GlobeTec

CONSTRUCTION

COMPETENT
PERSON
TRAINING
February 01, 2011

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What You Will Learn

-

How to prevent
fata Iities.
How to save
money~

Identify hazards
before ground is
roken.
~oil classification.

---.---.~~----,

How to choose a
protective system~
What to inspect
for.

Trench Accident Statistics:

I,

A large % of all excavation fatalities are

"would-be" rescuers.
An excavation accident is 15 times more likely
to result in death than any other construction
accident.
80 % of all deaths occur in

< 15ft.

40 % of all deaths occur in

< 10ft.

Trench Accident Statistics:

lIver

Worker Fatalities Per Yearll

Over

Serious Injuries per year

Internal Injuries
Broken Bones
Crushed Legs, Ribs, Ankles
Head Injuries

Multiple Liability Claims

- Underground Utilities
- Public Injuries I Property Damage

Excavation Mishap

yths
UI

vvork can be completed and back-filled so fast

that it will not have time to cave-in .
A rope tied to a worker will help rescuers find
them if the trench caves in.1I (it might, but they'll
be dead)1I
Cave-in victims can be dug out easily with a
backhoeOIlIl(true, but the victims are usually
disemboweled or decapitated).

It is possible to out-run a collapsing

wall'~

Dirt smells peculiar just before it caves in~ .'

Why do these "accidents" occur?

Possible reasons include:
~

- - - -----_ .. __ ..

Boss has requested you get down into an

unsafe trenchlB You don't want to "rock the
boat" or get your boss mad by refusinglE
It is "wimpy" to be afraid of dirtll This is the 50called "cowboy-ish" effect. This is closely
related to peer pressure to do the job and not
worry about the safety aspects.
Not being educated on the hazards of a
potential cave-inll
Attempting to save $$ (and time) by not
properly sloping or shoring.

_-------,

....the Results!
I__

mum

----~------- -

Collapse of trench injures worker

of Bernville suffers a broken leg during a ficials said.

The $12.9 million renovation
school renovation 'project. .
. . project at the school in the first
block of Shartlesville Road began
Zaorski olthe Mount Pleasant Fire this'
fall and is expected to be comCompftny.
pleted in February 2002. .
Zaorski said -ambulance personThe project. which includes denel arrived and jumped into the . moUtion of about half the existing
.
trencb to give oxygen to --73,ooo..square-foot 'building, is
was freed by 11:15 a:m., needed to accommodate increasthen -placed into a medical heli- ing enrollment and to meet state
.
copter that had landed nearby. of- building codes.

From our news staff

A Bernville mansufrered a.broken right leg Tuesday wben a

trench collapsed and buried him
to his waist during renovations at

the

PennBernvillet;~ementary

Cente in Penn Township:

43, was in satisfac

tory condition 'in Lehigh VaHey

Hospital. near Allentown, where

be was r twn after the collapse
about 11 a.m., officials said.
was working with a shovel in a lo.Coot-<ieep trench where'
plumbing foundations were being
installed when a side of the trench

collapsed. officials said.

was working for

Excavating,

Bernville, a subcontractor.
Co-workers began digging'
out. and'flreflghters arrived about

10 minutes later, said Lt Kenneth

Call Rosemary Eells

. Attorney at Law

..

610-372-7497
Berks County

- Concentrating in aI/ Workers Compensation Injuries Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Back - Neck Shoulder
. - Ankle- Scar Disfigurement Loss of Limb, Etc.

orne leading reasons for

trenching accidents:
* Soils heavy from rain

* Normally-wet soils d

out, lose the ability to

stand on their own
Proximity to highways,
heavy machinery, or
back-filled areas
Lack of safety
procedures

* Soft zones
* Layered soil
* Vibration
* Soft pocke

* Old utility crossing

trench
Fractured rock

,cavator's Trench
Is Not Good Enough

n excavation contractor has won a little leev;ray and yet lost some ground in
its efforts to overturn or mitigate safety
citations by the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration in the U.S. Court
of Appeals for the Eight Circuit.
Dakota Underground Inc. was replacing a water main in Fargo, N.D., in August 1997 when an OSHA-compliance
officer made an unscheduled inspection.
He cited the firm for four violations of
the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
One was thro"\'.n out by an administrative
law judge on review. The three remaining citations centered on hazards associated with working in trenches.
Dakota had a crew of four workers
and one foreman. OSHA claimed that at
least one worker did not have a safe

Appealing before .the ""Elghdl Circuit,

Dakota daimed the ladder violation was
not willful, that the water violation did
not occur and that the three violations
should have been "grouped."
The -willfulness of the ladder citation
""'as supported by substantial C'vidence,
the appeals court said. Federal regulations require that <La stairway, ladder
ramp or other safe means of egress shall
be located no more than 25 ft ... of lateral travel for emplovees.";"~The::;:ALJ<sai:d

1111t1'ltl

54 ENR/ FEBRUARY 21, 2000

Trenching Tragedy COLLAPSE CLAIMS THREE LIVES

The trench box was in place, according to press report$, but It dldnJt
"restrain the slopes of a 14-foot excavation th'at caved In and killed three
workers at a new "Office Depot In Richmond, Texas, Oct. 2B~ The Occl,Ipational
Safety and Health Administration says the trench was dug by employees of
laser Construction Co., Magnolia, Texas. The company could not be reached.

the foreman, the court noted.

