Trench cave-ins can be prevented. Part 2

 

Trench cave-ins can be prevented. Yet every year there are an estimated 75 to 200 deaths and more than 1,000 lost work days per year from trenching accidents.

What does the competent person look for?

According to OSHA, your company competent person must inspect all excavations each day for evidence of a situation that could result in:

·            possible cave-ins.

·            indications of failure of protective systems.

·            hazardous atmospheres.

·            other hazardous conditions.

How­ever, if you work in trenches/excavations you should know much of the same information your competent person does. Why? A sudden change could mean disaster for you and fellow workers.

What are unsafe conditions?

Some of the things that could cause an immediate change at an excavation site are:

·            A bulldozer or excavator coming too close to your trench could cause a surcharge (overload­ing) and stress cracks at or near the edge of the trench.

·            A sudden downpour could fill the trench or cause rain-soaked soil to give way.

·            Accidently striking an underground utility line with a tool could present an immediate electrocution or hazardous atmosphere hazard.

These are just a few of the sudden incidents that need immediate attention and decision-making. That’s why the OSHA rules require your company to train you in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions, the regulations applicable to your work environment, and to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.

What does OSHA's regulation cover?

OSHA’s excavation rules apply to all open excavations made in the earth’s surface including trenches. The regulation is in the construction standards at §1926.650-.652 and covers:

Scope and application—The rule applies to all open excavations made in the earth’s surface. Excavations are defined to include trenches.

Specific excavation requirements—to include surface hazards, underground utilities, getting in and out of the excavation, traffic hazards, hazardous atmospheres, emergency rescue, inspections, and fall protection.

Requirements for protective systems—The rule says each employee in an excavation must be protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed in accordance with the OSHA regulations for:

·            sloping and benching systems, or

·            support, shield, and other protective systems.

Exceptions would be when:

·            Excavations are made entirely in stable rock; or

·            Excavations are less than five feet deep and examination of the ground by a competent person provides no indication of a potential cave-in.

·            Excavations are one of the most dangerous places in construction work. Your knowledge of the hazards and a constant vigil could make a life or death difference.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

 

Trenching and Excavation Safety

 

Overview

Your employer has a tremendous amount of responsibility to make excavations and trenches safe for you to work in. Employees also have responsibilities, the first of which is to question any unsafe conditions at your excavation site and report them to your supervisor/competent person.

What must my employer do?

·               Are all surface hazards and the spoil pile moved back the required two feet from the edge of the excavation, or are devices used to keep materials from falling or rolling into excavations?

·               Are all underground utilities located and protected, supported, or removed?

·               Is a safe means of entry and exit provided for excavations more than four feet deep, and is it no more than 25 feet from the employees?

·               Are you required to wear warning vests or other high-visibility garments when your work exposes you to public vehicular traffic?

·               Are you prohibited from standing under any loads handled by lifting or digging equipment?

·               Is a warning system in place when the operator of mobile equipment does not have a clear direct view of the edge of the excavation while the equipment is being operated adjacent to or near the excavation’s edge?

·               When hazardous atmospheres exist or could exist, are they tested for and eliminated prior to entry?

·               Is rescue equipment provided where hazardous atmospheres exist or could reasonably be expected to develop during work in the excavation?

·               Is adequate protection provided before anyone works in an excavation when water accumulation is a hazard?

·               Are adjacent structures shored, braced, or underpinned when their stability is endangered by the excavation operations?

·               Is protection provided when loose rock or soil that could fall or roll from the excavation face poses a hazard?

·               Does your company competent person: (1) inspect the excavation, adjacent area, and protective systems daily for evidence of situations that could result in possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions, (2) inspect after every rainstorm or other occurrence that could increase the hazards, and (3) remove employees from the excavation or trench if any of these hazards exist?

·               Are employees protected from cave-ins by adequate protective systems (including sloping and benching, support, or shield systems)?

What must I do?

·               Do you use safe work practices and follow the above requirements (that apply) when your supervisor/competent person is not around?

·               Do you properly use the equipment and protective gear that your company has provided?

·               Do you immediately report unsafe situations to your supervisor/competent person?

·               Do you know when to leave an excavation and how to respond to an emergency?

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

 

Trench/Excavation Cave-ins

 

An average of 60 workers die in trench/excavation cave-ins each year. Of the 607 cave-in fatalities identified by NIOSH researchers in the ten year period from 1980 to 1989, construction workers accounted for 77% of those deaths. Almost without exception, trench/excavation deaths can be prevented by following existing OSHA safety regulations.

Several factors contribute to trench cave-ins. For example, soil stability is related to soil type and may be affected by changes in weather. In the spring, unshored trench walls, heavy from rain, can become unstable. Also, when damp soil is exposed to air during excavation, it can dry out and lose the ability to stand on its own, increasing the risk that it will slide into the trench. Other factors, such as how close the excavation is to highways, large machinery, back filled areas or existing structures, can affect soil stability as well.

The following trench/excavation rules are those that OSHA recently cited the most when inspecting construction jobsites.

#1 Protection in excavations—Employees in an excavation must be protected from a cave-in by an adequate protective system unless the excavation is: (1) made entirely in stable rock, or (2) less than 5 feet deep and a competent person has determined there is no indication of a potential cave-in. Protective systems that may be used include: sloping and benching, trench shields, or support systems such as timber or aluminum hydraulic shoring.

#2 Inspections—Your competent person must make daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems for evidence of situations that could result in possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions. Your competent person must conduct the inspection prior to the start of work and as needed throughout the shift. Inspections must also be made after every rainstorm or other hazard increasing occurrence. These inspections are only required when employee exposure can be reasonably anticipated.

#3 Access and egress—In excavations that are 4 feet or more deep, a stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe means of getting out must be located so as to require no more than 25 feet of lateral travel for employees to reach the escape method.

#4 Spoil piles and other fall back—Employees must be protected from excavated or other materials or equipment that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling into excavations. Protection must be provided by placing and keeping such materials or equipment at least 2 feet from the edge of the excavation, or by the use of retaining devices that are sufficient to prevent materials or equipment from falling or rolling into excavations, or by a combination of both if necessary.

#5 Exposed employees—Where your competent person finds evidence of a situation that could result in a possible cave-in, indications of a failure of a protective system, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions, exposed employees must be removed from the hazardous area until the necessary precautions have been taken to ensure their safety.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com