OSHA's Standards for Excavation & Trenching

OSHA’s Rules for Excavation & Trenching.

Excavation & Trenching can be a very dangerous and risky activity if safety standards as mentioned in OSHA will not be followed. There are numbers of hazards associated with excavation & trenching which needs to be rectified by suitable control measures.

OSHA’s Rules for Excavation & Trenching.

Hazards of excavation & trenching: -

• Cave-In (Collapse of soil)
• Water logging.
• Underground utilities.
• Lack of proper access.
• Toxic gases or contaminants.

OSHA's Safety Standards

Here in this article tow OSHA’s standards for excavation & trenching are mentioned which are 1926.651 & 1926.652.

OSHA's 1926.651 – Specific Excavation Requirements: -

1926.651(a): - All surface obstruction located to pose a hazard to workers shall be removed or supported as necessary for the safety of workers.

1926.651(b)(1): - All underground utilities must be identified before the excavation such as sewer, telephone, electrical etc. to decide the suitable control measure for unexpected harm.  

1926.651(c)(1)(i): - Structure ramps used for access or egress from excavation shall be designed by a competent person who must be qualified in structure design.

1926.651(d): - A stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe means of access must be provided If the excavation is 4 feet (1.22) or more in depth or if a man requires to travel more than 25 feet (7.62 m) inside excavation.

1926.651(e): - To prevent injury from falling load during excavation no person shall be allowed to stand under load handled by lifting or digging equipment.

1926.651(f): - Provide warning sign such as barricade, hand or mechanical signals or stop logs if edge of excavation isn’t visible to operator.

1926.651(g)(1)(i): - Gas test must be done before employee enter in excavation greater than 4 feet (1.22 m) in depth.

1926.651(g)(1)(ii): - If the oxygen percentage is less than 19.5 in atmosphere, adequate safety precaution must be taken.

1926.651(g)(2)(i): - Rescue equipment for emergency such as breathing apparatus, safety harness and life line must be available at excavation site where hazardous atmosphere exists.

1926.651(h)(1): - No workmen should be allowed to work in excavation during water accumulation, unless adequate safety precaution have been taken, remove the water or use a safety harness & lifeline.

1926.651(i)(1): - Where there is risk of collapse of adjacent structure during excavation adequate protection shall be taken by providing support system such as, shoring, bracing or under piling.

1926.651(j)(2): - Workers must be protected by falling or rolling material in excavation by keeping such material 2 feet (0.61 m) far from the edge of excavation or by retaining devices or by combination of both.

1926.651(k)(1): - Daily inspection of excavation, adjacent structure must be done by competent person to identify any hazards such as cave-in.  

1926.651(1): - If employee or equipment are required to cross the excavation, a walkway must be provided, and if depth of excavation is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more, guardrails which comply with 1926.502(b) must be provided.

OSHA's Standards for Excavation & Trenching

1926.652 – Requirements for protection systems.

1926.652(a)(1): - Each workman in excavation must be protected from cave-in by protective system.

1926.652(a)(1)(ii): - Trenches of 5 feet (1.5 m) or of more depth must be protected by protective system. If depth is less than 5 feet, a competent person will determine protective system is required or not.

OSHA's Standards for Excavation & Trenching

Get OSHA's Pdf here:- 

OSHA's Standard for Excavation & Trenching (Pdf)

OSHA's Standard for Scaffolding (Pdf)

OSHA's Standard for Ladder (Pdf)

OSHA's Standard for Work at Height (Pdf)

OSHA's Standard for Confined Space (Pdf)

OSHA's Standard for Scaffolding (Pdf)

5-4-3-2-1 Rule for Excavation.

Remember this rule

5-4-3-2-1 Rule for Excavation.

5

Any trench deeper than 5 feet must be protected from cave-in. if trench is less than depth of 5 feet a competent person will decide that a protective system is required or not.

OSHA's Safety Standards 

4

Any trench of depth greater than 4 feet must have a ladder for exit.

 

3

Ladder must be extended at least 3 feet out of the trench or the landing platform.

Occupational safety & health administration 

2

Keep spoil piles (loose material) at least 2 feet away from the edge of excavation.

 

1

One competent person must be deployed at site during excavation who will determine the hazards and their control measures.

5-4-3-2-1 Rule for Excavation.

Read More:- 

What Is OSHA?

OSHA's Standards for Excavation & Trenching, 5-4-3-2-1 Rule for Excavation, OSHA's Safety Standards, What is OSHA, Excavation safety.