EXCAVATION SAFETY

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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OVERALL GOAL
ASSURE THE SAFETY OF:
employees
who
work in or around
excavations
the general public
who work or travel
in the vicinity of
excavations.
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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TOPIC OBJECTIVE
Look back on the principle of soil
mechanics in applying excavation
safety;
Analyze case and assess the proper
orientation
of
backhoe
during
operation;
Become
aware
of
the
OHS
requirements on excavation work.
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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INTRODUCTION

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M.,

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EXCAVATION SAFETY

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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SOIL MECHANICS

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M.,

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DEFINITIONS
SOIL MECHANICS
In trenching and excavation
practices, SOIL is defined as any
materials removed from the
ground to form a hole, trench or
cavity for the purpose of working
below the earths surface.
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M.,

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DEFINITIONS
EXCAVATION - a man-made cavity
or depression in the earths
surface.
OPEN EXCAVATION (Bulk
Excavation) - an excavation
where the width is equal to or
greater than the depth.
TRENCH EXCAVATION - an
excavation having a depth
which exceeds its width (max.
15 ft. for US, 12 ft. in UK
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M.,
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S.C. to first page
measured at the bottom.

SOIL MECHANICS
Overburden Pressure
Soil Mechanics
point of view:

o
1 fo

t 1 foot

100#

1 foot

100#
100#

Figure 1. Forces exerted

by a column of
soil.

100#

250 psf
250 psf
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M.,

250 psf

100#

250 psf

500 psf
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SOIL MECHANICS
TRENCH FAILURES

Figure 2. Mechanics of
Trench Failure.

(2c)
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

(2a)

(2b)

(2d)

(2e)

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SOIL MECHANICS

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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SOIL MECHANICS
SOIL CLASSIFICATION

Stable Rock - natural solid mineral matter that

can be excavated with vertical sides and
remain intact while exposed.

Type A - cohesive soil with unconfined

compressive strength of 144 kPa or
greater.
Examples;
clay, silty clay, clay loam,
sandy clay, clay loam and
silty clay loam and sandy
clay loam.

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M.,

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SOIL MECHANICS
SOIL CLASSIFICATION

Type B - cohesive soil with unconfined

compressive strength greater than 48
kPa but less than 144 kPa.
Examples;
angular gravel, silt, silt loam
sandy loam

Type C - cohesive soil with unconfined

compressive strength of 48 kPa or less.
Examples;
gravel, sand, loamy sand
submerged soil

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M.,

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SOIL MECHANICS
TYPES OF SOIL COLLAPSE
1/2-3/4 of depth or 1:1
General zone of exposure (fracture point)
The area where workers
are exposed to mass
soil/rock movement.

Spoil pile slide

Poor excavating
procedures where the
the excavated material is
not placed far enough away
from the edge of the excavation.
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M.,

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SOIL MECHANICS
TYPES OF SOIL COLLAPSE
Side wall Shear
Common to clay type soils
which are exposed to drying.

Slough-in (Cave-in)
Common to previously excavated
material, sand and gravel.

Rotation
Clay-type soils when saturated
with water.
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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SOIL MECHANICS
Six Factors for Soil Instability
Increase in depth
Saturation
Hydrostatic Pressure (water table)
Weight of excavated soil materials
or equipment near excavation
Shock or vibration
Frost faction
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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OSH REQUIREMENTS

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
TRAIN WORKERS
Employees who
work in or around
excavations must
be provided training
according to their
work.

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT (PPE)
All workers doing excavation
work must wear approved
safety footwear and safety
headgear. Additional PPE is
required depending on the
risk assessment for the work
to be undertaken.
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
PUBLIC PROTECTION
& TRAFFIC CONTROL
Traffic around the site
must be controlled,
and barricaded, signs
and/or flag persons
used as needed to
control both vehicular
and pedestrian traffic.
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
PROTECTION SYSTEMS
The excavation or trench must
either be sloped or supported as
required to comply with OSHS.
Excavation over 1 m deep:
a. protection/support system must
be installed except when:
- There are no exposure
- Cut in solid rock
- With angle of repose
- Workers are protected during
installation of shoring
b. Kept free of water all the times
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ANGLE OF REPOSE

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M.,

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By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M.,

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Maximum Allowable Slopes

for excavation less than 20 feet
Soil Type

Vertical

Horizontal

Stable
rock
A

Remarks
90 deg

1/2

<12 feet @ 63
deg*

3/4

>12 feet @ 53
deg*

45 deg

1.5

34 deg

*short-term only
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
LOCATION OF EXCAVATED
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
Tools and excavated materials
must be piled in a manner that
it cannot rollback into the
excavation. It must never be
closer than 1 meter from edge
of excavation.
Equipment and heavy
machinery shall not be place
near the edge of excavation at
least 1/3 of its depth.
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

1/

pth
e
3d

i n.
m
.
m
1
,1
h
t
ep
d
1/3

1/

pt
e
3d

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n.
i
.m

Near the edge of excavation?

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M.,

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OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
PROVISION FOR ACCESS/
EGRESS

0.83 m

A suitable means of
access/egress
(ladders,stairways,etc)
must be provided for
workers entering an
excavation.
A ladder must be located
within 25 ft or 8m of a
workers working position.
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

d>1 m

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SAFE ACCESS/EGRESS?

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

A SAFE ACCESS/EGRESS

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
PROVISION FOR
BARRICADES
1.0 m

d>2 m

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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BARRICADES?

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

BARRICADES?

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

ANY HAZARDS?

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
EXPERIENCED SUPERVISOR
An experienced and trained worker is
designated to directly supervise each
excavation project.
- sloping and benching
- shoring requirements
- emergency rescue procedures.

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
SITE INSPECTION
Every part of an excavation over
2 m deep where workers work
shall be inspected.
A competent person shall
conduct daily inspections of
excavations, adjacent areas, and
protective systems for evidence
of a situation that could result to
an accident.
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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EXCAVATION SAFETY

Whats
wrong
with
this
excavation
situation?

By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano, C.E., M.C.M., S.C.

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THE END
By: Engr. Joji C. Valenciano,
C.E., M.C.M., S.C.
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