But the appeals court sided \\ith Dakota's opposition to the water citation. The
rules say that "adequate" protection has to
be provided to workers in excavations
where water is accumulating. "The regulations caution that adequacy is a case-bycase determination," said the court.
"Therefore a reasoned decision finding a
\'iolation ... requires at least some description of the hazards present and some
explanation why the employer's precautions were not adequate." These were not
provided by the ALj, it said.
While Dakota used trench boxes to
,ro tec.t Y/9.r.k~r.$.,..I:4. ~ ./.\J:,J t),o ted that '1dtie

ground Inc. v. Secretary oj .Labar; U.S. Ct.

App. 8th Or., No. 99-1583 (2000).

Rescue Considerations
General Guidelines
.Any incident in which a person is trapped, buried or experiencing a medical
emergency in a trench or excavation will require the response of the Trench
Rescue Team (TRT).
-No workers or EMS personnel shall enter an unprotected trench to render patient
care or perform disentanglement operations. AU trenches shall be "safe and
protected" using approved methods prior to entry by any TRT personnel.

oAIl emergency vehicles shall park at least 100 feet from the collapse site. The only
exception shall be the trench rescue trailer which may park no closer than 50 feet.
-All traffic shall be stopped or detoured within 300 feet of the collapse zone.
A hazard zone shall be established to control at least 75 feet around the perimeter
of the collapse zone. This should be done with fire line tape.

Whatever You Do" .. Don't

"Don't go, don't go, don't go in the hole."

Definition - Trench
I

OSHA defines a trench as " ... a

narrow excavation (in relation to its
length) made below the surface of
the ground. The depth is greater
than the width, but the width of a
trench (measured at the bottom) is
11"
not greater t han 15 fieet..... ,-"'~,_
,;,
~~

,-"

.',(

:.',

". "'

."

Definition .. Excavation

-------

An excavation is defined as any man-made cavity,

trench, or depression in the earth surface formed by
earth removal.
ffi

Therefore, it can be assumed that aU

trenches are excavations, but not all .
excavations are trenches.

-I

Soil Pressure /
Cubic Foot of Soil = approxil
Cubic Yard of Soil

i2:ht
-~,~

_Woad

=27 Cubic Feet or

Volkswagen Beetle =
Typical trench wall collapse involves ..... _
',~'__ ~~_~ of soil.
Workers in trench exposed to anywhere from
~
.~_ during a typical
trench cave . . in!
:-

u .

__

....
aD

,....

'"

t
"II-

......

"'"\

D..

&.!"i
N

rough approximation: Pv=rh, P v 2 Ph

~ 100 lb/ft 3

Vejrtieal Soil Pressure = 500 Ib/ft2.

horizontal pre s sure .... 250 lb/ft.2 but
only on one side ere ating mftability

1998, Alan J. Scott

Is this a safe situation? Notice the huge tension cracks

developing in the soil behind the worker. Why is the worker
putting themselves into harms way? There is 110 sloping or
retaining structure for the soil behind the worker.

SHA Standaras
Designed to protect workers in
trenches.
If accurately complied with most
fatalities would be eliminated[l
Injuries significantly reduced.
Prevention of liability claims and ~
lawsuits involving underground
utilities, homeowners, and members
of the publicI!

Excavations - Subpart P
---------------------

1926 650 Scope, Application, and Definitions

192611651 Specific Excavation Requiremen
192611652 Requirements for Protective Systems
Appendix A Soil Classification
Appendix B Sloping and Benching
Appendix C Timber Shoring for Trenches
Appendix D Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring
Appendix E Alternatives to Timber Shori'ng
Appendix f Selection of Protective Systems

cope, Application, Definitions

_

____________

____

__n

- This subpart applies to all open excavations made

in the earth's surface.. Excavations are defined to
include trencheslB (Any time soil is removed from
the ground.)

Ke}, Definition - Competent person

- One who is capable of identifying existing and

predictable hazards in the surroundings, orworking conditions which are unsanitary,

hazardous, or dangerous to employees, acndi;who
has authorization to take prompt correcti'vE!
measures to eliminate them.

_ _

What Makes you an Excavation

I

Competent Person?
You MUSThave specific
training in and be
knowledgeabl~ about:
c~ ffi Soil Typing & analysis
ffi The different kinds of
protective systems &
their proper use
ffi Hazard recogn.i,t'~Q:I1L'
~ When a regi~~f.4 . ,
P.E. is requiri;d:'::~.: ;::,:,;.'
~ Knowledge ot:~cc
Subpart P

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fa fa
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8

Excavation> 5 Feet?

Potential for
Cave-in?

Excavation> 20 Feet?

Soil Type Detennined?

