BEFORE TRENCHING OR EXCAVATION, THE COMPETENT PERSON SHOULD:

• Check soil conditions or other material to be excavated.
• Check proximity to utilities, buildings and sources of vibrations
• Check with owners of utilities, service or transmission piping, etc., and arrange shutdown or relocation of facilities if necessary. Call excavation hotlines and make sure that your UCC #'s are current.
• Check for previously disturbed soil.
• Check for trees, boulders or other hazards.
• Check adequacy and availability of all equipment, including personal protective gear, shoring materials, signs, barricades and machinery.

DURING TRENCHING AND EXCAVATION:

• Check for changing ground conditions particularly after rains.
• Check for possible oxygen deficiency or gaseous conditions.
• Check adequacy of shoring and or sloping as work progresses.
• Check for maintenance of entrance and exit methods.
• Check all sheeting, bracing, shoring and underpinning.
• Check for changes in vehicular and machinery operational patterns

AFTER TRENCHING AND EXCAVATIONS:

• Check sloping of banks, sides and walls in relation to depth of cut, water content of soil and vibration.
• Check entrance and exit methods
• Check location of heavy equipment, power shovels, derricks and trucks.
• Check that excavated material is two feet or more from the edge of the opening.
• Check the adequacy of portable trench boxes or trench shields, if used.
• Check for correct positioning of cross braces or trench jacks to prevent sliding, falling or kickouts.
References:

Trenching and Excavation Guidance

OSHA Trenching & Excavation eTool

Training Roster