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EXCAVATIONS

STOP WORK !!!

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Regulations
OSH Standards Rule 1410 Construction

Safety
OSH Standards Rule 1413-Excavation
29 CFR 1926 Sub Part P - Excavation

AGENDA

Introduction
Terminologies
Excavation Hazards
General Requirements Prior to Excavation
Soil Testing
Excavation Safety Principles
Maximum Allowable Slopes
Methods of Excavation Protection
OSH Requirements
Contributory Factors in Excavation Collapse
Excavation Safety Inspection
Protection System
Equipment & Handtools
Heavy Equipment Operator & Spotter
Strategies in Implementation of Excavation Activities

INTRODUCTION

Excavation is always important part of the construction

works & mining, i.e, excavation of building & bridge
foundations, trenching for buried pipelines & electrical
poles, tunneling, etc. Strategic plan should be tabled &
implemented while engage for this work.

Accidents due to cave-in occur for excavations which

are not shored or otherwise supported. Even rock that
looks solid from a cursory inspection can collapse w/o
warning. The sides of an excavation may need to be
suitably shored, benched or sloped back to a safe angle
of repose, depth and soil classification.

INTRODUCTION (CONT)

Other types of excavation accidents are

caused by contact w/ above & under
ground pipes and cables, by falls of
equipment and person, by persons being
struck by excavating equipment, and by
hazardous atmosphere.

INTRODUCTION (CONT)

TYPICAL EXCAVATION SITE

Typical Excavation
Sites

Excavation Hazards
Surface

encumbrances
Utilities
Access/Egress
Vehicle traffic
Falling loads
Mobile
equipment

Hazardous

atmospheres
Water
accumulation
Adjacent
structures
Loose rock or soil
Falls
Cave-in

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS PRIOR

TO EXCAVATION

Carry out joint site safety inspection with client / owner, consultant &
company representatives.
Identify & locate underground facilities / utilities, i.e., water / oil / gas
pipelines, electric powerlines, telephone lines, sanitary sewer lines.
Municipal Permit Requirements
Excavation Plan
Verify existing utilities
Refer to as built plans
Emergency / Contingency Plan
Public safety
Proximity of adjacent structures
Weather & moisture conditions
Sources of the vibrations
Adjacent road footpaths
Method of excavation
Other possible considerations

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Surface Encumbrances
Need

to be removed or supported
e.g. fencing, piping, structure, materials

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Utilities
Underground
Locate

prior to digging
Certify deactivation
Protect, support, or remove

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Access/Egress

Note: Poor housekeeping --- # 1 cause of

slips, trips and falls on construction projects
Debris kept cleared from work areas
Mark hazards
Barricade or cover holes

Egress provided- 25 travel distance

- ladders
- ramps
- stairs
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Vehicle Traffic
Traffic

Control
Traffic Safety Vests

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Mobile Equipment
Warning

system

Barricades
Hand signals
Mechanical signals
Stop logs
Grade away from excavation

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Hazardous Atmosphere
Test

@ 4 if suspected

LEL
Oxygen
CO
H2S
Petroleum
Other toxics

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Ventilation

Displace hazardous gases and vapors

Considerations
Heavier than air or lighter than air
contaminant
Exhausting or blowing in
Volume/time required to lower
concentrations to acceptable levels

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Water Accumulations

Protection from hazards associated with wa

accumulation
Protection against cave-in
Water removal (pumping)
Run-off protection
Consider temporary shut-off of water line

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Adjacent Structures

Ensure structure stability

Shoring
Bracing
Underpinning
Or evaluation by P.E.

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Cave-in
Protection

from cave-in requires a

systematic approach including:
Soil classification
Protective systems
Inspection
Employee training

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SOIL TESTING
Soil

testing shall be done by

accredited Soil Testing Firm for
the following reasons:
soil type
pre-planning
type of sloping / shoring required

Compilation

of Test Certificate

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EXCAVATION
SAFETY PRINCIPLES

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SAFETY PRINCIPLES
SOIL MECHANICS
In trenching and excavation
practices, SOIL is defined as any
materials removed from the ground
to form a hole, trench or cavity for
the purpose of working below the
earths surface.