Slope
L5H: IV

Shoring Or Shielding

Slope Design Based

On Soil Type
Appendices A & B

Tabulated Data

Timber Shoring v
Appendices A& C

Hydraulic Shoring
Appendices A & D

Shields, Jacks
Appendices A & E

Design By A Registered
Professional Engineer

Specific Requirements
~urface
Encumbrances
Underground

Installations

Access & Egress

vehicular Traffic
Falling Loads
Mobile equipment

Hazardous
Atmospher
Water
ccumulation
Adjacent
tructures
Loose Rock

Inspections
Fall Protecti

pecific Requirements
- All which create a hazard
to employees removed or
supported as necessary to
safeguard employees.
Examples include trees,
rocks, telephone poles,
signs, tanks, sidewalks,

etc

II

pecific Requirements
- Estimate location of all
utilities and
underground
installations prior to
opening an excavation. '
- Safe means used when
nea ri n9 identified
utilities in excavation.
- Underground
installations protected,
supported or removed
as necessary to
safeguard employees
working in the
excavation.

BEFORE CALL YOU DIG!

- Notify facility owners through PA One Call
System at least 3, but no more than 10 days
prior to start of excavationm;
I!II

i!i!!

ust request info at least 10 but no more

that 90 working days before final design.s

iii
- Required to be a member of PA One Call
System
!I

I-

.....
I ..

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!

COLOR CODE
fORMAAKING
UNDERGROUND UnUTV

'l..i"~v'

TYPICAL CODES
FORMARKOUT

COMMUNICATfON
CATV

WHITE.
~

WATER

&tawmn
SEWER

TEMPORARY SURVEY
MARKINGS
PROPOSED
EXCAVATION

Ga$,a~SfMm,

~~4Jr

Ga~~1s

ALLOTM.R

A~ 1~. . .aa2ii232

NEW dERSEY ONE CALL

Potential Liability Costs

u~

l.npper Trunk Lines: Lost

revenue can run

aDDroximately $2S,Ouu per

minute.
I-iber Optic Lines: Lost
revenue can run as much as
,000 to $100,Ouu per

inutell

Pioneer Press, Saturday, December 12, 1998

Tide - St. Cloud gas main explosion kills four

Specific Requirements

Underground installations protected, supported or removed as

necessary to safeguard employees working in the excavation.

Overhead Line CI

rance
-]

For lines rated 50 kVtl or

below, minimum clearance
between the lines and any
part of the equipment or loa
shall be 20 feetll
For lines rated over 50 kVllt
20 feet plus 4 inches for each
10 kVII over 50 kV.

A person shall be designated

to observe clearance when
operator's view is obstructed.

H'.I> . . ~ltaBe.L"",D
DlimI1D
.~ . .:.,e :mJM rOlWer

s cific equlrem ts
- Structural ramps designed by competent
personm
-- Ramps and runways of uniform thickness
and connected to prevent movementll
- Ramps cleated to prevent slipping on top.
- Cleats used to connect runway members,
attached to bottom.
Stairway, ladder, or ramp provided in a'll.
excavations over 4 feet deep, no more
than 25 feet of lateral travel .

Specific Reauirements
arning vests worn by all employees exposed
to

traffic~

- No employees allowed under loads lifted by

digging or lifting equipment, or near vehicles

being loaded.

- Barricades, stop logs, or signals used

when mobile equipment operated near
edge of excavation .

Specific

equlrements

- Test excavations over 4 feet deep if

located where problems could reasonably
be expected . (Oxy . < 19115 0/0 or > 23 0/0 )

- Provide adequate ventilation"

- Control flammables

20% of lEL)

- Emergency rescue equipment available~

- Deep and confined excavations entered 11'1
full-body harness and lifeline, attended>at
all timesli

Hazardous

tmos

s
J

+
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER .

9/11/02

www.philly.com

Suburbs C

15

er
INQ~E=~~~'TER.

A Philadelphia man who, was

sealing the foundation of anew
home in central Bucks County
died' yesterday when fumes
from a .waterproofing com'pound overcame him.
.The 36-~arold victim may
have been using the substance
without proper ventilation, New
Britain Township Police Chief.
Robert Scafidi said. Federal oe-

.11.lltJ~n~~W:~I~~'~= ~~~;!!:O~~~t~,r::~s=

'rum'consCibus with oxygen until . unidentified firefighter. They

~;::e~=~_ ~~~S~

A compliance officer for the

Occupational Safety and Health
Administration was at the scene
investigating, said George Tomchick, regional OSHA director
in Allentown.
~cUUs at Rubber Polymner
Corp., of Akron, Ohio, which
makes Rub-R-Wall, were not
available for comment. The
workers' employer, Dale Wa1terproofing Systems .of DoylestoWn, did not return a. callse!eking comment.

said.
New Britain Police Officers
ShaWn Knight and Robert

Contact LNry King at 215-345-0446

or [email protected].

firefighters were able to haul

the men out of, the .+by-8-foot
ditcb with harnesses.
The victims'names were not
' released.
Theaccid.entoccurred
around noon along Creek Road
in New Britain, where the foundation of a single-family home
had been recently poured. ;;m~

and several other emergency

workers underwent decontami.nation as a precaution, hospital
spokeswoman Karen McCurdy
said.
. Rub--R-Wall, composed of hydrocarbon polymers and solvents, is only hazardous in liquidform, McCurdy saieJ.. "Once
it hardens, it is ba.sitally in~rt."

