On-site Inspection
The employer must ensure documented inspections are conducted by a competent person.
Inspectors must be competent persons.
The following guide specifies the frequency and conditions requiring inspections:
- Daily and before the start of each shift;
- As dictated by the work being done in the trench;
- After every rainstorm;
- After other events that could increase hazards, e.g. snowstorm, windstorm, thaw, earthquake, etc.;
- When fissures, tension cracks, sloughing, undercutting, water seepage, bulging at the bottom, or other similar conditions occur;
- When there is a change in the size, location, or placement of the spoil pile; and
- When there is any indication of change or movement in adjacent structures.
If the inspector finds any unsafe conditions during an inspection, they must clear employees from the hazardous area until safety precautions are in place.
See a sample Excavation Safety Checklist that can help conduct inspections.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
5-9. What must the inspector do if unsafe conditions in a trench are discovered during an inspection?
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