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SAFETY PRINCIPLES
SOIL MECHANICS

o
1 fo

Soil Mechanics
point of view:

t 1 foot

100#

1 foot

100#
100#

Figure 1. Forces exerted

by a column of
soil.

250 psf

100#

250 psf
250 psf

100#

500 psf

250 psf

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SAFETY PRINCIPLES
TRENCH FAILURES

(2a)

Figure 2. Mechanics of
Trench Failure.

(2c)

(2b)

(2d)

(2e)

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SAFETY PRINCIPLES

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SAFETY PRINCIPLES
SOIL CLASSIFICATION

Stable Rock - natural solid mineral matter that

can be excavated with vertical sides and
remain intact while exposed.

Type A - cohesive soil with unconfined

compressive strength of 144 kPa or
greater.
Examples;
clay, silty clay, clay loam,
sandy clay, clay loam and
silty clay loam and sandy
clay loam.

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SAFETY PRINCIPLES
SOIL CLASSIFICATION

Type B - cohesive soil with unconfined

compressive strength greater than 48
kPa but less than 144 kPa.
Examples;
angular gravel, silt, silt loam
sandy loam

Type C - cohesive soil with unconfined

compressive strength of 48 kPa or less.
Examples;
gravel, sand, loamy sand
submerged soil
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SAFETY PRINCIPLES
TYPES OF SOIL COLLAPSE
General zone of exposure
The area where workers
are exposed to mass
soil/rock movement.

Spoil pile slide

.

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SAFETY PRINCIPLES
TYPES OF SOIL COLLAPSE
Side wall Shear

Slough-in (Cave-in)

Rotation

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MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SLOPES

Soil / Rock Type

Ratio

Slope
(Deg)

Stable Rock

Vertical

90

Type A

:1

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Type B

1:1

45

1 :1

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Note: This table is

good for excavation
less than 20 ft deep

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METHODS OF EXCAVATION
PROTECTION
Sloping

- please see table for maximum

allowable slopes
Benching
Shoring / Timbering
Sheet Piles
Concrete Piles
Micro piles
Diaphragm
Dewatering System

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OSH REQUIREMENTS

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OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
TRAIN WORKERS

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OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT (PPE)

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OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
PROTECTION SYSTEMS
The excavation or trench must
either be sloped or supported
as required to comply with
OSHS
Excavation over 6.6 m deep,
protection system must be
installed to prevent the
movement & collapse of
adjacent structure shall be
designed by structural
engineer & approved by the
proper authority.

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OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
LOCATION OF EXCAVATED
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

1/

th,
p
e
3d

in.
m
.
1m

p
de
3
1/

1
th,

pth
e
d
1/3

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n.
i
.m

OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
PUBLIC PROTECTION
& TRAFFIC CONTROL
Traffic around the site
must be controlled,
and barricaded, signs
and/or flag persons
used as needed to
control both vehicular
and pedestrian traffic.
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OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
PROVISION FOR ACCESS/
EGRESS

0.83 m

A ladder must be located

within 25 ft or 8m of a
workers working position.

d>1 m

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OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
PROVISION FOR
BARRICADES
1.0 m

d>2 m

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OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
EXPERIENCED SUPERVISOR
An experienced and trained worker is
designated to directly supervise each
excavation project.
- sloping and benching
- shoring requirements
- emergency rescue procedures.

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OSH REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
SITE INSPECTION
Every part of an excavation over
2 m deep where workers work
shall be inspected.
A competent person shall
conduct daily inspections of
excavations, adjacent areas, and
protective systems for evidence
of a situation that could result to
an accident.
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CONTRIBUTARY FACTORS IN
EXCAVATION COLLAPSE
Water

(i.e., rain, natural ground water,

near the water sources)!
Improper sloping technique!
improper impoundment of excavated
soil!
Wrong parking of heavy equipment,
machines & vehicles!
Improper barricade, light, sign, etc.
No regular monitoring or inspection!
No adequate training!
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Simple Slope
Type

