Danger at Any Depth

Lower the risk of trench cave-in injury and death by understanding proper excavation protocols and techniques

Danger at Any Depth

No matter how many years of experience you have, it’s still important to use proper shoring and keep spoils and heavy equipment at least 2 feet back from the edge of a trench.

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Unfortunately, we hear all too often about workers getting injured in accidents caused by trench cave-ins. Some workers are severely injured and are lucky to recover enough to walk again. Others are not so lucky and perish in these accidents.

Two things to know about these incidents:

  • Most of the trenches and excavation in which workers are injured or killed are relatively shallow (5 to 15 feet deep).
  • Many of the workers have not had excavation safety training.
  • Reducing the number of trench-related deaths and injuries begins with changing the cultural mindset of those who work belowground.

After doing this work for years, you may hear these stories about people dying in trenches and think, “That’s someone else. I’m pretty good. I’ve been doing this a long time. I can tell when it’s dangerous.” You may be “pretty good,” but unfortunately, these accidents can happen to anyone and the training is not something anyone — no matter how experienced — should ignore.

The General Requirements Section of OSHA’s Subpart P provides a number of commonsense steps to help ensure worker safety. As with any OSHA Standard or other safety procedure, it is important to always remember that these are the minimum requirements to ensure safe job sites.

1. Surface encumbrances 
To ensure stability and integrity, they need to be removed or supported while an excavation is open. Examples include rocks, trees, telephone and utility poles, fire hydrants, etc.

2. Underground installations
Examples include gas, electrical, water, sewer lines, etc. They must be:

  • Located and marked before beginning work. Property owners and/or utility companies should be notified at least 24 hours prior to digging, unless a longer time is required by local law. Some states require 72 hours advance notice. Most other states require 48 hours notice.
  • Protected, supported or removed while the trench is open.

Most states have so-called 811 One-Call laws. Simply dial 811 to contact the one-call center in your state.

 3. Access and egress
These are fancy words for entering and exiting a trench. The requirements are:

  • In trenches that are 4 feet or more in depth, provide a means of access and egress.
  • Spacing between ladders, stairs or ramps should not be more than 50 feet.
  • No worker should have to travel more than 25 feet laterally to reach a means of egress (exit).
  • Ladders must be secured and extend 36 inches above the landing.

In addition, it is important to use wood or fiberglass ladders where there is a possibility of electric shock. Many utility companies and contractors always use wood or fiberglass ladders to ensure there is never a problem.

A “competent person” must design all structural ramps used solely by employees. Further, a competent person qualified in structural design must design all structural ramps used for equipment. Usually this person will be a registered professional engineer.

Finally, the components used in structural ramps must be connected, be of uniform thickness, be constructed so that cleats and other connectors do not create a tripping hazard, and if ramps are used instead of steps, they must be provided with cleats or other surface treatments to prevent slipping.

4. Exposure to vehicular traffic 
Employees must be protected from being struck by motor vehicles. Also, employees must be provided with — and must wear — warning vests or other highly visible garments when exposed to traffic. Generally, employees are considered “exposed” when they are within the right-of-way. Signs, signals, barricades or flagmen may be required.

5. Exposure to falling loads
The law is simple. The objective is to protect employees from being struck by falling objects:

  • Employees are not permitted underneath raised loads.
  • Employees are required to stand away from equipment that is being loaded or unloaded.
  • Equipment operators or truck drivers may stay in equipment if it is properly equipped with a cab shield or adequate canopy.

6. Warning system for mobile equipment
Preventing vehicles from falling or backing into a trench can be accomplished by providing:

  • Barricades.
  • Hand or mechanical signals.
  • Stop logs.
  • Grading away from the excavation.

Equipment with an obstructed view is required to have working backup alarms or observers must be assigned when backing up. Suggestion: Caution your employees not to be complacent around backup alarms. On some projects, there are so many backup alarms that employees start to ignore them.

7. Hazardous atmospheres
One of the competent person’s responsibilities is to prevent employees from being exposed to hazardous atmospheres in the air or dangerous environments.

  • Oxygen-deficient atmosphere — Normal air is 20.9 percent oxygen. An oxygen-deficient atmosphere has less than 19.5 percent oxygen.
  • Oxygen-enriched atmosphere — It has 23.5 percent or more oxygen.
  • Carbon monoxide causes oxygen starvation and can be fatal at a concentration of just 1 percent for one minute.
  • Hydrogen sulfide is a very common toxic gas, and methane is a very common flammable gas. Both are regularly found in underground construction, particularly around sewers.

If there is a possibility that a hazardous atmosphere exists or could reasonably be expected to exist, the air should be tested before employees enter a trench or manhole. Provide respirators or ventilation when needed. And retest the air continuously to ensure that the trench remains safe.

8. Emergency rescue  equipment
Such equipment must be available when a hazardous atmosphere exists or could reasonably be expected to exist. Employees entering confined spaces must be properly trained. Harnesses and lifelines are required whenever employees enter bell-bottom pier holes and other deep confined spaces. Lifelines must be attended at all times.

9. Water accumulation
Water must be controlled to prevent cave-ins. Methods for controlling water vary with each situation. Employees are not permitted to work in trenches where accumulation exists unless:

  • Special support systems or shields are used to protect employees from cave-ins.
  • Water removal equipment is used and monitored by the competent person to prevent water accumulation.
  • Safety harnesses and lifelines are used to protect employees.

Surface water must be diverted or controlled. The competent person must inspect the trench after each rainstorm.

10. Stability of adjacent  structures
The objective is to protect employees from cave-ins.

  • A support system, such as shoring, bracing, or underpinning, must be used to support structures that may be unstable due to excavation operations.
  • Excavating below the base or footing of a foundation or wall is not permitted unless:
    • A support system is provided to ensure the stability of the structure.
    • The excavation is in stable rock (this is very rare).
    • The operation is approved by a registered professional engineer.
  • Support systems must be provided for sidewalks, pavements and other structures that may be affected by excavation operations.

11. Protection of employees from loose rock or soil
Employees must be protected from being struck by soil or rocks that are falling or rolling from the edge and face of a trench. Spoils and equipment must be set back at least 2 feet from the edge of a trench.

12. Fall protection
It is required that walkways and bridges be provided over trenches that are least 6 feet above lower levels and are greater than 30 inches wide. Bridges and walkways must be equipped with standard guardrails and toe boards. Additional fall protection may also be required.

13. Remotely located excavations
Examples are wells, pits, shafts, trenches, other excavations, etc. They must be backfilled, covered or barricaded.

14. Inspections
A competent person must make all inspections.

For more information, visit www.naxsa.org.



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