ZAPOSH CONSULTANCY AND

SERVICES TO
MAKE THE WORKPLACE SAFER, HEALTHIER AND MORE
PRODUCTIVE
 Focus on training
• To know the hazards and recognize
the importance of safety in excavation.
• Make awareness to control the and
hazards prevent accident / incident.
• Factors that pose personnel working in
excavation.
• The role of a competent person prior and
during excavation and trenching.
 Definitions
• Excavation – a man-made cut, cavity,
trench, or depression formed by earth
• removal.
Trench – a narrow excavation. The depth is
greater than the width, but not wider than 15
• ft.
Shield – a structure able to withstand a cave-in
• and protect personnel.
Shoring – a structure that supports the sides
of an excavation and protects against cave-ins.
 Definition
• Sloping – a technique that employs a
specific angle of incline on the side of
the excavation.
• Benching – a method of protecting
personnel inside excavation by cutting
the sides of the excavation in the
arrangement of one or more
horizontal
levels.
 OSH Rule 1413
Shoring and timbering:
• The walls of every excavation over 1m
(3ft.) shall be supported by adequate
shoring and timbering to prevent
collapse;
• Shoring or timbering in excavation over
6.6m (20 ft.) shall be designed by
structural engineer…
 Excavation Hazards
• Cave-ins are the greatest risk.
• Asphyxiation due to lack of
• oxygen
• Inhalation of toxic materials.
• Falls
Accidental severing of underground
utility lines that may cause death
or injury.
 Excavation
Hazards
•
• Water accumulation
• Access / egress
Moving machinery near the edge of
the excavation
• Struck by falling objects
 Protection of personnel to potential
cave-in
• Slope or bench the side of the
excavation
• Support the side of the excavation, or
• Place a shield between the side of the
excavation and the work area
These workers are
inside
the trench with no
protective
system and has no
means of access
 Inspections
• Competent person should inspect
the excavation
- on a daily basis
- after a rainstorm and
- as needed when other hazard
increasing occurrence are noticed.
 Competent person
• He / she must have had a specific training in
and be knowledgeable about
- Soil classification
- The use of protective equipment
- The requirements of the standard
• Must be capable of identifying the
hazard, to immediately eliminate
and authorized
hazards
 Competent person
If the competent person finds evidence of a
possible cave-in, indication of failure of
protective systems, hazardous atmospheres
or other hazardous condition
• Exposed employees must be removed from
the hazardous area
• Employees may not return until the
necessary precautions have been taken
 Protective system
- Sloping / Benching
- Trench box
- Shoring/sheeting

Excavation less than 3 ft. in depth do not

require protective system if examines
and determine that there are no
potential from cave-in by a competent
person.
 Design of protective system
• The employer shall select and construct
- slopes and configurations of sloping
and benching system.
- support system, shield system and
other protective system
Factors involved in a Protective
designing
system
• Soil classification.
• Depth of cut.
• Water content of soil.
• Changes due to weather and climate.
• Other operations in the vicinity.
• Location where to excavate.
 Soil
• Type
Stable Rock – is a natural solid mineral that
can be excavated with vertical sides and
• remain intact while exposed;
Type A Soils are cohesive soils with an
unconfined compressive strength of 1.5 tons
• per squareoffoot
Examples this(tsf)
typeorofgreater;
soil Clays,
are: silty
clay, sandy clays, and clay
loam.
• A Soil is type ‘A’ IF:
NOT
– The soil is fissured
– The soil is subject to vibration
– The soil has been previously disturbed
– The material is subject to other factors that
would require it to be classified as a less
stable material.
– Water is present
 Soil
Type
•
Type B Soils are cohesive soils with an
unconfined compressive strength greater
• than 0.5 tsf but less than 1.5 tsf;
Examples: Granular cohesionless soils
including; silt, silt loam, sandy loam,
• and some sandy clay loam
Previously disturbed soils except those
which would otherwise be classified as
Type ‘C’ soil
 Soil
•
Type
Type C Soils are cohesive soils with an
unconfined compressive strength of 0.5 tsf or
• less.
Examples: Granular soils including gravel, sand,
• and loamy sand
Submerged soil, or soil from which water is
freely seeping
 Sloping/Benching
Sloping in Type ‘A’
Soil

