Effective July, 21 2004

I. PURPOSE

To establish a safe practice for work that occurs in and around excavations^* and trenches^*.

II. POLICY

The University of North Dakota strives to provide a safe and healthy environment for its students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Excavation^* and trenching^* work are recognized as some of the most hazardous construction operations. They can pose serious threats to safety and health if not performed in a safe manner. Therefore, this comprehensive standard practice for excavation^* and trenching^* must be followed to minimize the risk of injury or death to personnel in and around excavations^* and trenches^*.

III. SCOPE

This standard practice applies to all university workers, students, contractors, and visitors. This standard practice does not apply to excavations^* less than twelve inches (12”) in depth, such as gardening, landscaping, and normal maintenance of roads and streets (if the maintenance does not change the original grade and does not involve the road ditch).

IV. REFERENCES

OSHA Publication 2226 (Excavations), revised 2002.

OSHA Technical Manual, Section V, Chapter 2 (Excavations: Hazard Recognition

in Trenching and Shoring), revised 1999.

OSHA Standard 29 CFR Part 1926 Sub-part P (Excavations) sections 1926.650, 1926.651, 1926.652, and Appendices A-F.

North Dakota Century Code, Chapter 49-23 (One-Call Excavation Notice System).

North Dakota Workforce Safety and Insurance website.

Webster’s New World Dictionary. Third College Edition of American English. 1991. Prentice Hall. New York, NY.

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V. DEFINITIONS (Italicized throughout this standard practice)

ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Benching (benching system) means a method of protecting persons from cave-ins by excavating the sides of a heavy excavation to form one or a series of horizontal levels or steps, usually with vertical or near-vertical surfaces between levels.

Cave-in is the separation of a mass of soil or rock material from the side of an excavation, or the loss of soil from under a trench shield or support system. Its sudden movement into the excavation, either by falling or sliding, could entrap, bury, or otherwise injure and immobilize a person.

CFR stands for the Code of Federal Regulations.

Competent person means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings, or working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to persons, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. He or she must have documented training, experience, and knowledge of: soil analysis, protective systems, and the requirements of OHSA Standard 29 CFR Part 1926 Sub-part P (Excavations) sections 1926.650, 1926.651, 1926.652, and Appendices A-F. Competent person training is accomplished by successfully completing an excavation and trenching workshop or seminar.

Drastic climate change means any major change in climate: heavy rain, snow, wind, or severe changes in temperature or humidity. The stability of an excavation or trench can adversely be affected by increases or decreases in soil moisture content due to dryness, precipitation, temperature, or humidity changes. High winds or heavy snow can also affect or damage barricades, hazard signs, or protective systems.

Egress means “exit”. In heavy excavation operations, it refers to the provision or safe means for persons to exit an excavation or trench.

Excavation means any manmade cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth’s surface.

Excavator is any person, company, or department conducting an excavation.

Hazardous atmosphere means an atmosphere which, by reason of being explosive, flammable, poisonous, corrosive, oxidizing, irritating, oxygen deficient, toxic, or otherwise harmful, may cause death, illness, or injury.

Heavy excavation means any manmade cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth’s surface deeper than twelve inches (12”) that allows for human entry for any period of time. It is formed by earth removal, through the means of hand/power tools or power equipment/machinery. This includes digging, trenching, tunneling, grading, exhuming, scraping, or any other excavation deeper than twelve inches (12”) that allows for human entry for any period of time.

Hydraulic (aluminum) shoring means a pre-engineered shoring system comprised of aluminum hydraulic cylinders (cross braces) used in conjunction with vertical rails (uprights) or horizontal rails (wales). Such a system is designed specifically to support the sidewalls of a heavy excavation and prevent cave-ins.

Ingress means “entry”. In heavy excavation operations, it refers to the provision or safe means for persons to enter an excavation or trench.

Landing area is the upper-most horizontal surface to which a ladder rises.

Light excavation means any manmade cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth’s surface deeper than twelve inches (12”) that does not allow for human entry for any period of time. It is formed by earth removal, through the means of hand/power tools or power equipment/machinery. This includes digging, drilling, ditching, boring, core sampling, pile driving, post or pole setting, tree plantation or removal, cable or pipe plowing and driving, or any other excavation deeper than twelve inches (12”) that doesn’t allow for human entry for any period of time.

OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Protective system means a method of protecting persons from cave-ins, material that could fall or roll from an excavation face into a heavy excavation, or the collapse of adjacent structures. Protective systems include: shoring, shielding, sloping, benching, and other systems that provide necessary protection.

Registered professional engineer means a person who is registered as a professional engineer in the state where the work is to be performed. However, a professional engineer registered in any state is deemed to be a registered professional engineer within the meaning of this standard practice when approving designs for manufactured protective systems.

Shield (shield system) means a structure that is able to withstand the forces imposed on it by a cave-in and thereby protecting persons within the structure. Shields can be permanent structures or can be designed to be portable to move along as work progresses. Additionally, shields can be either pre-manufactured or job-built in accordance with OSHA Standard 29 CFR Part 1926 Sub-part P (Excavations) sections 1926.652(c)(3) or (c)(4). Shields used in trenches are usually referred to as "trench boxes" or "trench shields."

Shoring (shoring system) means a structure designed to support the sides of a heavy excavation in an effort to prevent cave-ins. It could be a hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, or timber system.

Sloping (sloping system) means a method of protecting persons from cave-ins by excavating to form sides of a heavy excavation that are inclined away from the excavation. The angle of incline required to prevent a cave-in varies with differences in such factors as soil type, environmental conditions of exposure, and application of excessive vertical loads above the heavy excavation. Excessive vertical loads above a heavy excavation may be caused by spoil, overburden, vehicles, equipment, vibrations, or other activities affecting trench stability.

Spoil (spoil pile) is the material (soil and/or rock) removed during an excavation. After the excavation is complete, spoil serves as fill.

Stable rock means natural solid mineral matter that can be excavated with vertical sides and remain intact while exposed.

Structural ramp means a ramp built of steel or wood, usually used for vehicle access. Ramps made of soil or rock are not considered structural ramps.

Surface encumbrance is something that causes an obstruction or hindrance for persons working in and around an excavation.

Tabulated data means tables and charts approved by a registered professional engineer and used to design and construct a protective system.

Timber shoring is a shoring system comprised of wood posts, wales, struts, and sheeting.

Trained person means an individual who has had documented training of the procedures contained in this standard practice as they relate to safely working in and around light and heavy excavations. This training could be provided by a competent person or by successfully completing an excavation and trenching workshop or seminar.

Trench (trench excavation) means a narrow excavation (in relation to its length) made below the surface of the ground. The depth is greater than the width, but the width measured at the bottom is not greater than fifteen feet (15’). If forms or