Trenching and Excavation
US & Canada Excavation General Construction
Why it matters
A cubic yard of soil weighs as much as a small car. Cave-ins are almost always fatal and almost always preventable.
Key points
- Trenches 5 ft (1.5 m) or deeper require protection: sloping, shoring, or a trench box.
- A competent person must inspect the trench daily and after every rain.
- Keep spoil piles and equipment at least 2 ft (0.6 m) from the edge.
- Ladder or ramp within 25 ft (7.6 m) of every worker in the trench.
- Never enter an unprotected trench, even "just for a second".
Discussion
Who is the competent person on this site? When was the last trench inspection?
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