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Trenching and Excavation |
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Construction |
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Quick Link |
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Alliances
- Construction.
OSHA's Alliance Program. This is one of OSHA's Strategic Management Plan Focus
Areas.
eTools
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Construction. OSHA. A
Spanish
version is also available. Helps workers identify and control the
hazards that cause serious construction-related injuries.
OSHA Standards
Trenching and excavation hazards are addressed in specific
standards for the construction industry. This section highlights OSHA standards,
the Regulatory Agenda (a list of actions being taken with regard to OSHA
standards), directives (instructions for compliance officers), and standard
interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards) related to
trenching and excavation.
Highlighted Standards
Construction Industry (29
CFR 1926)
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1926 Subpart P, Excavations
- 1926.650,
Scope, application, and definitions applicable to this subpart
- 1926.651,
Specific excavation requirements
- 1926.652,
Requirements for protective systems
- Appendix A, Soil classification
- Appendix B, Sloping and benching
- Appendix C, Timber shoring for trenches
- Appendix D, Aluminum hydraulic shoring for trenches
- Appendix E, Alternatives to timber shoring
- Appendix F, Selection of protective systems
- 1926 Subpart
S, Underground construction, caissons, cofferdams, and
compressed air
- 1926 Subpart
V, Power transmission and distribution
- For additional information on specific state plan states or other
general standards, see the general industry
OSHA Standards page.
Regulatory Agenda
- The
OSHA
Regulatory Agenda contains an entry related to Construction - Trenching
and Excavation. OSHA has announced its intent to conduct a Section 610
review (also known as a “Lookback review”) of the Excavation Standard
(29 CFR 1926, Subpart P). OSHA regularly reviews existing standards to
determine whether the standards should be maintained without change,
rescinded or modified.
Directives
Standard Interpretations
Hazards and
Possible Solutions
Excavation cave-ins cause serious and often fatal
injuries to workers in the United States. The following references aid in
recognizing and evaluating trenching and excavation hazards in the workplace.
- OSHA Technical Manual (OTM).
OSHA Directive TED 01-00-015 [TED 1-0.15A], (1999, January 20).
- Overview
for Subpart P Excavations. OSHA Construction Resource Manual. Discusses proper procedure and safe practices in excavation.
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US Department
of Labor (DOL), North Aurora, IL Area Office.
Aurora OSHA Construction News 3.2(2002, Fall). Also
available as a 454
KB PDF,
6 pages. Provides articles discussing trenching contractors not in compliance
and their top ten reasons for noncompliance with the trenching standards,
reports fatalities and injuries investigated in Illinois, ranks most
frequently cited standards, discusses protective systems and the competent
person.
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Excavations. OSHA Publication 2226, (2002).
Also available as a 533 KB PDF,
44 pages. Highlights key elements of
29 CFR 1926.650,
shows ways to protect employees against cave-ins, and describes safe work practices for employees.
- The
100 Most Frequently Cited OSHA Construction Standards in 1991: A Guide for
the Abatement of the Top 25 Associated Physical Hazards. OSHA
Publication, (1995, March). Also available as a 2 MB PDF,
100 pages. Helps employers and employees identify and correct hazards
related to the most frequently cited OSHA standards found on construction
sites throughout the United States. PPE-related standards were found at the
number 2, 7, and 19 positions on this list of 100.
- Analysis
of Construction Fatalities - The OSHA DataBase 1985-1989. OSHA, (1990,
November). Contains valuable statistics concerning
excavation and trenching related accidents.
- Construction
- Pocket Guide. OSHA Publication 3252-05N, (2005). Also available as a 285
KB PDF,
36 pages.
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Preventing Injuries and Deaths From Skid Steer Loaders. Department of Health
and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No.
98-117, (1998, February). Also available as a 395 KB PDF,
2 pages. Describes six deaths involving skid steer loaders and recommends methods for preventing similar incidents.
- Preventing
Deaths and Injuries From Excavation Cave-Ins. National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (1997, March 11). Provides several case reports, OSHA standards that
apply to these cases, and recommended courses of action.
- Excavation
Work Special Trade Contractors. US Census Bureau, (1992). Provides samples of available 1992 statistics related to
special trade contractors and excavation work.
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Excavation Safety. VirginiaTech
(Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University). Establishes guidelines
and procedures relating to safety on excavation sites at Virginia Tech. Provides
information regarding best practices for related hazards and assessments and
inspection guidelines.
- Trenching and Shoring Procedures.
Oklahoma State University, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Manuals, (2002, March 19). Sets forth the official practices required for excavations made
by Oklahoma State University employees on property owned by Oklahoma State University.
Additional Information
Related Safety and Health Topics Pages
News Releases
- Potential
trenching hazards bring fines to company in LA. OSHA Region 6 News Release, (2003,
May 9). Failure to protect employees from potential trenching and
excavation hazards has brought Coushatta Empire Inc. of Oakdale, La.,
$99,400 in proposed penalties from the Baton Rouge area office of the US
Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
- OSHA
issues bulletin on hazards of striking underground gas lines. OSHA Trade
News
Release, (2003, June 13). Safety and Health Information
Bulletin issued by OSHA advises contractors on hazards associated with
striking underground gas lines during excavation work.
- OSHA,
Florida Institute for Safety and Construction Form Alliance. OSHA Region
4 News
Release, (2003, June 18). OSHA and Florida Atlantic University's
Institute for Safety and Construction have formed an alliance designed to
assist in identifying and removing safety hazards at construction sites.
Training
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Excavation. Oregon-OSHA. Includes publications, fact sheets,
workbooks/instructor guides, and a video/DVD library.
- Excavation Safety. Oregon-OSHA Workshop 302,
2 MB
PDF, 94 pages. Provides information on excavation work in construction,
discussing specific hazards resulting from excavation work and requirements for
protective systems. A 3 MB
PDF, 34 page instructor guide is also available.
- Excavations. Oregon-OSHA Publication 2174, 2 MB
PDF, 32 pages.
Describes differences between excavations and trenches, the role of a competent
person, how cave-ins occur, how soil is tested, protective systems, and getting
in and out of an excavation. Includes a safe practice checklist.
- Trench
Safety - A Tutorial for Constructors. Auburn University, Building Science
Department.
Other Resources
- Development of Draft Construction Safety Standards for Excavation.
Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) Publication No. 83-103, (1983).
- Yokel, Felix Y. Soil Classification for Construction Practice.
US Department of Commerce. Washington DC: US Government Printing Office, 1980.
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