802 Trench and Excavation Safety

Employees must be protected from loads or objects falling from lifting or digging equipment.

Here are some procedures to protect your employees:

Employees are not permitted to work under raised loads
Employees are required to stand away from the equipment that is being loaded or unloaded
Equipment operators or truck drivers may stay in their equipment during loading and unloading, if the equipment has a cab shield or adequate canopy

The following steps should be taken to prevent vehicles from accidentally falling into the trench:

Barricades must be installed where necessary.
Hand or mechanical signals must be used as required.
Stop logs must be installed if there is a danger of vehicles falling into the trench.
Soil should be graded away from the excavation; this will assist in vehicle control and channeling of run-off water.

Exercise: What questions should a competent person ask?

Look carefully at the picture.

What questions should a competent person ask when evaluating the hazards?

Do you see any hazards and unsafe behaviors?
What is the soil classification (hint, the soil has been worked previously)?
Are those workers in the trench safe from cave-ins?
Is there a dangerous hazard of being struck by falling objects?
Is that supervisor being responsible, or does he have a total lack of consideration for the safety of his employees?
What violations would you cite if you were an OSHA inspector?

What other other questions might you ask?

6-4. Which of the following practices is not allowed while working in a trench?

Work in a sloped trench with Type C soil

Working under a raised load

Entering an unguarded 4 ft deep trench without shoring

Working in a trench without a coworker

You forgot to answer the question!