EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

EXCAVATION, TRENCHING,
SHORING SAFETY
TRAINING
SAFETY
 SUMMARY
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

• Objective
• Definitions
• Work preparation
• Potential hazards
• Soil classification
• Soil failure
• Cave-ins and protective support systems
• Sloping and Benching
• Spaced sheeting and shoring
• Trench shield
• Installation and removal of protective systems
• Fall of persons, material and equipment
• Presence of vehicles inside / around excavations
• Hazardous atmospheres
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• Safe work practices

• Water accumulation
 OBJECTIVE
To establish and implement procedures to identify
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

critical issues and define all the actions that are

required to control civil works involving excavation
activities.
SAFETY
 DEFINITION
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

Excavation
Any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in an
earth surface that is formed by earth removal.
Trench
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Long and relatively narrow excavation made on the

ground. The width (measured at the bottom) is not greater
than 15 ft (4.6 m).
 DEFINITION

ADJACENT STRUCTURE STABILITY

EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

It refers to the stability of the

foundation(s) of adjacent structures
whose location may create
surcharges, changes in soil
conditions, or other disruptions that
have the potential to extend into the
failure zone of the excavation or
trench.
SAFETY
 DEFINITION
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

COMPETENT PERSON

Person who is able to identify existing and predictable risks or working

conditions which are unhygienic, dangerous or harmful to personnel.

WHO HAS:

 Specific training and knowledge about the different types of soils.

 Knowledge how to use protection systems.

 Authority to adopt necessary measures in order to eliminate

hazards.
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 Minimum of 2 years practical experience in assessing ground

condition.
 DEFINITION
EXCAVATION WORK PERMIT
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

It is issued to cover all excavation works to ensure

that precautions are taken to avoid damage to
underground services e.g. pipelines, electrical or
telecommunication cables etc.
SAFETY
 WORK PREPARATION
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

Prior starting any kind of excavation a work planning has to be organized in the excavation area:

 Determine soil type to dig and its resistance to collapse

 Inspect structures or buildings that can be affected by the excavation and buried services or installations.

 Select proper excavation machinery and equipment.

 Identify hazards, their level of risk and the safety measures to be taken.

 Verifying the existence of possible underground structures, cables, lines or other elements.

After the
inspection of
excavation and
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type of safety
measures,
decision should
be taken
 DETERMINATION OF SOIL TYPE
Soil is a mixture of stone, water, air and a variety of other substances.
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

Nevertheless, combination of stone, water and air affects the soil

stability and resistance to collapse.

Sand is a
granular soil.
Allows faster Clay is a very, very fine-grained soil. In general,
groundwater water moves very slowly through clay.
absorption.
Easy to
compact with
vibration.

Silt has properties intermediate

between fine sand and clay. Most
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sensitive to changes in soil

moisture content. Tends to crumble
with drying
 SOILS CLASSIFICATION
Stable Rock
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

Excavated with vertical sides and remain intact Max. slope angle - 53º
while exposed.
Identified by a rock name such as granite or
sandstone.
Sometimes, cracks appear and they can provoke
Type “A” soils
the fall of whole blocks.
Cohesive soils with an unconfined compressive strength of 1.5t. PSF.
Max.
Slope
Examples: Clay, silty clay, sandy clay, clay loam, in some cases, silty
angle - clay loam and sandy clay loam.
90º No soil is Type “A” if fissured, vibrated, disturbed, part of sloping,
benching or has seeping water.
Type “B” soils Max. slope angle - 34º
Cohesive soils with an unconfined compressive
strength greater than 0.5t PSF. but less than 1.5t.
Examples: angular gravel; silt; silt loam;
previously disturbed soils. Type “C” soils
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Max. slope angle - 45º

Cohesive soils with an unconfined compressive strength of 0.5t. PSF.
Examples: granular soils - gravel, sand and loamy sand, submerged
soil, soil from which water is freely seeping, and submerged rock
that is not stable
 POTENTIAL HAZARDS
 Collapse (Cave-In)
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

