Excavation/Trenching Operations

General Excavation Checklist

Soils Analysis Checklist

Daily Trenching Log

Color Code for Marking Underground Utility Lines

29 CFR 1926.650--Scope, application, and definitions

29 CFR 1926.651--Specific excavation requirements

29 CFR 1926.652--Requirements for protective systems

Subpart P, Appendix A-Soil Classifications

Subpart P, Appendix B-Sloping & Benching (must see printed copy for illus.)

Subpart P, Appendix C-Timber Shoring for Trenches (must see printed copy for tables)

Subpart P, Appendix D-Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring for Trenches (must see printed copy for illus.)

Subpart P, Appendix E-Alternatives to Timber Shoring (must see printed copy for illus.)

Subpart P, Appendix F-Selection of Protective Systems (must see printed copy for illus.)

Excavation Checklist Project: ____________ Weather: __________________________ Date: _________ Measurements of Trench: Depth: _____ Length: _____ Width: _____ Soil Type: ___ See attached "Soils Analysis Checklist" Type of Protective System Used: _________________________________________ General Inspection of the Job site Yes No N/A ___ ___ ___ Excavations, adjacent areas, and Protective Systems inspected by the Competent Person daily, prior to the start of work. ___ ___ ___ Competent Person has the authority to remove workers from the excavation immediately. ___ ___ ___ Surface encumbrances supported or removed. ___ ___ ___ Employees protected from loose rock or soil that could possibly pose a hazard by falling or rolling into the excavation. ___ ___ ___ Hard hats worn by all employees. ___ ___ ___ Spoils, materials, and equipment set back a minimum of 2' from the edge of the excavation. ___ ___ ___ Barriers provided at all remote excavations, well, pits, shafts, etc. Walkways and bridges, over excavations 4' or more in depth, must be equipped with guardrails ___ ___ ___ Warning vests, or other highly visible garments, provided and worn by all employees exposed to public vehicular traffic. ___ ___ ___ Employees required to stand away from vehicles being loaded or unloaded. ___ ___ ___ Employees prohibited from working or walking under suspended loads. ___ ___ ___ Employees prohibited from working on the faces of sloped or benched excavations above other employees. ___ ___ ___ Warning system established and utilized when mobile equipment is operating near the edge of an excavation. Utilities ___ ___ ___ Utility companies contacted and/or utilities located. ___ ___ ___ Exact location of utilities marked when approaching the utilities. ___ ___ ___ Underground installations protected, supported, or removed when the excavation is open. Means of Access and Egress ___ ___ ___ Lateral travel distance to a means of egress does not exceed 25', for excavations 4' or more in depth. ___ ___ ___ Ladders, when used, must extend 3' above the edge of the trench and be secured. ___ ___ ___ Structural ramps used by employees must be designed by a Competent Person. ___ ___ ___ Structural ramps used for equipment must be designed by a Registered Professional Engineer (RPE). ___ ___ ___ Ramps must be constructed of materials of uniform thickness, securely cleated together on the bottom, and have a non-slip surface. ___ ___ ___ Employees protected from cave-ins while entering, working in, or exiting excavation. Wet Conditions ___ ___ ___ Precautions taken to protect employees from accumulation of water. ___ ___ ___ Water removal equipment monitored by a Competent Person. ___ ___ ___ Surface water controlled or diverted. ___ ___ ___ Inspection made after each rainstorm. Hazardous Atmosphere ___ ___ ___ Atmosphere tested when there is a reasonable possibility of oxygen deficiency, or build up of other hazardous gases, that may expose an employee to a hazard. ___ ___ ___ Oxygen content is between 19.5% and 21%. ___ ___ ___ Ventilation provided to prevent flammable gas from building up to 20% of the lower explosive limit of the gas. ___ ___ ___ Testing conducted to ensure that atmosphere remains safe. ___ ___ ___ Emergency Response Equipment readily available where a hazardous atmosphere could or does exist. ___ ___ ___ Employees trained on the use of Personal Protective and Emergency Response Equipment. ___ ___ ___ Safety harness and life line must be individually attended when an employee entering a deep confined excavation or bell bottom pier. Protective Support Systems ___ ___ ___ Materials and/or equipment selected on soil analysis, expected loads, and trench parameters. ___ ___ ___ Materials and equipment inspected and in good condition. ___ ___ ___ Materials and equipment not in good condition must be removed from service and not returned until repaired, inspected, and approved by a Registered Professional engineer. ___ ___ ___ Protective systems installed without exposing employees to hazards of cave-ins, collapses, or from being struck by materials of equipment. Install from the top, down, and from the bottom up. ___ ___ ___ Members of Protective Support System must be securely fastened. ___ ___ ___ Adjacent structures must be securely supported. ___ ___ ___ Excavations below the footing of base must be approved by a Registered Professional Engineer. ___ ___ ___ The backfill process must progress with the removal of the support system. ___ ___ ___ Material excavated to a level no greater than 2' from the bottom of the Protective Support System, and only if system is designed to support the calculated loads. ___ ___ ___ Shield system placed to prevent lateral movement. ___ ___ ___ Employee prohibited from remaining in a Trench Box when being moved vertically. ___________________________________ ____________ Signature of Competent Person Date