--

5vecific Requirements

- No work in excavations with accumulated water

unless adequately protected by water removal,
special support or shield systems, or harness and
lifeline .
-- Water removal equipment monitored by
competent person.
-- Natural flows prevented from enteringll

pecific Requirements
- - - - - - - , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - _ _--------,
..

- Protected with
shoring, bracing, or
underpinning.
- May require PE
design.
- Sidewalks, pavement,
not undermined
unless supported to
protect employees
from collapse.

Specific Requirements
--_.-

---- . -... - ... -. . ------1

- Scale to remove
loose material~
- Barricades to stop
falling materials .
- Spoil pile and
other materials
kept back 2 feet
from edge of
excavation, orwlth
retaining devices!!

pecific Requirements
inspections
made by competent
person. Document!
- Inspections required
after rainstorm or
other hazards.
- Anytime conditions
change.
- Employees removed
until hazard
corrected
II

INSPECTING FOR?
lIossible cave-ins

Protection
system failures
Hazardous
atmosphere
Falling objec

Any other
hazards

ecific Requirements
- Walkways or bridges
provided over
excavations. (6 feet)
Standard guardrails are
requiredli
- Wells, pits, shafts must
be barricaded, covered,
or backfilledll
- (From Subpart M-Fall
Protection) Guardrails
systems, fences or
barricades required
when excavation is not
readily visible due to
plant growth or other
visual barrier.

Soil Classification Reauired When:

=:J

Slope of excavation greater than 1

1/2: 1 or 34 aegrees.
Benching is used in the excavationl!
Timber Shoring is used.
Aluminum Hydraulic Shorina is used.
Alternatives to Timber Shorina are used.

If you assume worst case scenario C Soil - No Classification Require

Apuendix A - Soil Classification

==:J

Unconfined Compressive Strength ... Load per

unit area at which a soil will fail in compressionml
Determined by laboratory testing or estimated
by use of a pocket penetrometer, thumb
penetration, and other tes.~11
Basis of Soil Classification - Classification based
on at least
I and at least
analysis, conducted by a competent person
using tests described in Appendix A, Sec:tion\(d)
... Acceptable visual and manual tests~
m

ndix A .. Soil Classification

us
............

III

Stable Rock ... natural solid mineral matter

that can be excavated with vertical sides and
remain intactll
Type A - cohesive soil with unconfined
compressive strength of 1115 tons per square
footlJ
- Never type A if:
Fissured or previously disturbed.
Subject to vibration from traffic, pile driving, etc.
Part of a sloped, layered system where laye"l'"s di>p
into excavation on a slope of 4H:1V or greaterll
Subject to other factors making it unstablea

Appendix

- Soil Classification

Type B .. cohesive soil with unconfined compressive

strength greater than 0115 tsf but less than 195 tsf~
- ...... ranular soils and crushed rockBi
- Previously disturbed soils, except those classified
as type C
- Soil that meets compressive strength for Type
Soil but is fissured or subject to vibration.

Type C ... cohesive soils with unconfined compressive

strength of 0 . 5 tsf or lessB
-- .. -ranular soils including gravel and sandlm
-- Submerged
soils or soilswhere water is freely.
.
seeping .
- Submerged rock that is not stablell

ppendix A - Soil Classification

CL.

COMPRESSIVE
STRENGlH

SOLID ROCK

CL.

-A

> 1.5 TSF

NO VIBRATION,
FISSURES OR
LAYE

CLASS-B

> 0.5 but < 1.5 TSF ".

CLASS-C

<0.5
TSF
--

HOW TO TELL
I ..

VISUAL

MANUAL

GRAIN SIZE

PLASTICITY TEST

CLUMPING

DRY STRENGTH
TEST

TENSION CRACKS
LAYERING
WATER
VIBRATION

THUMB
PENETRATION
DRYING TEST
"

PEN ETROM Et:I!"R>':;~',.

:

~-: .C~

,,,,

':f-. ':/

"-

Appendix A - Soil Classification

Visual Tests
- Excavation site in general, adjacent soil, sides of open
excavation, samples of soil taken from excavated material.
- Particle size indicates cohesive or granular soil.
- Soil that clumps is cohesive, granular soils break up.
- Cracked sides of excavation and spalling of materials off
excavation wall indicates fissured soil.
- Look for existing utilities and other structures which indicate
previously disturbed soils.
- Observe layered systems and estimate slope. (4H:1Vl,,," . .
- Look for surface water, water seeping from excavatid"~~ahii"'
location of level of water table.
- Look for sources of vibration - traffiC, pile driving~"~~,
boring etc.

oil Classification

endi
anual -.-ests
- -

I
I

- Dry Strength ... Crumbles with minor pressure if it

is granular soila If broken with great difficulty it is
unfissured soilll

Ii

- Drying Test
Cracking indicates fissured soil
Difficulty breaking indicates cohesive soil
Easily pulverized indicates granular soil

PLASTICITY TEST
ROLLA "WORM"- 2" x 1/8"

IFITDOES NOTI NON-COHESIVE

WORK
TYPE B OR C
I

IF IT WORKS

COHESIVE
A, B, or C,

ppendix A - Soil Classification

==:J

Plasticitv (or ribbon test)

i
"

