TITB Trenching and Excavation Safety

• Date

  Date

• Site

  Select

• Customer

• Project Number

• Job Number

• Job Location
  Address

• Trench Location/Stationing (i.e. 0+00 - 0+50)

• Prepared by

• OSHA Technical Manual (OTM)
  Appendix V:2-1. Site Assessment Questions

• During first and subsequent visits, the site's safety officer or other competent person may find the following questions useful.

• Is the cut, cavity, or depression a trench or an excavation?

  Select Trench: a narrow excavation (in relation to its length) made below the surface of the ground. In general, the depth is greater than the width, but the width (measured at the bottom) is not greater than 15 feet Excavation: any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in an earth surface, formed by earth removal

  • Trench: a narrow excavation (in relation to its length) made below the surface of the ground. In general, the depth is greater than the width, but the width (measured at the bottom) is not greater than 15 feet
  • Excavation: any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in an earth surface, formed by earth removal

• Is the cut, cavity, or depression more than 4 ft (1.2 m) in depth?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there adequate means of access and egress?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are means of egress from the cut, cavity, or depression less than 25 ft (7.6m) from the work?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the cut, cavity or depression free from water?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is it free from surface encumbrances?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is it free from vehicular traffic?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are adjacent structures stabilized?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Does mobile equipment have a warning system?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is a competent person in charge of the operation?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• What is his/her name?

• Has the competent person determined the soil type?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• What is the soil type?

  Select Type A: Unconfined compressive strength of 1.5 tons per square foot (tsf) (144 kPa) or greater. Examples of Type A cohesive soils are often: clay, silty clay, sandy clay, clay loam and, in some cases, silty clay loam and sandy clay loam. Type B: Unconfined compressive strength greater than 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) but less than 1.5 tsf (144 kPa). Examples of Type B soil include angular gravel, silt, silt loam, and soils that are fissured or near sources of vibration, but could otherwise be Type A. Type C: Unconfined compressive strength of 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) or less. Type C soils include granular soils such as gravel, sand and loamy sand, submerged soil, soil from which water is freely seeping, and submerged rock that is not stable.

  • Type A: Unconfined compressive strength of 1.5 tons per square foot (tsf) (144 kPa) or greater. Examples of Type A cohesive soils are often: clay, silty clay, sandy clay, clay loam and, in some cases, silty clay loam and sandy clay loam.
  • Type B: Unconfined compressive strength greater than 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) but less than 1.5 tsf (144 kPa). Examples of Type B soil include angular gravel, silt, silt loam, and soils that are fissured or near sources of vibration, but could otherwise be Type A.
  • Type C: Unconfined compressive strength of 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) or less. Type C soils include granular soils such as gravel, sand and loamy sand, submerged soil, soil from which water is freely seeping, and submerged rock that is not stable.

• Was a soil testing device used to determine soil type?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the immediate area free from operating equipment?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are procedures required to monitor, test, and control hazardous atmospheres?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the spoil placed 2 ft (0.6 m) or more from the edge of the cut, cavity, or depression?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the depth less than 20 ft (6.1 m) or more for the cut, cavity, or depression?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has a registered professional engineer approved the procedure if the depth is more than 20 ft (6.1 m)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Does the procedure require benching or multiple benching? Shoring? Shielding?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If provided, do shields extend at least 18 in (0.5 m) above the surrounding area if it is sloped toward the excavation?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If shields are used, is the depth of the cut less than 2 ft (0.6 m) below the bottom of the shield?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are any required surface crossings of the cut, cavity, or depression the proper width and fitted with hand rails?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is emergency rescue equipment required?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there documentation of the minimum daily excavation inspection?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Existing Utilities

• Have underground utilities been contacted at least 2 working days prior to start of digging, and appropriately marked and identified?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• What is the utility locate number?

• Is the excavation close to existing utilities, buildings, footings, pilings, or sources of vibrations?

