To establish procedures for excavation work to help assure excavations are performed in a safe and proper manner.
Excavations are any man-made cut, cavity, trench or depression in the earth surface formed by earth removal. (OSHA makes no distinction on the depth of excavation.)
Trenches are narrow excavations made below the surface of the ground. In general, the depth is greater than the width. However, the width of a trench is not greater than 15 feet. An excavation is also considered to be a trench
To comply with OSHA standard 1926.650 "Excavations."
Departmental supervisors must ensure their employees follow these procedures:
1. Prior to Excavation or Trenching
b. Surface Encumbrances
Remove, support or safeguard all surface encumbrances located at the site that may create a hazard to employees.
c. Competent Person
At each excavation site there must be a designated "competent"
person whenever employees are digging or in the excavation. A
"competent" person means someone capable of identifying existing and
predictable hazards in the surroundings, or working conditions that
unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees. The
competent person has authorization to take prompt corrective measures
to eliminate any unsafe condition. A "competent" person is someone who
attends a 4 hour excavation/trenching course and successfully passes the
course examination. There must be documentation of the training.
b. Protection of Employees
No one shall enter excavations of four feet or more in depth without
having shoring in place or the banks cut back to a safe angle. (Refer
to OSHA Standard 1926.652) No one shall enter an excavation of less
than four feet without shoring or proper angle of repose unless
authorized by a competent person.
Excavations less than four feet in depth may not require this degree of protection if examination of the ground by a competent person provides no indication of a potential cove in. Store excavated material at least two feet from the excavation edge. Workers must wear hard hats at the site when work is in progress. Provide a stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe means of egress in trench excavations that are 4 feet or more in depth. The travel distance to the ladder must be no more than 25 feet of lateral travel for employees. The ladder must extend three feet above the edge of the trench.
c. Inspections
A competent person must make daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems for evidence of possible cave-ins, indications of protective systems failure, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions.
The competent person must conduct an inspection
d. Barricades and Warnings
Take special measures to protect the public because the danger excavation work presents and the high student population on campus. Simple barricades are not enough protection in high traffic areas near sidewalks, and road ways subject to pedestrian
traffic. In high traffic areas, place snow fencing around the excavation to provide maximum protection. An additional precaution is to use barricades with flashing lights whenever possible on pedestrian walkways and roadways.
Provide employees exposed to public vehicular traffic with warning vests or other suitable garments marked with reflector or high-visibility material. The supervisor must contact the NCSU Campus Police and apprise them of the excavation and ensure that they check periodically for vandalism or any other unusual activity.
e. Competent Person Training
To become a competent person, a person needs specialized training. This training is available through Weaver Associates (832-6242). The course will provide information on:
Determination of competency requires participant to pass the course final examination. For additional training information contact Scott Mabry, at 515-6871.
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