Other Protective Systems
As mentioned earlier, when a trench is excavated, employees who work in the area must be protected from cave-ins.
The contractor should consider excavating a wider area than the necessary minimum. When this is done, it provides a more comfortable working environment for your employees in the trench. This extra working area may provide a way for workers to escape an unexpected crisis, such as falling objects or debris.
Contractors should also reduce risk by limiting the number of workers in the trench at all times. The only workers allowed in the trench should be those who are absolutely needed to perform the task at hand.
As the trench is backfilled, the braces and planks can be removed to be used at another site. If installed and removed correctly, vertical planks and trench braces may be used several times!
Ingress and Egress
Access to and exit from the trench require the following conditions:
- Trenches 4 ft or more in depth should be provided with a fixed means of egress.
- Spacing between ladders or other means of egress must be such that a worker will not have to travel more than 25 ft laterally to the nearest means of egress.
- Ladders must be secured and extend a minimum of 36 in (0.9 m) above the landing.
- Metal ladders should be used with caution, particularly when electric utilities are present.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-9. When in a trench, workers should be no farther from a ladder than _____.
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