 Fall of persons / Material / Equipment

 Presence of Vehicles around the excavation
 Hazardous Atmospheres
 Water Accumulation
 Underground utilities
 Overhead power-lines
SAFETY
 SOIL FAILURE
Collapse of part or all of an excavation wall.
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

TENSION CRACKS. Tension cracks usually form at a horizontal distance of 0.5 0.5-0.75 H
to 0.75 times the depth of the trench measured from the top of the vertical face
of the trench.
SLIDING or sluffing may occur as a result of tension cracks.
TOPPLING occurs when the trench's vertical face shears along the tension
crack line and topples into the excavation.
SUBSIDENCE AND BULGING. An unsupported excavation can create an
unbalanced stress in the soil and causes subsidence and bulging
HEAVING OR SQUEEZING. Heaving and squeezing can occur even when
shoring or shielding has been properly installed.
BOILING is evidenced by an upward water flow into the bottom of the cut. A
high water table is one of the causes of boiling. Boiling produces a "quick"
condition in the bottom of the cut, and can occur even when shoring or trench
boxes are used.
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 FACTORS THAT INCREASE
CHANCE OF SOIL FAILURE
Excessive vibration: Any large, heavy movement near an excavation results
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

in vibration of the surrounding soils. This movement can result in soil failure.
Moving machinery, nearby traffic, pile driving and blasting all cause vibration in
surrounding soils.

Surface encumbrances: Heavy loads such as large equipment, heavy

materials or large spoil piles can be too heavy for the soil to support, resulting
in a cave-in.

Weather conditions: Weather is an important factor in determining soil

conditions. More importantly, changing weather conditions may signal a change
in the pressures exerted by the soil on the side walls of a trench. Excess water
from rain or melting snow interacts with the soil, increasing the pressure on the
excavation and shoring system.
SAFETY
 PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

The methods used are: Battering, Battering

Shoring and Benching, in order to
protect people who work in trenches
and excavations against collapses
provoked by material falling or rolling
Maximum angle
down inside the excavation from the - 45º
surface around the excavation, or as
consequence of the collapse of
adjacent structures.
Benching
Shoring
3.6 meters
6 meters The step
less than
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1.5 m long
1.5 m high
1.2 m high
Max. 0.6 m
 SPACED SHEETING / SHORING
This method involves placing
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

• Spaced timber shores;

• Bracing;
• Trench jacks;
• Piles.

Shoring is the provision of a support system for trench faces

used to prevent movement of soil, underground utilities,
roadways, and foundations.

Shoring or shielding is used when maximum allowable slope

impractical.

The horizontal trench braces may be wooden or telescoping

metal pipes. The metal braces are typically used when the width
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of the trench exceeds 1.5 m.

All materials selected for use must be in good condition.

 TRENCH SHIELD
It is a prefabricated movable structure often composed of steel plates
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

welded to a heavy steel frame.

Some trench shields are composed of aluminum or fiberglass.

TRENCH SHIELDS are different from shoring because, instead of shoring

up or otherwise supporting the trench face, they are intended primarily
to protect workers from cave-ins and similar incidents.

The excavated area between the outside of the trench box and the face
of the trench should be as small as possible. The space between the
trench boxes and the excavation side are backfilled to prevent lateral
movement of the box.
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Shields may not be subjected to loads exceeding those which the system
was designed to withstand.
 INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL OF PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS
Safety procedures during installation of support systems:
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

• Step 1 - Securely connect members of support

systems.

• Step 2 - Never overload members of support systems

when installing.

• Step 3 - Install other structural members to carry

loads imposed on the support system when
temporary removal of individual members is
necessary.

Excavation of 2 feet (0.61 meters) or less below the

bottom of the members of a support or shield system of a
trench is permitted if:
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The system is designed to resist the forces calculated for

the full depth of the trench.
There are no indications, while the trench is open, of a
 FALL OF PERSONS, MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
Keep materials or equipment at least 5 feet (1.5 meters)
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

away from the edge of excavations, or have retaining

devices, or both.

Provide warning systems such as mobile equipment,

barricades, hand or mechanical signals, or stop logs to alert
operators of the edge of an excavation.

