This document discusses excavation safety and common issues from 2016-2017. It notes that over two dozen construction workers died in 2016 when trenches collapsed on them due to lack of shoring. Three key aspects of planning for safe excavations are mentioned: worker protection, protection of existing utilities, and proper construction. Several case studies from 2015-2017 are provided that describe trench collapses and other excavation accidents that killed or injured workers. Common safety issues from 2016 including unsecured holes, damaged rigging, lack of fall protection, unmarked utilities, and untrained workers. OSHA citations and fines from previous cases are also listed.

1. OSHA & Excavation Safety
Draft 4 9 2017

2. The Age Old Problem
• More than two dozen
construction workers died in
2016 when they were buried
under tons of earth in trenches
that had no shoring to keep
fragile walls from giving way -
OSHA
• That number is double what it
was a year ago, but it’s been
that high or higher on average
for many years.

3. Planning
• Three things that should be
done to ensure a successful
outcome.
• Worker Protection,
• Protection of existing buried
and aboveground facilities, and
• Proper construction of the final
product. (CHST)

4. Planning
• 20 foot pipe

5. Planning
• Alternative to choker
slings

6. Planning

7. Planning
• If you hit an old
gas main, what do
you do?

8. Feb 2017
The man, identified as 41-year-old Konrad Tucharski, had
been working on a "planned construction project" to replace
a sewer pipe, according to Gary Litherland, a spokesman
for the water department.
10 feet deep
Out of box

9. Feb 2017
• Atlantic Drain Services and
its owner, Kevin Otto, have
each been indicted on two
counts of manslaughter
after he and the company
"gambled with their
employees' lives and
safety,"
• A grand jury also returned
an indictments against Otto
and Atlantic Drain of one
count of misleading an
investigator under the
state's witness intimidation
statute and six counts of
concealing records under
the evidence tampering
statute.

10. Criminal Update 2016
• Wilmer Cueva, 51, of
Elmwood Park, New
Jersey, a foreman for Sky
Materials, was convicted
of criminally negligent
homicide and reckless
endangerment in the death
of Carlos Moncayo, 22
during excavation at a
Restoration Hardware site.
• Sentencing 1-3 years.

11. Neri Update February 2015
Mike Neri agreed to be
permanently enjoined from
engaging in trenching, excavation,
construction or related activities
and permanently prohibited from
possessing or leasing any
construction excavation equipment.
• The judges also found that Neri,
based on a review of his tax
returns and other financial
records, was unable to pay the
$110,440 fine.
• Mike Neri was released from
Federal Prison December 24,
2014

12. OSHA Litigation 2015
• OSHA cited Pan Oceanic Engineering of
Chicago $105,600
• $70,000 Willful cave in Protection 651(a)(1) Affirmed
• $15,400 Repeat Sidewalk under-mined 651(i)(3) Vacated
• $7,000 Competent Person 651(k) Vacated
• $13,200 Repeat traffic signs 1926.200(g) Vacated
• Trial held in Spring 2015.
Open Date: 07/22/2013

13. How Many Issues?
Trench 5.5 feet deep

14. Nov 2016
Photo Wayne
Lawson

15. Nov 2016
• Canton IL
• The blast Wednesday
evening in Canton, which
is 150 miles southwest of
Chicago, happened while
utility workers were trying
to fix a gas leak that a
contractor apparently
caused while digging,
officials said.
The explosion killed one of the Ameren
workers, whom Fulton County Coroner
Steve Hines identified as 38-year-old
Arturo Silva Jr., of Mapleton.
Three other workers were injured, and
two of them remained hospitalized
Thursday, said Ameren Senior Vice
President Ron Pate.

16. October 2016
• OG Plumbing
• OSHA proposed
penalties of $275,728
and issued one willful,
three repeat and one
serious safety citations
to the plumbing
contractor for the
violations found at the
job sites.

17. Criminal 2016
• U.S. Sino Investment, its
owner and a project manager
were convicted on
involuntary manslaughter
charges in the cave-in death
of a construction worker at a
Milpitas building site.
• Raul Zapata Mercado, 38,
was killed January 28, 2012,
after a 12-ft. wall of dirt
collapsed on top of him
• Richard Liu And Dan Luo
Received Two-Year
sentences

18. 2016 Problems
• These are the common
issues that I ran into in
2016 for underground
• Swing Radius needs to
be guarded for
excavators.

