Trenching and Excavation Safety
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Health & Safety (HSE)Trenching and Excavation Safety

Trenching and Excavation Safety

0.50 Hrs
SKU: RVCT-340

This course covers safe work practices for excavation and trenching work. It is meant to be used as an introductory or refresher course for construction workers involved in digging or working in an excavation. It is based on OSHA Construction regulations and industry best practices.

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Trenching and Excavation Safety
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Course Details

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Identify common dangers associated with trenching and excavation work
  • Define “competent person” and discuss their role and their importance
  • Discuss the different types of soil and the importance of soil type in evaluating excavation and trenching hazards
  • Identify and discuss the protective systems of sloping, shielding, and shoring

Specs

Course Level
Intermediate
Languages
English, Spanish
Compatibility
Audio, Video
Based on:
OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P: Excavations Industry Best Practices

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the two exceptions when a system to protect workers from cave-ins is not necessary?

When the excavation is in solid rock and therefore not a risk of caving in, and when an excavation is less than five feet deep AND a competent person has determined there is no risk of a cave-in.

What are the four primary types of soil seen when trenching and excavating, and what are their characteristics?

The four primary categories of soil are: solid rock, which is the most stable of all soils, and has almost no chance of caving in; Type A soil, which is the second-most stable soil type and is made of cohesive clay-like soil; Type B soil, which is less stable as Type A and poses a significant danger of cave-in; and Type C soil, which is the most unstable type of soil which is sandy and granular and comes apart easily.

What methods are used to protect against cave-ins caused by water?

Methods for protecting against water hazards include: special support or shield systems, water removal equipment, and us of a safety harness and lifeline.

Why is extra precaution necessary when excavating an area that has already been excavated in the past?

Pre-excavated earth has looser soil than that of undisturbed soil. This includes soil around buildings and around utility lines.

What is spoil, and how can you reduce the risk associated spoil piles?

Spoil is earth that is dug out of an excavation. To reduce risks associated with spoil piles, they must be either: kept at least two feet away from the edge of the trench, or held back by some type of retaining wall or device.

When should sloping requirements be applied to an excavation site?

When excavations are less than 20 feet deep. Anything deeper than 20 feet must be designed by a registered professional engineer.

What are some hazardous atmospheres commonly seen?

Hazardous atmospheres include: poisonous atmospheres, oxygen deficient atmospheres (less than 19.5% oxygen), combustible atmospheres, and any atmosphere that may cause death, illness, or injury to a person exposed to it.

What underground utilities must be located before digging can begin?

Electric, water, telephone, sewer, and gas lines should all be attempted to located by contacting the local utility owner.

What changes on a site would require it to be re-inspected?

They include but are not limited to: weather changes (rainstorms, thaws, earthquakes, and snowstorms), when fissures, cracks, sloughing, water seepage, or other changes are noticed, and if there is a change in the spoil pile location or size.

Sample Video Transcript

An excavation is any man-made cavity created in the ground by removing earth. A trench is a kind of excavation. It is a narrow channel that is deeper than it is wide. The term trench is typically applied to channels that are less than 15 feet wide at their base. Excavating is one of the most dangerous operations in construction work. There are an average of 70 deaths each year in the US due to excavation accidents and thousands more injuries. Most of these accidents could be prevented by following simple safety procedures. Even if you’re not in charge of overseeing an excavation, you should be familiar with the general hazards of this work. Knowing how to spot potential problems will help keep you and your co-workers safe.

Additional Resources

  • U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) – www.osha.gov
  • OSHA Safety and Health Topics – https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/trenchingexcavation/index.html
  • OSHA Documents – https://www.osha.gov/doc/outreachtraining/htmlfiles/excavate.html
  • OSHA FactSheet – https://www.osha.gov/Publications/trench_excavation_fs.html
  • OSHA eTools – https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/construction/trenching/mainpage.html
  • National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) – www.cdc.gov/niosh/
  • NIOSH Workplace Safety & Health Topics – http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/trenching/

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