Trenching & Excavation Safety Checklist

• Document No.

• Audit Title

• Client / Site

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Location
  Address

• Personnel

GENERAL INSPECTION

• Has the "Competent Person" had specific training in -- and is knowledge about -- soil analysis, use of protective systems, and the requirements of 29CFR1926-Subpart P:

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all on surface encumbrance removed or supported

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all employees protected from loose rock or soil that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling into the excavation?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are Hard hats worn by all employees?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Does the "Competent Person" have the authority to remove workers from the excavation immediately?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are excavations, adjacent areas, and protective systems inspected by a competent person:

  Daily prior to start of work

  As needed throughout the shift

  After every rainstorm or other occurrence that could increase the hazard

• Add media

  Media

• Are spoiled, materials, and equipment set back at least 2 feet from the edge of your excavation

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are barriers provided at all remotely located excavations, wells, pits, shafts, etc.?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are walkways and bridges over excavations 6 feet or more in depth and 30 inches or more in width equipped with standard guard rails and toe-boards?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are warning vests or other highly visible clothing provided and worn by all employees exposed to vehicle traffic?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are employees required to stand away from vehicles being loaded and unloaded?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are warning systems established and used when mobile equipment is operating near the edge of an excavation?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are employees prohibited from going under suspended loads?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are employees prohibited from working on the face of slope or benched excavation above other employees?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

UTILITIES

• Are utilities companies contacted and/or utilities located as required by local, state, and federal law?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are the exact locations clearly marked?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

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

  Yes

  No

  N/A

ACCESS & EGRESS

• Are ladders or other means of access and egress in place and all trenches 4 feet or more in depth?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all employees within 25 feet of a means of access and egress?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are the ladders that are used in the excavation secure and extended 3 feet above edge of the excavation?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all structural ramps used by employees designed by a competent person?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all structural ramps used for equipment designed by a Registered Professional Engineer?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all ramps constructed of materials of uniform thickness, cleated together, equipped with non-slip surfaces?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

WET CONDITIONS

• Are precautions taken to protect employees from water accumulation?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is water removal equipment monitored by competent person ?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is surface water or runoff diverted after every rainstorm or other hazard increasing occurrence?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERES

• Is the atmosphere within all excavations tested when there is a reasonable possibility of an oxygen deficiency, oxygen enriched, combustible, toxic, or other harmful contaminant?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are adequate precautions taken to protect employees from exposures to an atmosphere containing less then 19.5% oxygen and or other hazardous atmosphere?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is verification provided to protect employees from an atmosphere containing flammable gases in excess of 10% of the lower explosive limit of the gas?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is emergency equipment available when hazardous atmosphere could or do exist?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are employees trained to use personal protective equipment and other rescue equipment?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is there any near by activity that could effect the atmosphere? Engine fumes? Welding Fumes?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

SOILS

• Has the competent person classified the soil using one manual test and one visual test, as specified by the standard?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Visual test

  Select Solid rock Type A Type B Type C

  • Solid rock
  • Type A
  • Type B
  • Type C

• Manual test

  Select Solid rock Type A Type B Type C

  • Solid rock
  • Type A
  • Type B
  • Type C

SUPPORT SYSTEMS

• Is trench 4' or deeper?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• If 4' and deeper, is shoring or sloping required?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Type of support system/shoring being used?

  Select Sloping Shoring Shielding Designed by Registered Professional Engineer

  • Sloping
  • Shoring
  • Shielding
  • Designed by Registered Professional Engineer

• Are materials and/or equipment chosen based upon soil analysis, Trench depth and expected loads?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are materials and equipment that are used for protective systems inspected and in good condition?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are damaged materials and equipment immediately removed from service?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are damaged materials and equipment inspected by a registered professional engineer after repairs are made in before being placed back into service?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are protective systems installed without exposing employees to hazards of cave-ins, collapses, or other threat of being struck by materials or equipment?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are all members of support system securely fastened together prevent failure?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are support systems provided to insure stability of adjacent structures, buildings, roadways, sidewalks, etc.?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are excavation below the level of the base or footings supported, and approved by a Registered Professional Engineer?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Does back-filling progress with removal of the support system?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Is a shield system installed to prevent lateral moment?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are employees prohibited from remaining in a shield system during vertical movement?

  Yes

  No

  N/A