Trenching and Excavation Safety Checklist

• Job Name

• Job Number

• Job Location
  Address

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

• Date

  Date

• Prepared by

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

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• 

• 

• 

• 

• 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

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• 

• 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