Trenches and Excavations Checklist
(Taken from the "Tailgate Meetings that Work : A Guide
to Effective Construction Safety Training" series) |
|
Robin Baker, Robert
Downey, Mary Ruth Gross, Charles Reiter
Labor Occupational Health Program
(LOHP) School of Public Health,
University of California, Berkeley Ca.
These tailgate/toolbox
talks were developed for use under California OSHA regulations. The
complete set is available from the Labor Occupational Health Program
at UC Berkeley. For ordering information, visit the website (www.lohp.org)
The American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
has adapted these talks to apply to federal OSHA regulations. To contact
ACGIH, visit its web site (www.acgih.org). |
Date Prepared:_________________________ |
By:______________________ |
Project
Name/No.______________________ |
Location:__________________ |
- Check the
box if the statement is true.
- Fill in
the blanks where the appears.
- Citations
in brackets are from Title 8 of the California Administrative Code.
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
- The company has
a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) that meets all
Cal/OSHA requirements. It includes identification of trenching and excavation
hazards on the site, regular inspections, accident investigation, and
correction of hazardous conditions. [1509]
PERMIT
- A Cal/OSHA permit
has been obtained for any trenching or excavating job over 5 feet deep
if workers will enter. [341(a)(1)]
- Sloping or benching
for excavations greater than 20 feet deep was designed by a professional
engineer. [1541.1(b) and Appendix B]
THE COMPETENT PERSON
- A competent
person is on site and able to identify hazards. [1504 and 1541(k)(1)]
|
Name
of competent person:____________________________ |
- If the competent
person finds evidence of a hazard, workers are removed from the dangerous
area. [1541(k)(2)]
- No one enters
a trench or excavation unless the competent person is on site.
- The competent
person has knowledge of soil classification, has classified the soil,
and has determined the appropriate type of cave-in protection and required
slope. [1541.1 Appendix A]
PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS
- Workers are protected
from cave-ins in all excavations by an adequately designed protective
system. (A protective system is not required if the excavation is made
entirely in stable rock, of if the excavation is less than 5 feet deep
and the competent person finds no indication of a potential cave-in.)
[1541.1(a)(1)]
- Work is done only
in areas protected by sloping and benching, a support system, a shield
system, etc. [1541.1(b), (c). and (g)]
- Installation of
the support system is closely coordinated with the excavation of the
trench. [1541.1(d)(1)]
- Material and equipment
used for protective systems are the right size, in good condition, and
free of defects. [1541.1(d)(1)]
- Members of support
systems are securely connected together and are not subjected to loads
beyond their capacity. [1541.1(e)]
- Workers are protected
from cave-ins, structural collapse, or accidentally being hit during
installation and removal of the support system. [1541.1(e)(1)(E)]
- Removal of shoring
or other protective systems starts at the bottom of the excavation.
Members are released slowly so structural failures will be noticed.
[1541.1(e)(1)(E)]
- Backfilling progresses
with the removal of support systems from excavations. [1541.1(e)(1)(F)]
- Workers are instructed
not to climb on shoring or bracing. [1509]
INSPECTIONS
- The competent
person inspects (a) every day before work, (b) after every rainstorm,
and (c) as needed, for evidence of possible cave-ins, failure of systems,
hazardous atmospheres, etc. [1541(k)]
- There is no accumulated
water in trenches or excavations where employees work, unless special
precautions are taken. Water is removed safely, monitored by the competent
person. The competent person is aware of the water table and natural
drainage. [1541(h)]
- There are no tension
cracks, sloughing (small cave-ins), or bulging in trench walls or in
the ground near trenches or excavations. [1541.1 Appendix B]
- There is no bending
or buckling of shoring. (If there is any damage, call a registered professional
engineer). [1541(k)]
- There has been
no change in weather affecting soil moisture since the last inspection
by the competent person. [1541(h) and (k)]
LOOKOUT
- Nobody works in
a trench without a lookout standing by.