  Yes

  No

• Have underground installations been protected, supported, or removed when the excavation is open?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Have all surface encumbrances such as utilities, utility poles, foundations, transformer vaults or other structures been supported or removed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Trench / Excavation

• Has the site been checked for previously disturbed ground?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Excavation length (feet)

• Excavation width (feet)

• Excavation depth (feet)

• Has a means of egress (e.g. ladders, steps, ramps) been provided so that no employee has to travel further than 25'?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If ladders are used for egress, are they secured and extended at least 3' above the top of the excavation?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has the soil been classified using one (1) visual and one (1) manual method, or defaulted to classifying as Type C?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are excavations with walkway or bridges equipped with guardrails (required at 6ft or deeper)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Has an engineer designed the excavation or is there engineered tabulated data on site for the protective system (required if deeper than 20ft)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• What is the soil type as determined by the competent person?

  Select Type A: Unconfined compressive strength of 1.5 tons per square foot (tsf) (144 kPa) or greater. Examples of Type A cohesive soils are often: clay, silty clay, sandy clay, clay loam and, in some cases, silty clay loam and sandy clay loam. Type B: Unconfined compressive strength greater than 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) but less than 1.5 tsf (144 kPa). Examples of Type B soil include angular gravel, silt, silt loam, and soils that are fissured or near sources of vibration, but could otherwise be Type A. Type C: Unconfined compressive strength of 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) or less. Type C soils include granular soils such as gravel, sand and loamy sand, submerged soil, soil from which water is freely seeping, and submerged rock that is not stable.

  • Type A: Unconfined compressive strength of 1.5 tons per square foot (tsf) (144 kPa) or greater. Examples of Type A cohesive soils are often: clay, silty clay, sandy clay, clay loam and, in some cases, silty clay loam and sandy clay loam.
  • Type B: Unconfined compressive strength greater than 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) but less than 1.5 tsf (144 kPa). Examples of Type B soil include angular gravel, silt, silt loam, and soils that are fissured or near sources of vibration, but could otherwise be Type A.
  • Type C: Unconfined compressive strength of 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) or less. Type C soils include granular soils such as gravel, sand and loamy sand, submerged soil, soil from which water is freely seeping, and submerged rock that is not stable.

• Example Slopes for Type "A" Soils

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• 

• 

• If competent person determines the soils to be Type "A", pictures of soils and manual test results are required (i.e. penetrometer, ribbon tests, etc.)

  Media

• Example Slopes for Type "B" Soils

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• If competent person determines the soils to be Type "B", pictures of soils and manual test results are required (i.e. penetrometer, ribbon tests, etc.)

  Media

• Example Slopes for Type "C" Soils

• 

• 

• Have changes in vehicular and machinery operation patterns been communicated?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Explain

• Is water removal equipment (i.e. pumps) being utilized?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are physical barricades around excavation planned, available, properly set up and/or in good condition?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there any overhead hazards (i.e. power lines, trees, etc.)?

  Yes

  No

• Are all excavated materials set back at least 2 feet from the edge?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the excavation safe for employees to enter?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is the excavation a confined space?

  Yes

  No

Atmospheric Testing Required

• O2(%)

• LEL(%)

• Toxic(CO, H2S)

• Other(PID)

• Is the excavation deeper than 20 feet?

  Yes

  No

• Is the engineered tabulated data onsite for the protective systems being used?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• What protective system(s) have been selected for today's excavation?qdq

  Select Sloping Benching Shielding Shoring Engineered Other

  • Sloping
  • Benching
  • Shielding
  • Shoring
  • Engineered
  • Other

• Is the shield at least 18" above the slope?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is it laterally stable?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Plans and all instructions must be onsite

• No benching allowed in Type C soils

• 

• Describe

• Adequacy and availability of all equipment, including personal protective equipment, shoring systems, signs, barricades, and machinery

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are trench shoring and/or shields in good shape as work progresses?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are slopes and/or benches still in good shape as work progresses?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Approver

• Competent Person OSHA 29 CFR Subpart P 1926.650(b)

  Sign

• Supervisor

  Sign

• Equipment Operator

  Sign

• Engineer

  Sign

• Other Approval

  Sign