19. 2016 Problems
• Trench 5-6 feet deep.
• Spoil at edge.
• No access.

20. 2016 Problems
• People do not know
how to shore a narrow
trench less than 24
inches wide.

21. 2016 Problem
• Workers do not know
how to hand dig or
deal with tree roots.
• One company in 2015
6 at fault hits. 21 not
at fault,
• Cost per hit est
$10,000-14,000
• 2016 - $500,000 ATT
cable hit in Mundelien

22. 2016 Problems
• Locates not done for
IDOT or Tollway
areas (non JULIE)
Safety Dave - vast experience of finding
utilities the hard way.
Hiring private locate also.
Use vac trucks.

23. 2016 Problems
• Holes not secured and
covered with steel
plate and fenced off.

24. 2016 Problems
• Rigging is used when
damaged

25. 2016 Problems
• Not keeping the 10
feet safe clearance
from powerlines
• 240 volts temp lights
may not be ok to
encroach on the 10
foot.
• Weatherproofing is
not insulation.

26. 2016 Problems
• Workers have ZERO
documented training
in the MUCTD so set
up cones and flags
haphazardly

27. Headlines
• These are fatalities and significant news
stories in 2016 and 2017

28. April 2017
• Utility crews spent
hours in downtown
Boston Sunday where
multiple manholes
exploded.
• Officials say an old,
blackened, and
corroded wire caused
the explosion.

29. Jan 2017
Robinson TX – Buried to the neck when benched section collapsed

30. Sep 2016
Decatur IL – several hours trapped in 20 foot
trench.

31. August 2016
West Palm Beach FL
Worker killed
when Concrete
mixer truck fell on
him.

32. July 2016
• St. Louis
• A worker was trapped
20 feet underground
• Mud and dirt from the
end buried the worker
up to the waist.
• He was trapped for an
hour.

33. June 2016
• Construction crews hit
an unmarked gas main
near Roosevelt and
State, leading to a
HAZMAT situation
and the evacuation of
stores in the area.

34. March 2016
• Hays KS
• Two Dead
• The men, employees of J. Corp,
were working on a sewer line
under Main Street, replacing the
line, according to Hays City
Manager Toby Dougherty.
• They were digging a trench to
do the repair work —
approximately 11 feet deep —
when a portion of the trench
collapsed.

35. Feb 2016
• Howell MI
• The six-foot-deep trench gave
way, officials said
• Authorities identified the man
as a 43-year-old Muir resident
working for Sandborn
Construction, a Portland-based
excavating company that is
installing a sewer line at the
county complex along West
Grand River Avenue and
Highlander Way in Howell.

36. Dec 2015
• Milton NY
• Two people were taken to the
hospital after a trench they were
working in collapsed Monday
in Saratoga County.
• The sheriff's office says Mark
Vadnais and Barbara Reed were
working on a water line at the
Northern Pines Mobile Home
Park on Lewis Road in Milton
around 12:45 p.m.
• They were in a trench about six
feet deep when it started to
collapse.

37. Dec 2015
• Houston TX
• Officials said the 58 year old
employee was not wearing a
seat belt when the machine
went into a retention pond.
• Investigators said the excavator
partially sank in the pond.

38. Nov 2015
• Coon Rapids MN
• A construction worker
in Coon Rapids was
rescued by fire crews
after he was buried up
to his face in a trench
collapse.
Coon River practicing
trench rescue

39. Sep 2015
• Chicago IL
• Carlos F. Soto, 40, had
been fatally engulfed
by dirt from the truck.

40. Sep 2015
• Wilmington NC
• Hines says the men were
helping unload concrete vaults
off a flatbed truck when the arm
of a track hoe hit a powerline.
• He says it energized the track
hoe and then the wet ground
where the men were standing
electrocuting them.
• Both died

41. Sep 2015
• Bellevue WA
• The co-workers said they had
found him face-down in a 10-
foot Trench that had two feet of
water in the bottom.