I.,

- The cylinder is then placed across the palm of the hand and
squeezed between the thumb and index finger until it is
approximately 1/8 inch thick.
I
ciaYI!
- The longer the ribbon the more clay, the shorter the ribbon
the more silt (or sand) contentm

TR
.------:------~~----~---~~---------

.. -.-

SOIL
CRUMBLES ON
ITS OWN

IT IS
G
ULAR
TYPEBORC

HARD TO
BREAK INTO
CLUM

UNFISSURED
TYPE A

LARGE CLUMPS ARE BETTE

'-

Appendix A - Soil Classification

[ - - = : = = 1

Dry Strength Test

- Dry soil that crumbles freely or with
moderate pressure into individual grains is
granular.
- Dry soil that falls into clumps that
subsequently break into smaller clumps (and
the smaller clumps can be broken only with
difficulty) is probably clay in combination
with gravel, sand, or silt.
- If the soil breaks into clumps that do not, --break into smaller clumps (and the soil (2~A;~~'
be broken only with difficulty), the soil.i~t~S'"
considered unfissured unless there is vi:$uar::,~:"
indication of fissuring.

Appendi

.. Soil Classification
------- - - - - - - - J

trength Test (cont.)

Drying a sample of soil that is approximately one
inch thick and six inches in diameter until it is
thoroughly dry.
If the sample develops cracks as it dries, significant
fissures are indicatedll
Samples that dry without cracking are to be broken
by hand. If considerable force is necessary to break
a sample, the soil has significant cohesive material
content.. The soil can be classified as an unfi;ssured
cohesive material and the unconfined com'presslve .
strength should be determinedll

Appendix A - Soil Classification

.

. n__

Strenath Test (cont.)

If a sample breaks easily by hand, it is either a
fissured cohesive material or a granular materialll To
distinguish between the two, pulverize the dried
clumps of the sample by hand or by stepping on
them . If the clumps do not pulverize easily, the
material is cohesive with fissuresfi If they pulverize
easily into very small fragments, the material is
granular~

.,

THUMB PENETRATI
~

(UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH)

PAST THE
KNUCKIJE

TYPE C

TO THE
UCKIJE

TYPEB

JUST AN DENT

<
0.5
TSF
> 0.5 & < 1.5 TSF
I

TYPE A
> 1.5 TSF

ppendix A - Soil Classification

Thumb Penetration Test
..

i
II i
- If the thumb makes an indentation in the soil only
with great effort, the soil is probably Type ArA
I
/IU

'"

I
III!

-- TE: This is a very subjective test and has a

large degree of inaccuracYIi

DRYING TEST
1-

DRY A 1" x 6" DIAMETER SAMPLE

CRACKS AS IT
DRIE
HARD TO

BREAK
EASY TO

BREAK

FISSURES

TYPEB ORC
UNFISSURE
COHESIVE TYPE A
COHESIVE WITH~~
FISSURES OR GRANULAR
TYPEBORC

Two Widely Used Field Tests

Pocket Penetrometer ""

Measures the unconfined
compressive strength.
Note: These instruments
have an error rate of +30%.
Shearvane (or Torvane) Measures the cohesion. They
consist of vanes that are pressed into a
level section of undisturbed soil, and
the torsional knob is slowly turned
until soil failure occurs. These
measurements need to be multiplied by
2 to give unconfined compressive
strength. Careful attention is needed in
U".UH~ the dial measurement.

Requirements for Protective

stems
____J

Employees in excavations must be protected

from cave-ins by an adequate protective
system except when:
- Excavation made entirely in stable rock~
- Excavation less than 5 feet deep and
examination by competent person indicates
no potential for cave-insli
Protective systems designed to resist, with:gut .
failure, all potential loads applied to or
transmitted to the systemll Excess loadsmiay .
include spoil piles, equipment, vehicular
traffic, cranes, etc.

Requirements for Protective Systems

~

., Manufactured materials used per

manufacturer's recommendationsil
Materials and equipment used for system
free from damage or defects.
1Jamaged equipment inspected by competent
person or registered professional engineere
Members of support systems secured
together to prevent sliding, falling, kick outs,
or other failuresl5
Removed from bottom of excavation firstlm
Backfilling progresses with removal of
members.

Protective Systems
~nil

Classification
SloDina & Benchina (
Timber Shoring (
Aluminum Shorina (
Alternatives Systems (
~elect the System (

- Selection of Protective
Sv~tprn~
---......,.
-1
... IIIOJ'
....

~~AA

Common sense approach to selecting the proper

protective system for working in any excavationa;
Only for excavations 20 feet or less in depths;
If over 20 feet deep,
be designed by a
registered professional engineer.
Makes the excavation standard easy to follow and
use.
Should be the first step taken when planning,a-n
excavation.

Excavation> 5 Feet?

Br

Potential for
Cave-in?

I '-', I
~

"! 4-,

Excavation> 20 Feet?

I~~"

' "t"

Yes

'

t,

11

+
I Soil Type Detennined?

"

.,,'

..

f:
~.

"0

Slope
1.5H: IV

I ~fcs I
1iv

I Vertical Sides ~
Sloping

Yes

'

I:

Nfl f;

...

Shoring Or Shielding
,

','"

---~

Slope Design Based

On Soil Type

Timber,Slloring

AppendicesA &

--.

