Excavations - The OSHA Competent

Person Course 6

Health Hazards of Excavations

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Health Hazards

• Silica from concrete.

• Lead and asbestos is used in utilities.
• Damaged chemical lines or underground tanks.
• Carbon monoxide from gas powered machines.
• Radon Gas (In most cases, construction employers would not be expected to test for
radon unless excavations are enclosed or made in geographic areas known to contain high
radon levels, and the employer, through exercise of reasonable diligence, knows or has reason
to know that accumulations of radon are not likely to reach hazardous levels.
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2009-12-28)

• Less than O2.

• More than O2.
Gases

WARNING
Excavations being
below ground are a
natural receptacle
for all gases heavier
than air.
GASES

•Many gases are

both toxic and
explosive.
Health Hazards

• 1926.651(g)(1)(ii)Adequate precautions shall be

taken to prevent employee exposure to atmospheres
containing less than 19.5 percent oxygen and other
hazardous atmospheres. These precautions
include providing proper respiratory protection or
ventilation in accordance with subparts D and E of
this part respectively.
What Makes a Hazardous Atmosphere
Carbon
• An employee that uses Monoxide?
a soil compactor, cranks
up a generator, starts
up a concrete cutting
saw, welds, cuts, uses
any chemicals that
release harmful fumes,
mists, dusts or gases -
instantly results in a
hazardous atmosphere.
OSHA Health Program

• Health Competent
Person. The boss
must either train,
appoint or consult
and gain approval of
a Health technically
qualified person
for the methods that
are used to control
hazards.1926.55(b)
OSHA Health Program

• 1926.55(b) Any
equipment and
technical measures
used … must first be
approved for each
particular use by a
competent industrial
hygienist or other
technically qualified
person.
Approval

Note, this guide can not provide

you with the particular approval.
The health hazards covered in this
guide are general in nature.
Hazardous Atmospheres

WARNING:
All excavations
have the
potential for a
hazardous
atmosphere.
Hazardous Atmosphere
The Competent Person
shall test excavations more
than 4 feet deep before an
employee enters the
excavation for:
• Oxygen deficiency
• High combustible gas
concentration
• High levels of other
hazardous substances
Hazardous Atmospheres

• Tests shall be
conducted as
often as
necessary to
ensure the
quality and
quantity of the
atmosphere.
Gases

One of the more commonly used and

effective methods of prevention is to use
special ventilation equipment to blow
clean air into the excavation in sufficient
quantities to dissipate the foul air.
Emergency Equipment

• 1926.651(g)(2)(i) “Emergency rescue equipment,

such as breathing apparatus, a safety harness and
line, or a basket stretcher, shall be readily available
where hazardous atmospheric conditions exist or
may reasonably be expected to develop during work
in an excavation. This equipment shall be attended
when in use.”
Excavation and Silica

• OSHA Sampling Data From • Determine ahead of time if

the SLC Data Base for rocks or earth are likely to
Construction revealed. contain silica.
• Excavation work • Silica is a mineral found in
33 times the PEL sand, quartz, and granite.
• http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/silicacrystalline/roznowskiei/exposure.html
Biological

• Sewer lines
• Infectious (bacteria, viruses)
• Blood Borne Pathogens
• Hazardous Chemicals
• Locate and protect from damage.
Unknown Chemicals Discovered During Excavations

Stop Work

Notify the owner

Notify the National Response Center

1-800-424-8802
 WARNING: If
you excavate or
spread
contaminated soil
you will fall under
CERCLA as an
Operator and you
don’t want that!
Insects, Spiders, and Ticks

• To protect yourself from biting and stinging insects, wear long

pants, socks, and long-sleeved shirts.
• Use insect repellents that contain DEET or Picaridin.
• Take a vitamin B.
• Treat bites and stings with over-the-counter products that relieve
pain and prevent infection.
• Severe reactions to stings/bites (chest pain, nausea, sweating,
loss of breath, serious swelling or slurred speech) require
immediate medical treatment.
Spiders to Watch Out For
Rodents and Wild or Stray Animals

• Dead and live animals can spread diseases such as Rat Bite
Fever and Rabies.
• Avoid contact with wild or stray animals.
• Avoid contact with rats or rat-contaminated buildings.
• If you can’t avoid contact, wear protective gloves and wash
your hands regularly.
• Get rid of dead animals as soon as possible.
• If bitten/scratched, get medical attention immediately.
Snakes

• Watch where you place your hands and feet when removing
debris. If possible, don’t place your fingers under debris you
are moving.
• Wear heavy gloves.
• If you see a snake, step back and allow it to proceed.
• Wear boots at least 10 inches high.
• Watch for snakes sunning on fallen trees, limbs or other
debris.
• A snake’s striking distance is about 1/2 the total length of
the snake.
Snakes to Watch For
Coral Snake
Cotton Mouth
Rattlesnakes
First-aid For Snake Bites
• If bitten, note the color and
shape of the snake’s head
to help with treatment.
• Keep bite victims still and
calm to slow the spread of
venom in case the snake is
poisonous. Seek medical
attention as soon as
possible.
• Do not cut the wound or
attempt to suck out the
venom. Do not apply ice.
• First aid: lay the person
down so that the bite is
below the level of the heart,
and cover the bite with a
clean, dry dressing.
 What is Trench Foot

• Trench Foot, a painful

disorder of the foot
involving damage to the
skin, nerves, and muscle
that is caused by
prolonged exposure to
cold dampness or by
prolonged immersion in
cold water.
Trench Foot

• Immersion foot can

occur in as little as
three hours, although
it takes 12 hours to
have a serious injury.
Trench Foot

• The injury occurs when blood vessels constrict in

response to heat loss, reducing blood flow to the
extremity and depriving cells of oxygen and
nutrients. Nerves are especially sensitive. The
ensuing injury may range from a few weeks of sore
feet to permanent muscle and nerve damage.
Trench Foot

•Can be very
serious.
•Possible
amputation
Trench Foot

• 29,000 British soldiers were taken out by

trench foot in WW I.
Symptoms of Trench Foot

• Tingling and/or itching sensation, pain,

swelling, cold and blotchy skin,
numbness, and a prickling or heavy
feeling in the foot. The foot may be red,
dry, and painful after it becomes warm
and blisters may form, followed by skin
and tissue dying and falling off. In
severe cases untreated trench foot can
involve the toes, heels, or the entire
foot.
Symptoms of Trench Foot

• Patients can't walk, wear

shoes, or even accept the
pressure of a bed sheet on
their feet. Their feet look
normal, but they have pain
that defies medication.
Preventing Trench Foot

• Wear water-proof shoes.

• Rotate your shoes every
other day to allow them to
dry thoroughly.
• Put on clean, dry socks
daily.
• Use talc or baby powder
containing aluminum
hydroxide daily to wick
away moisture.
• Sleep with warm dry feet
– no socks.
Prevent Trench Foot

• Even after the foot heals, it

may be more sensitive to cold,
and pain may persist for
years.