Excavation Safety II
Cave-ins are the greatest risk
Other hazards include:
- Asphyxiation due to lack of oxygen
- Inhalation of toxic materials
- Fire
- Moving machinery near the edge of the excavation can cause a collapse
- Accidental severing of underground utility lines
- Excavating is one of the most hazardous construction operations
- Most accidents occur in trenches 5-15 feet deep
- There is usually no warning before a cave-in
Definitions:
- Excavation– aman-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression formed by earth removal.
- Trench– a narrow excavation. The depth is greater than the width, but not wider than 15 feet.
- Shield– a structure able to withstand a cave-in and protect employees
- Shoring– a structure that supports the sides of an excavation and protects against cave-ins
- Sloping– a technique that employs a specific angle of incline on the sides of the excavation. The angle varies based on assessment of impacting site factors.