Before entering an excavation the worker should have OSHA excavation safety training, and several critical checks must be conducted to ensure the safety of workers. These precautions help mitigate the risks of cave-ins, exposure to hazardous atmospheres, and other potential dangers. Here are the main things to be checked:
1. Protective Systems: Verify that appropriate protective systems are in place for trenches deeper than 5 feet (1.5 meters), such as shoring, sloping, benching, or trench boxes, unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock.
2. Atmospheric Testing: If there’s a possibility of a hazardous atmosphere (due to the presence of toxic gases, oxygen deficiency, or flammable gases), test the air quality before entry and continuously monitor as needed to ensure safety.
3. Utilities: Ensure that the locations of underground utilities (e.g., gas, water, sewer, electric, telephone lines) have been identified and marked to avoid accidental strikes.
4. Water Accumulation: Check for water accumulation at the bottom of the excavation. Necessary precautions should be taken to remove water and prevent accumulation, which can undermine the stability of the excavation walls.
5. Access and Egress: Confirm that safe means of access and egress, such as ladders or ramps, are within 25 feet of all workers in trenches 4 feet deep or more.
6. Inspection: A competent person must inspect the excavation, adjacent areas, and protective systems daily and as conditions change (e.g., following a rainstorm) to ensure they continue to provide adequate protection to workers.
7. Spoil Piles and Equipment: Ensure that spoil piles and heavy equipment are set back at least 2 feet from the edge of the excavation to prevent collapse of the excavation sides.
8. Emergency Procedures: Review emergency response procedures with all workers, including how to exit the excavation quickly and safely in the event of an emergency.
9. Communication: Ensure there are effective means of communication between workers inside the trench and those on the surface.
10. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Confirm that all workers are equipped with the appropriate PPE, including hard hats, safety glasses, high-visibility vests, and any other necessary equipment based on the job hazard analysis.
11. Fall Protection: For excavations or trenches that workers could fall into from an adjacent area, ensure that fall protection measures are in place.
