513 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 23-29

Sections

25-8. General Requirements.

Safe Access Requirements

Implement perimeter protection to safeguard personnel, vehicles, and equipment from falling into excavations, adhering to the specified classes (I, II, III) based on the exposure level and depth of the excavation.
Secure all wells, pits, and similar openings by barricading or covering them.
Promptly backfill excavations after completion, especially test pits and temporary wells, to prevent hazards.

Means of Egress and Access

Install walkways or bridges with guardrails over excavations as per chapter 21 for safe crossing of personnel and equipment.
Provide stairs, ramps, or ladders at sufficient intervals for excavations or trenches over 4 feet deep, ensuring no more than 25 feet of lateral travel for access.
Extend ladders used as access ways from the bottom of the excavation to at least 3 feet above the surface.

Ramp and Fall Protection Specifications

Construct ramps according to chapter 24, with specific width and guardrail requirements based on their usage for personnel or equipment.
Ensure ramps used for equipment access are designed by a Qualified Person (QP) specialized in structural design.
Provide fall protection for individuals involved in inspection or testing in or around excavations as per chapter 21.

Sloping and Benching Regulations

Adhere to allowable slope angles and configurations for excavations, not exceeding 34° for depths of 20 feet or less, and base configurations on soil type as per figures 25-1 and 25-2.
Use soil and rock deposit classification to determine appropriate slope configurations, requiring a CP to conduct soil classification with specified tests.
Choose slope or bench designs from approved tabulated data or designs prepared by a Registered Professional Engineer (RPE), maintaining a copy at the jobsite and ensuring designs include necessary details and RPE identification.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

25-8. What is the proper separation interval between access points in excavations over 4 feet deep?

Not less than 25 feet of travel

50-75 feet of lateral travel

Not more than 25 feet of travel

Less than 50 feet of travel

You forgot to answer the question!

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 25-8 (h.–i.).

25-8. General Requirements. (h.–i.).

h.  Safe Access. (25-8.h)

(1)  Provide perimeter protection to prevent personnel, vehicles, and equipment from falling into excavations according to the following hierarchy:

(a)  Class I perimeter protection is required if the excavation is exposed to members of the public or vehicles or equipment.

(a-1)  Class I perimeter protection must meet the requirements of a guardrail system according to chapter 21.

(a-2)  Class I perimeter protection guarding against traffic (for example, vehicles, equipment) falling into an excavation must be designed, by a QP, to withstand the potential forces due to impact by traffic.

(b)  Class II perimeter protection, at minimum, is required if the excavation does not meet the requirements for Class I perimeter protection but is:  routinely exposed to employees and is deeper than 6 feet (1.8 m) or contains hazards (for example, impalement, hazardous substances).

(b-1)  Class II perimeter protection consists of warning barricades or flagging placed not closer than 6 feet (1.8 m) from the edge of the excavation.

(b-2)  Warning barricades or flagging do not have to meet the requirements for Class I perimeter protection but do need to display an adequate warning at an elevation of 3 feet (0.9 m) to 4 feet (1.2 m) above ground level (AGL).

(b-3)  When workers are in the zone between the warning barricades or flagging and the excavation, provide them with appropriate fall protection according to chapter 21.

(c)  Class III perimeter protection, at minimum, is required if the excavation does not meet the requirements for either Class I or Class II perimeter protection.

(c-1)  Class III. Perimeter protection consists of warning barricades or flagging placed not closer than 6 inches (15.2 cm) nor more than 6 feet (1.8 m) from the edge of the excavation.

(c-2)  Warning barricades or flagging do not have to meet the requirements for Class I perimeter protection but do need to display an adequate warning at an elevation of 3 feet (0.9 m) to 4 feet (1.2 m) AGL.

(c-3)  When workers are in the zone between the warning barricades or flagging and the excavation, provide them with appropriate fall protection according to chapter 21.

(2)  Barricade or cover all wells, calyx holes, pits, shafts, and similar.