Appendices A & B

Tabulated Data

Solid Rock?
I

f"

,j,

Hydraulic Shoring
Appendices A & D

'...,

...

Design By A Registered
Professional Engineer
- --------------------

4-

'".___

-~-,-.

-~-.'P'""

Shields, Jacks
Appendices A & E
-",.

........

Tabulated Dat
~----~----~~------------------~--~--~------~~--~.~

Identification of parameters that

affected the selecti
Identification of the limits of use of
the data
Explanatory informatio

(Sloping & Benching Options)

Design of sloping and benching systems in
accordance with 1 of 4 options below:
_____ - - Sloped 11/2 horizontal to 1 vertical
(34 degrees)
----- .. Determination of slopes using
appendices A & B
I n
- Designs using other tabulated data
Kept in written form at site during
construction
Specifies all parameters and limi
~~- Design by a registered professional
engineer
!II

dix

- Sloping and Benching

=:=J

Refer to Appendix B illustrations for allowable

slopes and benches for Types A, 8, land C soilsm
Benches allowed only in Types A and Type B
Cohesive soils.
Support or shield systems can be used in
conjunction with slopingll
- Slope above support or shield must begin 18
inches below the top of the support or
shield system.
Layered soils can be sloped separately for e~:.
type of soil, unless less stable soil is on t_
bottom layerll If less stable on bottom -centire .
slope must meet less stable soil sloping
ill

requlremen'l.~~

aximum Allowable Slopes

Stable Rock

Vertical

90

Type A Soil

3/4 : 1

53

Type B Soil

1:1

45

Type C Soil

1.5 : 1

34

Sloping Requirements for Layered Soils

Slope Required For Each Soil Layer
--"------------------,."."---'"-,.,"'---,-,--"'

,,-""'"""

----,--,--,,----- -------------- --------- -_. ----

---- ---,

, ""'

-'--~--"-------,,-,-_.,".,,_.,--,---"----.,

------ - --.'----"---

ayered Soil Type Type A Layer Type B Layer Type C Layer

.

B over A

.... _ ... -"

-._" .----- _.... _------,--,.

3/4:1
----------- --

C over A

--------"._----,--..---

-------

---~------

1:1
,--

,--_.

-----------------" .._,.-------"'------ ---_.,""-"""--,.,,--

1-1/2: 1

3/4:1

C overB

1:1

1------------

.. _----_.

A over B
~-,-,-"'-".,-,.--

1:1

1-1/2: 1
-,.,.,------------".

1:1

..---,,-,.,.

A over C
1---------- ---------------- -------

B over C

1-1/2: 1
1-1/2:1

oen

c
c

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.....
.........,
CO

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CD

(J.)

CD a.
0..0

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en
CD
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(f)

.......

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.......,

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caU5

Soil Slo lng

riPE ,{" SOIL
Simple Bench El:(:,,,,,'.ation

T'~
20'

M~xjm'Jm

/l'"
./

"....L. ~ "

'\,.-\.

riPE ,{" SOIL

Un:;:IJpport.ed '.'ert.ically sided !O\';!?f ~II::.rtion
r...hximum 12 Feet. in depth

~1

TYPE .0. SOI!_ d

d f shlelde
VeIticallY:51 e !c...... ei porUc.n

TYPE A SOIL
Simple Slope -- Short. Term

suPPort~d .~

1."~

r."ifi~d.....?1
LJ

s:~ijl'-.port
or
Syr.!~m

20' M~ximlJm '-

I.. I

~-

,r,

3/4

liS" Mi~"

LJ1

.:

314

L~~ 112 M~x"

314

L 4' r,,'l~x"

TYPE ,{" SOIL

UnsupportE>d 'Jertic:ally sided 10'.1er portion
Mal:imlJm :3 Feet in depth

8' f\1:."Jxim IJrn

,L11

';\U/

Benchin

, E {"SOIL
"
T Bene
r'P 'h E..".-:.a"f'<ltlon
_"
,;/,
MIJltiple
I

1\
~,Ibximum
12'

\\

/
,I

\,--_1

IA

.LJl
1.'2

./
-'
,L11
314

(/)

c
o
......
.......,
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c...c..
0.2

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.........

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OJ

aa-

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cQ.) ~
~

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CD
.........

c..
........
.......,
::J

il lopin
---------------

r-.------.-

B nchin

TliFIE B ~:;IJIL
r\l1ultiple Bench E:~(:.:.lm'.:tt.icl
[F-ermitted in (:ohesi1m1e s~)il clnly]

.'

J'm .

mtf'l
f""

"."

20'

..- .'"

rLJ

.I'

:j :.: I IT. IJ ITI

0"

. .' .'

41 rlll~:I:)

..

. ,,/

A
14
'" 1'Is".-J"'
.

.T'
,. ,

TYPE 8 SOIL
r .... PEBsOIL

Sin':lIJ? BJ?nch E:-:c-a'.'-ation

[Permifted in cohesive sClil onl~]

............
.......

...,",I)-' ..,,- :Jxlm'Jm

"

~
//

.,/

Supported of shielded
Verticall~ sided lower portion

-r~" ~

..........

/~/

I"""'~
..-:/
.......,...~......'
L 4' r~;(.