Excavation walls
shall
forty be
fivecut to Sloping in Type ‘B’
Soil
degrees angle
from the vertical
or cut to the
angle of repose. Sloping in Type ‘C’
Soil
 Sloping/Benching
Benching shall be
done in a manner that
will not collapse the
side of the
excavation. Maximum
depth of cut shall be
at least 4 ft.
 Trench Box/Shield System
 “A structure that
is able to
withstand the
forces imposed on
it by a cave-in and
thereby protect
employees.”
 Trench Box/Shield System
Trench boxes are
generally used in
open areas, but they
may also be used in
combination with
sloping and
benching. The box
should extend at
least 18 inches above
the surrounding area if
there is sloping toward
the excavation.
 Shoring
• “A structure such
as metal hydraulic,
mechanical or
timber shoring
system that
supports the sides
of an excavation
and which is
designed to
prevent cave-
ins.”
 Shoring
• Provides a
framework to
work in
• Use wales,
cross braces and
uprights
 Hazardous atmosphere

• In location where oxygen deficiency or

gaseous condition are known or
suspected, the atmospheres in the
excavation shall be tested before
employees enter the excavation
• Exhaust ventilation and other
means shall be provided
 Protection of personnel from fall, falling
of
debris,protection
• Perimeter vehicle shall
and equipment
be provided to
prevent personnel, vehicles and equipment
from falling into excavation as;
such
– Construction safety
– Barricades sign’s
– Safety nets
– Stop log
• Use a flag man when signs, and
signals
barricades are not enough protection
 Protection of personnel from fall, falling
of
debris, vehicle and equipment
• Excavated materials shall be placed a
distance not less than 1/3 one third of
the depth of the excavation
• Materials such as boulders or stumps
that may slide or roll into the
excavation shall be removed or made
safe.
Protection of personnel from fall, falling
of
• Putdebris,
devicesvehicle and to
sufficient equipment
retained and
prevent excavated materials from
falling into excavation
• No employee shall be permitted to
work under a loads handled by
equipment and or beneath on top of
worker.
• Wear Personal Protective
Equipment.
Protection of personnel from fall, falling of
debris, vehicle and equipment

• Tools or materials shall be kept a

minimum of 3 ft. away from the edge
• No vehicle or machinery shall be
driven, operated or located near the
edge of an excavation at least a
distance of one third 1/3 of it’s
depth.
 Protection from water
When water is present in an excavation it
is extremely hazardous to enter,
precautionary measures should be taken
for excavation over 1m (3ft.)
• Divert water by means of ditches, or
dikes other means to prevent water
from entering excavation
• Pumping out of water thru proper
equipment which should be monitored by
competent person
 Access / Egress
• Walkways or bridges with standard
guardrails shall be provided when people
need to cross over in the excavation
 Access / Egress

• A stairway, ladder, or
ramp must be present
in excavation that are 3
or more feet deep and
should not exceed 50
feet of lateral travel for
• the employees. ft. from the
Ladders should
surface of extend
the excavation
3
 Access / Egress
• Excavation should be properly
backfilled, compacted as soon as
possible
• When excavation exceeds 20 ft
in depth, ramps, stairs or hoist
mechanical is required
• Ramps should be 4 ft in width when
used for personnel access only.
5-6
 Prior to Excavation
• Prior to excavation, underground utility
lines must be determined.
• Permit should be obtain when
necessary
Note: If there is suspected underground
utility 2 ft below or adjacent to
excavation, it must be dig manually.
 Summary
• The greatest risk in excavation is
a cave-in.
• Employees can be protected
through sloping, shielding, and
shoring the edge excavation
• Excavation should be inspected by a
competent person
 FIRS
T
TH SAF WA IS
ETHEBESYWA
E T Y
Your attention and participation
was appreciated