A - 3/4:1

Type

B - 1:1

Type

C - 1 :1
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Benching
Type

Type

(cohesive soil)

Type

NA
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Shoring

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Timber Shoring

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Aluminum Shoring

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Shields (Trench Boxes)

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Protective Systems

Removal
Employees clear of area under shields during
removal
Shoring removed from the bottom up, SLOWLY!
Backfill with removal

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EXCAVATION SAFETY INSPECTION

SITE INSPECTION
Inspection shall be conducted
prior
during
after each hazard
changing event.
Daily Inspection shall be conducted on
excavations
adjacent areas
protective systems for possible cave-ins
failure of protective systems
hazardous atmospheres
other hazardous conditions

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EXCAVATION SAFETY INSPECTION

SITE INSPECTION
SAMPLE DAILY INSPECTION
Surface Conditions
Cracks or Cracking
Spoil piles set back 2 from edge
No equipment or material near edge
No standing water in excavation
No sources of vibration
Banks and Sides of Slope or Bench
Cracks or Cracking
Spalling
Change in Soil type
Slope adequate for soil

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EXCAVATION SAFETY INSPECTION

SITE INSPECTION
SAMPLE DAILY INSPECTION
Shoring and Shielding
In place
No leakage on hydraulic cylinders
Wedges tight
Access and Egress
Access every 25 feet
Stairs, ladders and ramp set properly

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EXCAVATION SAFETY INSPECTION

SITE INSPECTION
SAMPLE DAILY INSPECTION
Existing Utilities
Support Adequate
Loose Materials
Utilities identified and protected.
Weather
Rain
Typhoon, Storm, Wind
PPE
Reflectorized vests in vehicular areas
Hard hats, steel-toe shoes, etc. being
used as specified.

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EXCAVATION SAFETY INSPECTION

PROTECTION SYSTEM
SLOPING AND BENCHING
The slope and configuration of
sloping and benching system
shall be selected and
constructed by competent
person.
SHORING AND SHIELDING
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PROTECTION SYSTEM
SELECTION OF PROTECTION SYSTEMS
Figure A. Preliminary Decisions
NO

Is the excavation more

than 3 feet or 1 meter

Is there potential
for cave-in?

YES

Is the excavation
entirely in stable rock

NO

Excavation may be made

with vertical sides

YES

YES

Excavation must be sloped,

shored, or shielded

NO

SLOPING
SELECTED

Go to Figure B

SHORING OR SHIELDING
SELECTED

Go to Figure C

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PROTECTION SYSTEM
SELECTION OF PROTECTION SYSTEMS
Figure B. Sloping Options
Sloping selected as the
method of protection
Will soil classification be made in accordance with the maximum allowable configurations and
slopes, or designs using tabulated data , or design by a registered engineer.
YES
Excavation must comply with one of the
three options:

NO
Excavation requires a slope of 1 1/2H and
1V (34 deg.)

Option 1
Design using requirements of Soil
Classification and requirements of sloping
and Benching.
Option 2
Designs using other tabulated data
Option 3
Design by a registered Professional
Engineer.

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PROTECTION SYSTEM
SELECTION OF PROTECTION SYSTEMS
Figure C. Shoring and Shielding Options
Shoring and Shielding selected as the method of
protection

Soil classification is required when shoring or

shielding is used. The excavation must comply
with one of the following four options.
Option 1
Design using requirements of Soil Classification
and requirements of Timber Shoring for
Trenches.
Option 2
Designs using Manufacturers Tabulated Data
Option 3
Designs using other tabulated data.
Option 4
Design by a registered professional Engineer.

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EQUIPMENT & HANDTOOLS

EQUIPMENT

Backhoe
bulldozer
wheel Loader
Grader
Rock Breaker

HANDTOOLS

Shovel
Pickax
Pneumatic hammer
etc.

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HEAVY EQUIPMENT

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BACKHOE

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Back Hoe

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PNEUMATIC HAMMER

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EXCAVATION SAFETY

Whats
wrong
with
this
photo?

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Thank you

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