Does OSHA allow benching?

Footnote(3) Sloping or benching for excavations greater than 20 feet deep shall be designed by a registered professional engineer. B-1.1 Excavations made in Type A soil. 1. All excavations 8 feet or less in depth which have unsupported vertically sided lower portions shall have a maximum vertical side of 3½ feet.

Is excavation harmful to the site?

Trenching and excavating are a regular part of construction operations and are required for a wide range of construction projects. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, trenching is a leading jobsite hazard, which causes an average of 54 fatalities each year.

How deep can you dig before benching?

Trenches 5 feet (1.5 meters) deep or greater require a protective system unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock. If less than 5 feet deep, a competent person may determine that a protective system is not required.

What are the safety measures for excavation?

Excavations shall have at least one ladder per 15 m of length in case of hazardous work and per 30 m of length in case of less hazardous works. Every part of a trench, in public areas, fences, guards or barricades shall be provided to prevent any accidents. Excavation areas shall be adequately lighted for night work.

What type of soil Cannot be benched?

Type C soil cannot be benched.

What does benching mean in excavation?

Benching ensures the land slopes away from the foundation of your home while site levelling provides your contracted builder with a perfectly level base to lay the concrete slab on.

How do you protect deep excavation?

Falling or dislodging material. Loose materials – may fall from spoil heaps into the excavation. Edge protection should include toeboards or other means, such as projecting trench sheets or box sides to protect against falling materials. Head protection should be worn.

How do you prevent soil collapse during excavation?

Soil collapse in a trench can be prevented either by side slope or by benching of side wall or by shoring.

Is benching allowed in Type C soil?

Appendix B does not permit an employer to bench a type C soil excavation. Therefore, it is not safe to cut steps into a slope of type C soil because the soil’s lack of cohesion is likely to cause the steps to crumble when an employee steps on them.

What is excavation benching?

Benching means a method of protecting workers from cave-ins by excavating the sides of an excavation to form one or a series of horizontal levels or steps, usually with vertical or near vertical surfaces between levels.

What are the methods of excavation?

Excavation Methods

• Archaeological Mapping.
• Archeological mapping.
• Archaeological Sites.
• Archeological sites.
• Survey and Excavation.
• Artifacts and artifact classification.
• Stratigraphy (Archaeology)
• Marine Archaeology.

What is trench benching?

Benching means a method of protecting workers from cave-ins by excavating the sides of an excavation to form one or a series of horizontal levels or steps, usually with vertical or near vertical surfaces between levels. Benching cannot be done in Type C soil.

When to use sloping and benching in excavation?

This appendix contains specifications for sloping and benching when used as methods of protecting employees working in excavations from cave-ins. The requirements of this appendix apply when the design of sloping and benching protective systems is to be performed in accordance with the requirements set forth in § 1926.652 (b) (2).

How to get an OSHA excavation safety certificate online?

Our 100% online OSHA Excavations certificate course covers everything you need to know to prevent injuries and damages during excavation and trenching work. These are some of the topics covered in the course:

How can I find out more about trenching and excavation?

If you have more questions on trenching and excavation, call: 1-800-4BE-SAFE OR Call your local Labor and Industries office and ask to speak to a safety consultant.

What are the OSHA standards for trenching and excavation?

What do the OSHA Excavation standards cover, and how do they protect workers? The standards apply to all open excavations made in the Earth’s surface, including trenches. Following the requirements of the standards will prevent or greatly reduce the risk of cave-ins and other excavation-related incidents.