soil definitions
• Soil tests based on site and
environmental conditions
• Descriptions of visual and
manual tests for classifying
soils
• Soil classification determined
by the competent person
 Soil Classification

The competent person must

make at least one visual and one
manual soil test as a basis for
soil classification.

Unless the soil is considered

to be 'Type C' and treated as a
'C'
 Soil
Definitions
• Apparent
cohesion
• Cemented soil
• Plastic
• Saturated soil
• Submerged soil
 General Rules Re gar ding Soil
Sample
• Sample must represent mean composition of
total soil type.

• Sample must be taken from spoil pile

• Sample cannot have been out of ground for

longer than one hour
 Cohesive or Granular
• Clay or soil with a • Gravel, sand, or
high clay content silt with little or
• Does not crumble no clay content
and can be • No cohesive
excavated with
vertical sides
strength
• Plastic when • Cannot be
moist, hard to molded when
break when dry moist and
crumbles easily
when dry
 Cohesive vs Granular

Unconfined Type C
Compressive
Strength

Type

A B C
Greater than .5 – 1.5 Less than
1.5 tsf tsf 0.5 tsf
 Unconfined
Compressive Strength

The unconfined compressive strength

of a soil is the load-per-unit area at
which a soil will fail in compression.

It can be estimated in the field

by using pocket penetrometer,
or other field and laboratory
tests.
Manual Soil Tests

• Thread or ribbon
tests

• Pocket penetrometer

• Laboratory Tests
 Pocket
Penetrometer
Device used to estimate the
unconfined compressive strength of
soil. Must be used in saturated or
nearly saturated cohesive soil.
 V isual Tests

• Observe excavated soil for

particle size and clumping
• Observe excavations sides for
cracks, spalls, layered systems
• Observe adjacent areas for
existing utilities and underground
structures, previously disturbed
soil, surface water, and sources of
vibration
 Stable Rock
Natural solid mineral matter that can
be excavated with vertical sides and
remain intact while exposed.

Caution: Stable rock is generally not

accepted as a soil type by OSHA.
OSHA Type A Soil

Cohesive soil with

an unconfined
compressive
strength of 1.5
tons per square
foot (tsf) or
greater, e.g., clay,
silty clay,
cemented soils.
 No soil is Type A if
it:

• Is fissured or cracked
• Is subject to vibration
• Has been previously disturbed
• Is subject to other factors making
it less stable, such as water
 OSHA Type B Soil

• Cohesive soil with unconfined

compressive strength greater than
0.5 tsf but less than 1.5 tsf
• Granular cohesionless soils, e.g.,
gravel, silt, silt loam or sandy loam
• Previously disturbed soils, except
those otherwise classified as Type C
• Type A fissured or subject to
vibration
• Unstable dry rock
 OSHA Type C Soil

• Cohesive soil with unconfined

compressive strength of 0.5 tsf or less
• Granular soil including gravel, sand,
and loamy sand
• Submerged soil or soil from which
water is freely seeping
• Submerged rock that is not stable
Every employee working in a trench or
excavation over 5 feet deep must be
protected from a cave-in by a protective
system:

 Sloping or benching walls

 Shoring to support walls
 Shields to protect occupants
inside when
walls cave-in
Competent Peron can Design Protective
System for Depths Up To 20 FT.
• Depths Greater Than 20 FT Require Design
by Registered Professional Engineer or
Manufacturers Tabulated Data
 Protective Systems

Sloping

Shields

Shoring
Sloping a Tr ench
Benching
 Appendix B
Sloping and Benching
Table B-1: Maximum Allowable Slopes

Maximum allowable
Soil type slopes (H:V) - Less than
20 feet

Stable Rock Vertical (90

degrees)
Type A ¾:1 (53
degrees)
Type B 1:1 (45 degrees)

Type C 1½:1 (34

degrees)
NUCA CPT Copyright
2006
 Sloping Type A
Maximum depth 20 feet

NUCA CPT Copyright

2006
 Sloping Type B
Maximum depth 20 feet

NUCA CPT Copyright

2006
 Sloping Type C
Maximum depth 20 feet

Simple Slope

NUCA CPT Copyright

2006
Trench Shields
 General Description
• A trench shield is a movable box strong enough
to protect the employee inside, but light enough
to handle easily in the trench
• Ideally, the width of a trench is approximately 4
in. wider than the width of the trench shield to
reduce possible friction during movement.
Thus, the trench shield cannot effectively
prevent soil cave-ins outside the box
• The application depth in the trench or design
pressure shall be clearly marked on the shield.
 TABULATED DATA MUST BE AVAILABLE AT
JOBSITE DURING CONSTRUCTION, SET-UP, USE
AND REMOVAL OF SHIELD
Model # of Shield Serial # of Shield

Soil Type

Max. Depth

Limitations
Soil Description

Must be Certified
by RPE
Tabulated Data – Modular
System
Shield must extend to g r ade
level or be combined with
pr oper sloping. (Angle of
Repose)
Trench Shield Combined with Sloping

• Slope must start 18” below top of trench shield

• Slope must be correct for representative soil

Using Single Trench Shield
Using Stacked Tr ench Shields

Shields must extend to grade or above grade or be combined with

sloping
 Shields must be stacked per
manufacturer’s recommendations.
 Tr ench Shields Can Be Held Up
To 2 FT Above Tr ench Bottom
Pr ovided
• Trench Shield Is Rated For Full Depth
• There is No Visible Loss of Soil Under
or Behind the Shield
 Movement of Shield
• An Employee Shall Not Be Allowed in Shields
When Shields are Being Installed, Removed
or Moved Vertically. 1926.652(g)(2)
Shoring
Hydraulic Shores
Hydr aulic Shor es
 Hydr aulic Shor es
Thrust pressure fans out through trench
wall, interlocking in an arch from
adjacent shores.

