Change letter trenching and shoring manual revision no. Federal law mandates that all workers have a safe place to work. Trenching and excavation work exposes workers to extremely dangerous hazards. Trench collapses can occur without warning, regardless of the depth. Midwest builders casualty safety programs are most effective when they are designed to meet the specific and individual needs of each company. Definitions benching a method of protecting employees from caveins by excavating the sides of an excavation to form one or a series of horizontal levels or steps, usually with vertical or. The purpose of this module is to increase your awareness of excavation. Bureau of labor statistics bls data show that 271 workers died in trenching or excavation caveins from 2000 through 2006. Each employee involved with excavation and trenching work is responsible to comply with all applicable safety procedures and requirements of this program. Videos are professionally developed and presented by individuals who have years of onthejob training experience. Caveins are perhaps the most feared trenching hazard. Trenching and excavation practical applications for construction.
The vast majority of trenching fatalities occurs in trenches 5 to 15feet deep. Since then, osha has amended the standard several times to increase worker protection and to reduce the frequency and severity of excavation accidents and injuries. Between 2016 and 2019, three minnesota workers died in a trench, excavation or ground collapse. The occupational safety and health administration issued its first excavation and trenching standard in 1971 to protect workers from excavation hazards.
Trenching and excavation practical applications for. Trenching and excavation safety occupational safety and. Trenches 20 feet deep or greater require a protective system designed by a registered professional engineer. Apr 04, 2017 new trenching and excavation safety pdf.
This safety program does not constitute a complete and comprehensive safety program. Basic excavation safety safety tips when using trench boxes reference 1926 subpart p trench boxes, also referred to as trench shields, are becoming increasingly common on excavation sites. Trenching and excavation basics loss control bulletin lcs 5004 112014 1 trenching and excavation basics on average, two workers are killed every month in trench collapses. Trenching and excavation work is inherently dangerous. Trenching and excavation safety trench collapses, or caveins, pose the greatest risk to workers lives. Employees protected from loose rock or soil that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling into the excavation. Trenching and excavation safety guidelines establish the locations of underground and overhead utilities and services before beginning excavation. Each year excavation and trenching caveins result in more than 5,000 serious injuries and 100 deaths in the united states. An excavation is any manmade hole or trench that is made by removing earth. One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings, or working conditions which are unsanitary. A trench is an excavation that is wider than it is deep. Trenching and excavation occupational safety and health. Division of o s h policy and procedures manual special.
Spoils, materials, and equipment set back at least two feet from the edge of the excavation. You may encounter trenching and excavation operations on site. From 1992 to 2001, the census of fatal occupational injuries cfoi maintained by the bureau of labor statistics identified 542. Working safely in trenches occupational safety and. Ladders must be placed at least how close to workers. Excavation checklists are an essential tool used during preoperations to evaluate the jobsite, utilities and equipment, access means, area atmosphere and support systems to identify problems before they occur. All persons involved in excavation and trenching work have received appropriate training in the safe work practices that must be followed when performing this type of work. Walkways and bridges over excavations 6 or more in depth are at least 20 inches wide and are equipped with required guardrails. Caveins pose the greatest risk to excavation workers as they cause dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries each year. Hazards include caveins, struckby injuries, electrical contact, and slips, trips, and falls. Training is required for all personnel conducting trenching, excavating, and shoring activities.
Trainers note although farmers are generally exempt from the state trenching and excavation statutes, they may still be held liable for injuries and loss of life resulting from trenching and excavation activities conducted under their direction. Caveins pose the greatest risk and are much more likely than other excavationrelated. Contact utility companies and municipallyowned utilities and advise them prior to the start of actual excavation. Any manmade cut, cavity, trench, or depression in an earth surface, formed by earth removal. The key to prevention of this type of loss is good planning. Classification of soils air monitoring trench and excavation access spoils piles shoring and sloping learn how to identify and mitigate excavation hazards. Pdf trench safety quickcard osha 3243 2018 english. Excavation spoil must be how far from the top of the excavation.
Spoils, materials, and equipment set back a minimum of 2 from edge of excavation. Highlights key elements of the standards and describes safe work practices that can protect workers from caveins and other hazards. Trenching and excavation safety 5 contact and notify the utility companies or owners involved to inform them of the proposed work within established or customary local response times. Trenching and excavation safety 1 introduction excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction operations. Take photos of excavation hazards, schedule inspections for your officials in the field, and generate pdf reports in real time. Trenching and excavation is known to be one of most hazardous operations in the construction industry. Electrocution or explosions can occur when workers contact underground utilities. Trenching and excavation work presents serious hazards to all workers involved.