.1_1 1
,LJ

''\-.
SIlPPOit
or :::t.i<:. id /
SII:::t<:m

/
..' / ]

......

2O"M,,;m.m

/ r---

II ](..

1.

l18"' M;, .

Excavation in layered soil

soil is sloped at 1- _, while
The layer of
soil is sloped at ___ . "'_
the layer of

Excavation in layered soil where Tvpe A soil tO~$c '

Type C soil. Both theTvee A and Type C soils lfr
the excavation must be sloped at 1-112: 1.

(Shoring & Shielding Options)

Design of support systems, shield systems, and
other protective systems using 1 of 4 options
below:
,__,___ - Designs using appendices A, C, and D
~~- Designs using manufacturers
tabulated data
__ -,~ ~ - Designs using other tabulated data
~~_- Design by a registered professional,
engineer
II!

-~

E}(C4 ~4 TIO,,'" & TRE1VCHING DECISIONFLOfV CHART (Appendix F)

Excavation> 5 Feet?
-~.

" " ' ,

-<,.

I Yes I
F'l

Potential for
Cave-in?

I No I

Yes

~~.

-~

- .-. -, "''r

e .,.

_..,

. ,~,--

-.~.

Excavation> 20 Feet?
-

II

1 Yes I

I No I

---I"

I Soil Type Detennined?

I

_.,,-

-<~..,

..

<'''~,

..

Nog

Slope
1.5H: IV

I Yes I

I-

I Vertical Sides t
"

'.

Iy
r es

~-

-,

Sa lid Rock?
'T
k
1I N
]'0 I

Sloping

-.

("'l'

...

Shoring Or Shielding

r'T----..'

Appendices A & B

--....
...

Design By A Registered
Professional Engineer
.-r~_._

... ,-._.,

-"v

__ ._" _-;""

-<,,_"

~_

..""

Timber Shoxing
Aippenaies 1\:.& C
Ff, y.au
dr . . 1<Ie'
$11onng
<
Appendices A & D

Tabulated Data

__

......

Slope Design Based

On Soil Type

"~-.-

__

".'_

.,,".-,_.

-.

S'hields, lacks
AppendiCes A &E
-

L.

"-~

- : .-. -" -, . '." ..

~~-

'-';'-.,~.-.'

=-~

Applies when timber shoring is used in trenches less

than 20 feet deepil
Proper soil classification must be determined first~
Tables are provided for different scenarios:
- Tables for each soil tvpem
- Depth of trench given in intervalsmm
- Horizontal and vertical spacing requiremen
given for cross braces, wales, and uprigh~~iI
- Based on depth and width of trench.
- Gives strength requirements for timbers,usedJn
system~

- Provides required dimensions for timbers

be usedll

TIMBER SHORING

TIMBER SHORING MUST BE PROPERLY

DESIGNED USING TABLE DATA
(APPENDICES A, C, OR OTHER TABLE
DATA),'''OR A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
TABLE DATA (NOT FROM APPENDICES A OR
C) OR PE SPECS. MUST BE KEPT ON SITE
MANUFACTURED SHORING MUST FOLLOW
MFG. SPECIFICATION
,-~--;}'-

'.'.-'

...
I-

bJ:)

l--t
OJ
trJ

GJ

.Q
fa

e,-t
~

,..=

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fa

.,-t

><

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...,
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...,~
.., 0
IIII11111111111111

IIII11111111111111

GJ

II.
".,

PI

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U)

U
La

Timber shoring in a trench

approximately:
13 feet deep and 5 feet wide.
" Type B soil.
Using OSHA specs described
in Appendix C: Table C-1.2

6 x 6 oak cross braces

6 feet horizontally
5 feet vertically
8 x 8 wales
5 feet vertically
2 x 6 uprights
2 feet horizontally
It

- Aluminum Hydraulic
Shorini! for Trenches
-~

Applies when aluminum hydraulic

shoring is used in trenches less than 2
feet deep_
., le'roper soil classification must be
completed.
Provides tables for various soil types:
-- -ased on soil type, depth, and width
f trenchll
-- -rovides required horizontal an
vertical spacing.
-- -rovides minimum diameters for
hydraulic cylindersli

GJ

-a

l-

.., ..,

illi-

U}

GJ al
tV CD cu
Us. Us.

Q.

.-4

Vertical aluminum hydraulic

shoring (w/plywood):
" 18 feet deep, 13 feet wide
Type B soil
3 inch cylinders
Appendix D, Table 0-1.2
The vertical shores and 3 inch
diameter cylinders are placed
5.5 feet o.c. horizontally and 4
feet D.C. vertically.
Plywood (not structural) is used
behind the shores only to
prevent local raveling between
shores.

Exercise 3
----1

luminum Hydraulic Shorin

Waler System
(Typical)
13 Feet Deep
~ Feet Wide
TYDe B Soil

2" Cvlinders availabl

A horizontal aluminum
hydraulic waler system
-13 feet deep
6 feet wide
Type B soil
2 inch cylinders
Appendix 0, Table 0-1.3
Cylinders are spaced at 6 feet
o.c. horizontally.
Wales are spaced 4 feet o.c.
vertically (3 rows required)
3" x 12" solid' timber sheeting
is used. Spaced 2' o.c.