TOP VIEW
Shoring Selection Guide
TABULATED DATA
 Selection Guide: Notes
1. Utilize Efficiency’s 2 in. diameter hydraulic cylinders with standard or heavy duty extension system as required for desired excavation
width. Trenches wider than 9’-4” (112”) require Efficiency’s Steel Oversleeves extending the full, collapsed length.

2. Plywood sheeting shall consist of 1.125 in. CDX plywood or .75 in., 14 ply Arctic Birch.*

3. Plywood sheeting required if raveling or sloughing is likely to occur. (see installation diagrams)*

4. Plywood sheeting shall be used.*

5. Material can stand with unsupported vertical sidewalls long enough for shoring installation.

6. Vertical shoring shall be Efficiency’s standard or heavy duty vertical rail sections. (see pg 6).

7. Extra Heavy Duty Extensions Required.

HYDRAULIC SHORING
 Installation

Placetheshorenearthetrenchedgeintheopenpositionwiththe“cylinderrail”down.Openthevalveonthepumpcan1/4turn.Attachthefemalequick

connectfittingonthepumphosetothemalefittingonthetopcylinder.Putthereleasetool throughthehandleonthelowerrailwiththehookpositionedto

grabthehandle. Foldtheshorebypullingthetoprail towardyoubyhand. Lowertheshoreintothetrenchwithhook

Releasethetoprail andallowshoretocompletelyunfold.

Theshorewill lockitselfintoopenposition.
 Installation

Whileholdingtheshoreat thedesiredheight, closethe1/4turnreleasevalveonpumpcan

andpumpthehandleonthecantobuildpressurebetween750-1500PSI.

Toremovethehose, placethereleasetool flangebehindthecollarofthequickdisconnect fitting. Thehookwill betoward

you. Pull thetool towardyourself, usingthehookasapivot, thehosewill comeoff.Afterhoseisdisconnected, cliphoseto

thetopofpump. Openvalveonpumpandmovetothenextshore.
 Removal

Toremovetheshore, placetheremoval tool throughthehandlewiththehookfacingthe

trench. Placetheendof thetool overthesamefittingwherehosewashooked.

Pushthetool awayfromyouagainstthehandle. Thetool will

depressthefittingandreleaseasmall amountoffluid.
 Removal

Removefromtrenchbypullingonesidewithreleasetool and

theothersidewiththeremoval hook.

Theshorewill foldasitispulledout. Removetools, fold

shoreflat, andcarrytothenextinstallationspot.
Hydr aulic Waler s
Slide Rail System
4-Sided Pit
 Linear Multi-Bay
w/ ClearSpan ™ Waler
Par allel Beam with
Spr eader s
ClearSpan ™ System
Slide Rail – Shor e-
Tr ak™

• Shore-Trak with 4-Sided Pit

STUDENT
EXERCISES
Evaluate T his Tr ench
Evaluate T his Tr ench
Evaluate T his Tr ench
Evaluate T his Tr ench
 CPT Summar y

• OSHA standar ds ar e
found in 1926
Subpar t P
Every employee working in a trench or
excavation over 5 feet deep must be
protected from a cave-in by a protective
system:

 Sloping or benching walls

 Shoring to support walls
 Shields to protect occupants
inside when
walls cave-in
 OSHA Re gulations
Means of Eg r ess
• A stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe
means of exit is required in trenches
4 ft. or deeper.
• Access must be within 25 ft. of
lateral travel for employees.
 CPT Summar y
• Every company working in an
excavation and/or trench is required to
have an identified Competent Person
 CPT Summar y
• Competent Person responsible for:
– Inspections of soils and excavation safety
– Selection and use of proper protective system

– Limitation of exposure to accumulating water

– Overall safety of excavation
 CPT Summar y
• Adjacent area must be kept clear of non-
essential materials and equipment
• Spoil piles, equipment and materials must
be placed a minimum of 2 ft from edge
• Means of access and egress must be
within 25 ft of all employees in excavations
4 ft or greater.
 CPT Summar y
• Ladders must extend 3 ft above the point
where workers step off.
• Ladders must be secure.
• Trench shields may be set a maximum of 2 ft
above trench bottom.
• If sloping is used above trench shield, slope
must start 18 in below top of trench shield
 QPT Summar y
• Tabulated data must be on site for all
manufactured protective systems during
set-up, installation and use.
• Competent person must test atmosphere if
there is a reasonable expectation of
contamination.
• Competent person must make a minimum
of one inspection at beginning of shift.
 America’s Trench Box Builder™

Trench Safety & OSHA

Excavation Standards