(3)  Backfill excavations as soon as possible.  Upon completion of exploration and similar operations, backfill test pits, temporary wells, calyx holes, and similar immediately.

(4)  Provide walkways or bridges with standard guardrails according to chapter 21 where people or equipment are required or permitted to cross over excavations.

(5)  Where personnel are required to enter excavations or trenches over 4 feet (1.2 m) in depth, provide sufficient stairs, ramps, or ladders.  Such means of egress must be provided at intervals so that no more than 25 feet (7.6 m) of lateral travel is required in order to access.

(a)  Provide at least two means of exit for personnel working in excavations. Where the width of the excavation exceeds 100 feet (30.5 m), provide two or more means of exit on each side of the excavation.

(b)  When access to excavations more than 20 feet (6.1 m) in depth is required, provide ramps, stairs, or mechanical personnel hoists.

(6)  Ramps.  Install ramps according to chapter 24.

(a)  Ramps used solely for personnel access must be a minimum width of 4 feet
        (1.2 m) and provided with standard guardrails according to chapter 21.

(b)  Ramps used for equipment access must be a minimum width of 12 feet
        (3.7 m).  Provide curbs not less than 8 inches x 8 inches (20.3 cm x 20.3 cm), timbers, or equivalent protection.  Equipment ramps must be designed by a QP qualified in structural design.

(7)  Ladders used as access ways must extend from the bottom of the excavation to not less than 3 feet (0.9 m) above the surface.

(8)  Provide fall protection for persons when inspecting or testing in or around an excavation that is between 6 feet (1.8 m) and 20 feet (6.1 m) deep, that has a vertical face leading edge fall exposure (that is, sides have not been laid back), or that contains hazards (for example, impalement hazards, hazardous substances) (see chapter 21).

Note. Exception. The designated CP for Excavation may exempt the use of fall protection for inspectors or supervisors provided those individuals are not exposed to hazards within 24 inches (61 cm) of edges, the excavation contains no additional hazards and the individual(s) stay a minimum of 24 inches (61 cm) from the excavation’s edge.

i.  Sloping and Benching.  Sloping or benching of the ground must follow one of the systems outlined below (see figures 25-1 and 25-2).  (25-8.i)

(1)  Allowable configurations and slopes.  For excavations 20 feet (6.1 m) or less in depth, do not exceed an angle of 34° measured from the horizontal (that is, 1-1/2 horizontal to 1 vertical).  Excavate these slopes to form configurations according to the slopes shown for Type C soil in figure 25-1.

(2)  Determination of slopes and configurations using classification of soil and rock deposits.  For excavations 20 feet (6.1 m) or less in depth, use classification of soil and rock deposits to determine slope configurations according to 29 CFR 1926, Subpart P, Appendices A and B.  (See figure 25-1)

(a)  Soil classification must be conducted by a CP and include at least one visual and one manual test (for example, pocket penetrometer, plasticity/wet thread test, shear vane test).

(b)  Classify layered soils based on the soil classification of the weakest layer. Each layer may be classified individually if a more stable layer lies below a less stable layer (that is, Type C over Type B) (see table 25-1).

(3)  Designs using other tabulated data.  Select the design from and according to written tabulated data, such as charts and tables approved by an RPE.  Maintain at least one copy of the tabulated data at the jobsite during excavation.  The tabulated data must include the following:

(a)  Identification of the parameters that affect the selection of a sloping or benching system drawn from the data.

(b)  Identification of the limits of use of the data, to include the magnitude and configuration of slopes determined to be safe.

(c)  Explanatory information as may be necessary to aid the user in correctly selecting a protective system from the data.

(d)  The identity of the RPE who approved the data.

(4)  Design by an RPE.  Slope or bench according to designs prepared by an RPE. Maintain at least one copy of the design at the jobsite during excavation.  Designs must be in writing and include the following:

(a)  The magnitudes and configurations of the slopes that were determined to be safe for the excavation.

(b)  The identity of the RPE who approved the design, including name and contact information.