Trench and Excavation Daily Inspection

Inspection header

• Job and location
• Date
• Time of inspection
• Competent person, printed name
• Signature
• Excavation depth
• Excavation width at the bottom
• Length of open trench
• Soil classified as: Stable Rock, Type A, Type B or Type C
• Protective system in use
• Weather since the last inspection

When the inspection has to happen

1926.651(k)(1) requires daily inspections of the excavation, the adjacent areas and the protective systems by a competent person, looking for anything that could cause a cave-in, any indication that the protective system is failing, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions.

The regulation names three triggers: prior to the start of work, as needed throughout the shift, and after every rainstorm or other hazard increasing occurrence. It applies whenever employee exposure can be reasonably anticipated.

1926.651(k)(2) is the part that matters when you find something. Where the competent person finds any of those conditions, exposed employees are removed from the hazardous area until the necessary precautions have been taken. Removed, not warned.

Protective systems, 1926.652

• Every employee in the excavation is protected from cave-in by an adequate protective system, 1926.652(a)(1)
• Exception claimed, if any: excavation made entirely in stable rock, 1926.652(a)(1)(i)
• Exception claimed, if any: excavation less than 5 feet deep and examination of the ground by the competent person provides no indication of a potential cave-in, 1926.652(a)(1)(ii)
• Sloping, benching, shoring or shielding matches the soil classification actually found today
• Shield or support system extends at least 18 inches above the top of any vertical side, Appendix B
• Manufacturer's tabulated data for the shield or shoring is on site, 1926.652(c)
• Shield is not being moved with employees inside it, and spoil is not being loaded over occupied areas
• Anything deeper than 20 feet has a design from a registered professional engineer, because Appendix B's configurations only reach 20 feet

Maximum allowable slopes, Appendix B, Figure B-1

Simple slope excavations 20 feet or less in depth. Horizontal to vertical.

If there are signs of distress, Appendix B(c)(3)(ii) requires the actual slope to be cut back at least a half horizontal to one vertical less steep than the maximum allowable. Surcharge from stored material, equipment or traffic requires a further reduction determined by the competent person.

Access and egress, 1926.651(c)

• A stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe means of egress is in every trench 4 feet or more in depth, 1926.651(c)(2)
• No employee has to travel more than 25 feet laterally to reach it, 1926.651(c)(2)
• Ladders extend far enough above the landing to be used safely and are secured
• Structural ramps used for access or egress were designed by a competent person, 1926.651(c)(1)(i)
• Ramps used in place of steps have cleats or another surface treatment against slipping, 1926.651(c)(1)(v)

Edge, spoil and loads, 1926.651(e), (f), (j)

• Excavated material and equipment kept at least 2 feet from the edge, or retained, or both, 1926.651(j)(2)
• Loose rock or soil on the face scaled, barricaded or otherwise contained, 1926.651(j)(1)
• No employee underneath a load handled by lifting or digging equipment, 1926.651(e)
• Employees standing clear of vehicles being loaded or unloaded, 1926.651(e)
• Warning system in place where mobile equipment works next to the edge and the operator cannot see it: barricades, signals or stop logs, 1926.651(f)
• Walkways provided where anybody crosses over the excavation, with guardrails where the walkway is 6 feet or more above the level below, 1926.651(l)

Atmosphere, 1926.651(g)

• Where oxygen deficiency or a hazardous atmosphere exists or could reasonably be expected, the atmosphere is tested before employees enter any excavation greater than 4 feet deep, 1926.651(g)(1)(i)
• Oxygen at or above 19.5 percent, 1926.651(g)(1)(i) and (ii)
• Flammable gas below 20 percent of the lower flammable limit, 1926.651(g)(1)(iii)
• Ventilation or respiratory protection in use where it is needed, 1926.651(g)(1)(ii)
• Retesting as often as necessary while controls are relied on, 1926.651(g)(1)(iv)
• Emergency rescue equipment readily available and attended where hazardous atmospheric conditions exist or may develop, 1926.651(g)(2)(i)
• Harness and separately attended lifeline for anybody entering a bell-bottom pier hole or similar deep confined footing excavation, 1926.651(g)(2)(ii)

Water, 1926.651(h)

• Nobody works in an excavation with accumulated or accumulating water unless adequate precautions have been taken, 1926.651(h)(1)
• Water removal equipment and the operation of it monitored by the competent person, 1926.651(h)(2)
• Diversion ditches, dikes or other means used where excavation has interrupted surface drainage, 1926.651(h)(3)
• An excavation subject to runoff from heavy rain has been re-inspected by the competent person, 1926.651(h)(3)

Surrounding conditions, 1926.651(a), (b), (d), (i)

• Surface encumbrances that create a hazard removed or supported, 1926.651(a)
• Estimated location of every utility installation determined before the excavation was opened, 1926.651(b)(1)
• Utility owners contacted and asked to locate, within local response times, 1926.651(b)(2)
• Exact location determined by safe and acceptable means as the dig approaches, 1926.651(b)(3)
• Exposed utilities protected, supported or removed while the excavation is open, 1926.651(b)(4)
• Support, bracing or underpinning where the stability of an adjoining building, wall or structure is endangered, 1926.651(i)(1)
• No excavation below the base or footing of a foundation or retaining wall unless underpinned, in stable rock, or approved by a registered professional engineer, 1926.651(i)(2)
• High visibility garments worn by anybody exposed to public vehicular traffic, 1926.651(d)

Findings and action

Every defect gets a line. A blank findings box on a day when something was wrong is worse than no sheet at all.

• Defects found
• Employees removed from the hazardous area, yes or no
• Corrective action taken
• Time work resumed
• Re-inspection required, and when
• Competent person signature

Where this comes from

Every code, standard and statute this sheet leans on, with a link to the body that publishes it. Check them. That is what they are for.

• 29 CFR 1926.650, Scope, application and definitions
  Where competent person, trench, protective system and shield are defined.
• 29 CFR 1926.651, Specific excavation requirements
  OSHA construction standards, Subpart P. Current text on the electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
• 29 CFR 1926.652, Requirements for protective systems
  Sets when cave-in protection is required and the four ways a sloping or benching system may be designed.
• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P, Appendix A, Soil Classification
  The classification test procedure that produces Stable Rock, Type A, Type B or Type C.
• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P, Appendix B, Sloping and Benching
  Figure B-1, the maximum allowable slopes by soil type.