HAZARDS UNDERGROUND
- Underground utility
installations in the area (such as electrical, phone, gas, sewage, water,
and fuel lines) have been identified. [1541(b)]
- Utility owners
have been notified at least two working days prior to digging. [1541(b)]
- While an excavation
is open, underground utility lines are protected, supported, or removed
as necessary. [1541(b)(4)]
- Workers are not
permitted underneath a load handled by lifting or digging equipment.
[1541(e)]
- No workers are
permitted above others on sloped/benched faces unless those below are
protected from falling material. [1541.1(f)]
- There is adequate
protection from loose rock on the face of a tench or excavation. (Protection
may include scaling to remove loose material, or erection of a barricade.)
[1541(j)(1)]
- Hazards from vehicle
or equipment vibration have been corrected. [1541.1 Appendix A(d)(1)(G)]
- Support systems
have been installed wherever the stability of adjoining buildings, walls,
or other structures is endangered by excavation operations. [1541(i)(1)]
- No excavation
is done below the level of the base or footing of any foundation or
retaining wall unless the structure is supported. [1541(i)(2)]
- Sidewalks and
roads are supported if undermined. [1541(i)(3)]
- Spoil, tools,
material, and equipment are kept at least two feet form the edge. If
not, they are kept in place by retaining devices. [1541(j)(2)]
- Protection is
provided for mobile equipment which approaches the edge of an excavation.
(Protection may include barricades, hand or mechanical signals, or stop
logs) Where possible, the grade of vehicle paths slopes away from the
excavation. [1541(f)]
ACCESS TO TRENCHES AND EXCAVATIONS
- Ladders, stairs,
ramps, or other means of access are no more than 25 feet from any worker
in a trench 4 feet or more deep. [1541(c)(2)]
- Structural ramps
used solely by workers are designed by a competent person; ramps for
equipment are designed by a competent person qualified in structural
design. [1541(c)(1)]
- Walkways or bridges
with standard guardrails are provided where employees or equipment cross
over excavations that are deeper than 6 feet and wider than 30 inches.
[1541(l)(1)]
- There are adequate
barriers (warning signs, barricades, covers) to prevent unauthorized
entry into a trench or excavation. [1541(l)(2)]
- All remotely located
trenches, excavations, wells, pits, etc. are barricaded or covered.
[1541(l)(2)]
- Temporary wells,
pits, shafts, etc. are backfilled as soon as exploration or similar
operations are completed. [1541(l)(2)]
CONFINED SPACES
AND HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERES
- Excavations are
classified as confined spaces if dangerous air contamination or oxygen
deficiency may exist and it is difficult for workers to exit.(If
there are such areas, Cal/OSHA has strict requirements for confined
spaces which must be followed on the site.)[5158]
|
Confined
spaces on this site:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
|
- If digging over
4 feet deep near a landfill or in a known toxic area, testing is done
for potential hazardous atmospheres (such as lack of oxygen, or the
presence of toxic, flammable, or explosive substances). [1541(g)(1)]
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
- Hard hats, protective
boots or shoes, goggles, protective clothing, and protective gloves
are available and used as required by employees entering trenches, excavations,
and confined spaces. Protective equipment is appropriate for the work
and provides adequate protection. [3380-3385]
- If respirators
are used on the site (for example, in confined spaces) the company has
a written Respiratory Protection Program. [5144(c)]
- Workers exposed
to vehicle traffic wear bright orange warning garments (shirts, vests,
jackets). In rainy weather, they wear orange or yellow raingear. [1541(d),
1590(a)(5), 1598(c), and 1599(d)]
HOUSEKEEPING
- Adequate lighting
exists if working at night. [1523]
- All work areas
are free of tripping hazards. [1513]
- Means of access
are kept clear at all times. [1513]
Tailgate
Meetings That Work : Collection
Published in June, 1994 by: Labor Occupational Health Program, School
of Public Health, 2515 Channing Way, University of California, Berkeley,
CA 94720. Phone: (510) 642-5507.
Permission is granted to duplicate these materials for non-profit educational
purposes, provided that copies are not offered for sale.
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