Excavations
Excavation activities can create a number of hazards such as water accumulation, the instability of adjacent structures, falls, cave-ins, and egress concerns. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) standard for trenching and excavation outlines the requirements for the shoring and sloping of excavations.
- Prior to any excavation work, driving of spikes/stakes into the ground and drilling, Dig-Safe must be notified. Excavation should not begin until Dig-Safe's approval has been given and all utility companies have marked existing utilities in the field.
- All excavations 5-feet or more in depth must be shored or sloped.
- State law requires excavators to use non-mechanical means when digging within 18" of a marked underground facility. Utilities must also be supported to prevent collapse.
- The area around the trench/excavation must be kept clear of surface encumbrances.
- Ladders must be provide for access and egress to the excavation.
- In excavations where hazardous atmospheres have the potential to exist, the atmosphere must be tested before entry. If a hazardous atmosphere is found, then the excavation shall be treated as a permit required confined space. Locations that are most likely to result in a hazardous atmosphere include excavations in landfills, in areas where there is significant decomposition of organic materials, and locations next to hazardous materials storage areas.
- Adjacent structures must be shored in accordance with the design documents to prevent collapse.
- Guardrails or some other means of protecting people from falling into the trench/excavation should be installed around the perimeter of the excavation.