Excavation> 5 Feet?
I

l. I

1
,

Potential for
Cave-in?

I No I

Yes

i'

Excavation> 20 Feet?
c.

. ....... [

+
I Soil Type Determined?
,.

~,

I Vertical Sides ~.

IV
I cs

I Yes I
~

Solid Rock?

Sloping
...

-.~

H :

fi

I No I
No

!".

J"O."

.-..
......

I..

LNo

"

l
H

-l

Slo~e

1.5H. IV .
"""""

,o} $iL- .. ",'T_

__ ''cw'",;".

______ ""'~$

_.

I
..
".

Shoring Or Shielding
_

... ' { . ,...-4." . ".L . . .

Slope Design Based

On Soil Type

Appendices A & C

Appendices A & B
__ .. ,T_. __

~_

'","',"., ___

,~

___ , "

Tabulated Data
"'_"

L.. __

,-_,_ .... ,.

4
=~"

...

--....

Design By A Registered
Professional Engineer
__

~~

.. __

~_"

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

1_

..

Hydraulic Shoring
Appendices A & D

.r,

~_~._~~~

Timber Shoring

Shields, Jacks
Appendices A & E

'-.-"

TRENCH SHIELDS
.I/tJ!!Jjj[eTREN~:~':Ji~~:::r::r;TU~ER'S
.

,.

TRENCH BOXES MUST BE

USED ACCORDING TO
THE MANUFACTURER'S
SPECIFICATIONS, OR A
PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEER

SPECIFICATIONS MUST
BE KEPT ON SITE

"iI!>

C~W8~J

$56PS~

MAXIMUMDEPTH TABLe
SOIL riPlt

MODEL-NO.

9~~
SERIAL NO.

EFP: IotAXfMlllotDl!l'Tll(l'T)

SHIELD CAPACITY

25

45

25'

60

20'

MAX SPREADER

80

16'

LENGTH

42'
1-'--'1i~

0$/07{9a

S" SCH80

OATEsHIPPt:b

SPREADER SlZg

"~.POR.USE"T~TEDpA'rAt

1~:orhk.T""'~lIMbMn~'lI'Ia~protec..

,--~-li!I~.to'OblnplfWllh_OSHA:"""2I
CfR~f_.~f";

OENERALNOl'EIi FCHI TRE8CH ~USI:

1, J.tIf~~..,.~,..~lMI'ItIfacued~.~
\'lllllVOir:ttlllbulltltdc.tJt . . . . ~~Dr~ ... ~

l>vGME.

2. GMl!T~~IMVt.~~hit~

~'.......~...... ~-~1:iy:GtlCl!.&cih

. .__ ...... ,..........~ .~~ ... ....,

.~.w.s

dtoti.Mtwhlahl......

,"

3~~~ . .~"" ..... beWOh~lOW1d

cordIIi'on. TrM:hatfddhbiKId"~1itIbt1Dddtliilafor..nr

=-...,

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:Ttw-ma~'.~~::;a:::.:~=~i

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da~lV':~'.iut."haci~""'Jat~"ma!ie
ar~~oI.~~OT~'tM

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pt'olesslonil'......,..

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ddiI_lIIII!~ofb!OStfA~,Mtti:ft.IStftIdIlQ.. GItIer
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s: t.io;idi.ciam.t.rpfeW.~br,~~~PIaoedt,_

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,

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_-

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Requirements for Protective Systems

~

Excavation not
permitted to mor
than 2 feet bel
bottom of members
of a suppo
systelB.R
Extend at least>I'8(~f
aDove top of.cut~

Requirements for Protective Systems

--------

Shield systems not

overloaded beyond
design criteria.
Must be maintained.

Requirements for Protective Systems

~

~hielas

installed t
not permit
movement in
the event of
sudden
lateral loaas.

Requirements for Protective Systems

.=:J

'--------------'--'--------'-------'-----'-_.

Employees
protected when
entering or
exiting shieldll
Employees not
permitted inside
shields when
being installed,
removed, or
moved v~ttiall.YII

""C
Q)

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....c

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en c... >

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ON

""""""!

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...... '"'C ........,

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AGoo ExamDle of an ngln

c 1, .n~;_-n crPl ~ ~

UII:VI..I.II.EiCI IUII:

ffi

~
~

Conventional sloping wouldn't work because of

adjacent buildings & road that had to remai'l1
Existing utilities were located and supported'
PeE. shoring plan followed exactly

\~

n Excellent

amDle of all

eets o:f
.~

ffi

ffi
ffi

Good example of shoring flagging

Good guardrail system around upper perimeter
Good impalement protection at lower grade

o
o
l?

amples of Barrier Protection

ffi

Barricades or equivalent around excavati.ons

to keep employees from falling in
Similar measures to be taken to keep
vehicles or equipment from going into
excavation

c
....

'-

A good bottom-line philosophy on excavation

safety:
E
- - c - .-

It is very risky to cut corners on excavation safety. One

accident and there will be law suits, fines, penalties (possible
prison time) not to mention personal grief and trauma of losing
a co-worker or getting one seriously injured.
One accident can put you out of business. For the long-term
financial and emotional health ofyour business and coworkers, it is best to follow safety regulations.