Soils Analysis Checklist This checklist must be completed when an analysis is performed to determine the soil(s) type present in the excavation. A seperate analysis must be performed for each change in soil conditions, such as layers in the excavation wall, if the trench extends long distances, etc. Project:_______________________________ Weather:___________________________________ Measurements of Trench: Depth:_____ Length:_____ Width:_____ Sample: Location Taken From:___________________________ Time:______ Date:______ Visual Test Particle Type: Fine Grained (cohesive) ___ Course Grained (sand or gravel) ___ Water Conditions: Wet ___ Dry ___ Submerged ___ Surface Water Present ___ Previously Disturbed Soils? Yes___ No___ Underground Utilities Protected? Yes___ No___ Layered Soils? Yes___ No___ Layered Soil Dipping Into Excavation? Yes___ No___ Excavation Exposed to Vibration? Yes___ No___ Surface Encumbrances Present? Yes___ No___ If yes, what type? _______________________________ Evidence of Cracking or Spalling Observed? Yes___ No___ Potentially Hazardous Atmosphere Exist? Yes___ No___ If yes, identify condition & source: ___________________ (If yes, follow the company Confined Space Procedures) Manual Test Plasticity: Cohesive ___ Non-cohesive ___ Dry Strength: Granular (crumbles easily) ___ Cohesive (broken w/difficulty) ___ Note: The following unconfined compressive strength tests should be performed on undisturbed soils. Thumb Test: used to estimate unconfined compressive strength of a cohesive soil. Test Performed Yes___ No___ ___Type "A" Soil: indented by thumb with very great difficulty. ___Type "B" Soil: indented by thumb with some difficulty. ___Type "C" Soil: easily penetrated, or if soil is submerged, seeping, or subject to water, runoff, etc. Pentrometer or Shearvane: used to estimate unconfined compressive strength of saturated soils. Test Performed Yes___ No___ ___Type "A" Soil: unconfined compresive strength of 1.5 tsf or greater. ___Type "B" Soil: unconfined compresive strength between 0.5 & 1.5 tsf. ___Type "C" Soil: unconfined compresive strength of 0.5 tsf or less or if soil is submerged, seeping or subject to water, runoff, etc. Wet Shake Test: used to determine the percentage of granular and cohesive materials in a soil sample. Compare results to a soil textural classification chart. ___% granular ___% cohesive ___% silt ___Type "A" Soil: clay, silty clay, sandy clay, clay loam, and in some cases silty clay loan, and sandy clay loam. ___Type "B" Soil: angular gravel (similar to crushed rock), silt, silt loam, sandy loam, and in some cases silty clay loam, and sandy clay loam. ___Type "C" Soil: granular soil including gravel sand and loamy sand. Note: Type A Soil - no soil is a Type A if the soil is fissured, subject to vibration, previously disturbed, layered dipping into the excavation on a slope of 4H:1V. Soil Classification System ___Type "A" Soil ___Type "B" Soil ___Type "C" Soil For selection of the appropriate protective system, use the flow chart in Appendix F of the Standard. ___Sloping or Benching (Appendix B) Specify Angle _____ ___Timber Shoring (Appendix C) ___Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring (Appendix D) ___________________________________ ____________ Signature of Competent Person Date

Daily Trenching Log Project:__________________ Weather:___________________________________ Was One Call System Contacted (prior to initial excavation? Yes___ No___ Protective System(s): ___Trench Shield (Box) ___Wood Shoring ___Sloping ___other Measurements of Trench: Depth_____ Length_____ Width_____ Purpose of Trench: Drainage___ Sewer___ Gas___ Water___ Other___: _______ Was a Visual Soil Test Made? Yes___ No___ If yes, what type? _________ Was a Manual Soil Test Made? Yes___ No___ If yes, what type? _________ Type of Soil? ____________________ Strength of Soil ______________________ Surface Encumbrances Present? Yes___ No___ If yes, what type? _________ Water Conditions: Wet___ Dry___ Submerged___ Surface Water ___ Potentially Hazardous Atmosphes Exist? Yes___ No___ (If yes, follow the company Confined Space Procedures) Is Trenching or Excavation Exposed to Vehicular Traffic (exhaust)? Yes___ No___ (If yes, follow the company Confined Space Procedures) Are Employees Exposed to Public Vehicular Traffic? Yes___ No___ (If yes, warning vests are required) Are Other Utilities Protected? Yes___ No___ (Water, gas, sewer, or other structures) Are Sewer or Natural Gas Lines Exposed? Yes___ No___ (If yes, follow the company Confined Space Procedures) Are ladders within 25' of all workers? Yes___ No___ Do ladders extend 3' above the top edge of the excavation? Yes___ No___ Is excavated material stored a minimum of 2' from the edge of the excavation? Yes___ No___ Did Employees Receive Training in Trenching and Excavation? Yes___ No___ Date and Time of Last Periodic Inspection: ___________________________________ Comments and/or Notes: ___________________________________ ____________ Signature of Competent Person Date

Color Code for Marking Underground Utility Lines