When the side of a trench decides to move it is too late to be thinking about your safety or the safety of others. Spoil piles, materials, and equipment must be set back at least 2 feet from the edge of the. An excavation is a hole left in the ground as the result of removing material. The excavation safety university video series is designed to provide practical information to help viewers become more effective in their jobs. According to the census of fatal occupational injuries cfoi data published by the bureau of labor statistics bls, nationwide there were fatalities recorded in trenching and excavation operations between 2011 and 2016. No matter how many trenching, shoring and backfilling jobs you have done in the past, approach each job like it is your first, with the utmost care and preparation. These injuries and fatalities are preventable with planning and proper execution of safety precautions. This can be attributed in part to their relative ease of installation and use when. Trenching and excavation safety trenching and excavation present multiple hazards including falls, hazardous atmospheres, water accumulation and incidents involving loads or mobile equipment. A trench is an excavation in which the depth exceeds the width. The sides of the excavation or trench should be supported by timbering or other suitable means or sloped and battered back to a safe. Employer in administering the excavation safety program, company name will. A trench is an excavation in which the depth exceeds the width figure 1. Attached are revisions to the trenching and shoring manual.
Trench is defined as a narrow underground excavation that is deeper than it is wide, and is no wider than 15 feet. Adjacent area is equal to the depth of the trench or excavation. Daily excavation safety inspections should be conducted during project works. Trench is defined as a narrow underground excavation that is deeper than it. This online safety course will cover basic applications of the requirements found in osha subpart p of the safety and health regulations for construction, cfr 1926. It is important, before beginning the job, to establish and maintain a safety and health program for the work site that provides adequate systematic. Trenches 5 feet deep or greater require a protective system. Training in the recognition of applicable hazards associated with. Html hazards of inadequately securing hydraulic excavator buckets when using quick coupling devices 2005, july 22 english. Excavation and trenching procedures 4 p a g e 32018 policies, programs and procedures on any excavation where depth is expected to exceed four feet or where unstable soil is likely to be encountered, shoring or shielding equipment that will be used shall be on the site before any excavation actually begins. Slope or bench trench walls by cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation. When done safely, trenching operations can reduce worker exposure to other potential hazards include falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, and incidents involving mobile equipment. Since then, osha has amended the standard several times to increase worker pro.
But other potentially fatal hazards exist, including asphyxiation due to lack of oxygen in a confined space, inhalation of toxic fumes, drowning, etc. Excavation checklists are used to perform safety inspections and risk assessments for excavation and trenching projects. Excavation safety safety toolbox talks meeting topics. According to the osha construction safety and health standards. The training shall include as a minimum, the following. Excavation safety excavation university excavation safety university video series. Daily worksite checklist for trenchingexcavation sites. Ask the utility companies or owners to establish the location of underground installations prior to the start of excavation work. To understand and practice safe trenching and excavation. The occupational safety and health administration s osha excavation standards, 29 code of federal regulations cfr part 1926, subpart p, contain requirements for excavation and trenching operations. The purpose of the excavation and trenching safety program is to put in place work practices and procedures that will protect employees from hazards that may be found in or around excavations or trenches. Excavation and trenching excavation is defined as a man. All persons working in andor around trenches or excavations shall complete rms excavation, trenching, and shoring training in complynd.
Training in the recognition of applicable hazards associated with trenching and excavation operations. One of the biggest hazards related to trenching and. Trenching and excavation environmental health and safety. You will learn the basic trenching operations that help make a trench safe for workers, methods for protecting employees against caveins, and other safe work practices for employees. Trenching is recognized as one of the most hazardous construction activities. Free weekly safety meeting topics for tailgate and toolbox talks required by osha for industries such as construction. The occupational safety and health administration issued its first excavation and trenching standard in 1971 to pro tect workers from excavation hazards. A trench is a narrow channel up to 15 feet wide, generally deeper than it is wide, made below the surface of the ground. Trenching and excavation earth boring machines 1990, june 4 english. Osha standards require safe access and egress to all excavations, including ladders, steps, ramps, or other safe means of exit for employees working in trench. Caveins pose the greatest risk and are much more likely than other excavation related accidents to result in worker fatalities. Requiring each department that performs work in excavations to name one.
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