Provide scaling to remove loose rock or soil or install

protective barricades and other equivalent protection to
protect employees against falling rock, soil or materials.

Prohibit employees from working on faces of sloped or

benched excavations at levels above other employees
unless employees at lower levels are adequately protected
from the hazard of falling, rolling or sliding material or
equipment.
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Prohibit employees under loads that are handled by lifting or

digging equipment.
 PRESENCE OF VEHICLES INSIDE / AROUND EXCAVATION
Wear warning vests or other suitable garments marked with or made of
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

reflectorized or high-visibility materials (High-Visibility Vests & Jackets).

A designated, trained Banks-man and/or Flag-man along with signs, signals and
barricades when necessary

Do not work under raised loads.

Stand away from equipment that is being loaded or unloaded.

Equipment operators or truck drivers may stay in their equipment during loading
and unloading if the equipment is properly equipped with a cab shield or adequate 1.5 m
canopy

Warning systems for mobile equipment.

The following steps should be taken to prevent vehicles from accidentally falling into the
trench:
• Barricades must be installed where necessary.
• Hand or mechanical signals must be used as required
• Adoption of Banks-men and Flag-men is mandatory.
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• Stop logs must be installed if there is a danger of vehicles falling into the trench.

Soil should be graded away from the excavation; this will assist in vehicle control and
channeling of run-off water.
 Test excavations more than 4 feet (1.22 m)
HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERES before an employee enters the excavation.
Employees are not permitted to work in hazardous
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

and/or toxic atmospheres. Such as: • The frequency of testing should be

• Less than 19.5 percent or more than 23.5 percent increased if equipment is operating in the
oxygen; trench.
• Combustible gas concentration greater than 20
percent of the lower flammable limit; • Testing frequency should also be
• High levels of other hazardous substances increased if welding, cutting or burning is
done in the trench.

• Employees required to wear respiratory

protection must be trained, fit-tested and
enrolled in a respiratory protection
program.

Some trenches qualify as “Confined Spaces”.

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When this occurs, compliance with the PTW

- Confined Space Permit is also required
 SAFE WORK PRACRICES
• Personnel will be kept clear of machinery in operation, minimum - 5 meters.
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

• Barriers and signs will be erected placed at 1.5m from the edge of the excavation.
Solid/hard barriers with top rail, middle rail and toe board.

• Trucks and heavy equipment used for the removal of soil will be controlled and sited by
a banksman, and will operate at least 1.5m away from the edge of the excavation;

• Excavated soil will be stacked at a minimum distance of 1.5m from the edge.

• Means of escape from the excavation will be provided at 8 meters intervals

• Walkways a minimum of 0.6m wide will be placed across trenches where access is
required, fitted with handrails and separate from roadways.

• Uncovered services and utilities will be adequately supported by propping/slinging or

any other method identified as appropriate.

• Electric pumps used for dewatering shall be covered by the temporary electric
procedure and shall only be worked on by authorized persons;
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• Excavations shall be checked daily or before use

• No mechanical excavation shall be made within 1 meter of any underground services;

 WATER ACCUMULATION
Water removal equipment, i.e., well pointing, used and
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING, SHORING

monitored by a competent person

Safety harnesses and lifelines used

• Divert surface water away from the trench

• Remove employees from the trench during rainstorms
• Trenches should be carefully inspected by a competent
person after each rain and before employees are permitted
to re-enter the trench
Frequency and conditions requiring inspections:
• Daily and before the start of each shift
• As dictated by the work being done in the trench
• After every rainstorm
• After other events that could increase hazards, e.g.
snowstorm, windstorm, thaw, earthquake, etc.
• When fissures, tension cracks, sloughing, undercutting,
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water seepage, bulging at the bottom or other similar

conditions occur
• When there is a change in the size, location or placement of
the spoil pile
EXCAVATION, TRENCHING,
SHORING SAFETY TRAINING

QUESTIONS

&
FALL PREVENTION AND PROTECTION TRAINING

SUGGESTIONS…

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