42. Sep 2015
• Las Vegas
• Worker struck and killed by
trench plate.
• "He was assisting in putting a
4-thousand pound plate of steel
in place and it was not secured
and it fell over and crushed
him," he said.
How would you lift this
plate?

43. June 2015
• Jefferson Co, KY
• 8-10 feet.
• Sewer line
• 19 year old killed

44. June 2015
• Plymouth MA
• A construction worker
has died after a 150ft
wall of sand fell onto
his front-end loader
and crushed him.

45. May 2015
• St. Louis
• 16 foot deep
• Buried up to
neck
• Rescued

46. May 2015
• CTA Yellow Line
• The embankment gave way late
Sunday as the Water
reclamation district was digging
a new deep trench for a box
culvert to handle the delivery
and exit of wastewater at the
treatment plant next door.
• Interlocked pilings were driven
deep into the embankment wall
and cross bars were in place to
prevent the collapse.
• Those didn't work, and no one
is certain why.

47. April 2015
• New York City
• Carlos Moncayo, a 22-
year-old laborer from
Queens, was trying to
make a living as he
worked on the
construction of a
Restoration Hardware
store at 19 Ninth Ave. in
Manhattan on April 6,
2015.
• Instead, his life ended that
day when the 14-foot-deep
trench in which he was
working collapsed and
buried him beneath tons of
soil and debris.
$70,000 for sidewalk undermined
$70,000 for no cave-in protection

48. March 2015
• Bakerfield CA
• He was conscious when
firefighters arrived at the scene,
northwest of Highway 119 and
Ashe Road, but he complained
of pain in his hips and legs and
remained trapped from his chest
down

49. March 2015
• FL
• $64 million
• Robert Matthews, 25, had been
working underneath the building
when a train went by the
construction site, causing the
ground to vibrate, and the entire
building to shift and slide toward
him.
• The Phospate company closed in
2014

50. March 2015
• $7000
• OSHA
must give
copies of
photos to
opposition

51. February 2015
• Columbia SC
• 6 foot deep
• City worker
died in
collapse

52. February 2015
• Riley County KS
• RCPD Officer Matt Droge says
a city crew was digging a ditch
with steep walls.
• When emergency crews arrived,
the first unit found the victim
was buried up to his waist in
dirt and mud
• He died the next day.

53. January 2015
• NYC
• 10 foot deep
• Buried up to the chest
• Coned provided
vacuum trucks to suck
up dirt.

54. 49
171
171
261
517
651(k)(2)
652(j)(2)
651(k)(1)
652(c)(2)
652(a)(1)
2014 most cited by OSHA
Excavations [1926.650 – 652]
COMPETENT PERSON - INSPECTION AND EMPLOYEE REMOVAL
COMPETENT PERSON - INSPECTIONS
PROTECTION FROM FALLING/ROLLING MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
SAFE EGRESS
CAVE-IN PROTECTION
SUBPARTP
54

55. Pot Holing
• Hand dig until find the
lines
• Some companies do
75 locates a week or
more

56. JULIE
Markings
• The gas meter is a
good indicator

57. Before and After Safe?

58. New Confined Space Rule
• ‘‘competent person’’ conduct
the initial job site evaluation,
• continuous air monitoring of
confined spaces is performed,
• continuous ventilation is used
• information to be shared among
employers is specified by the
rule and
• coordination with rescue teams
must be done in advance of a
confined space entry, although
teams don’t have to be present
at the site.

59. Examples
• Bins;
• Boilers and vessels;
• pits (such as elevator, escalator,
pump, valve or other equipment);
• manholes (such as sewer, storm
drain, electrical, communication,
or other utility);
• tanks (such as fuel, chemical,
water, or other liquid, solid or
gas);
• Incinerators and scrubbers;
• concrete pier columns;
• Sewers and storm drains;
• transformer vaults;
• step up transformers;
• turbines;
• heating, ventilation, and air-
conditioning (HVAC) ducts
• water mains;
• precast concrete and other pre-
formed manhole units;
• drilled shafts;
• enclosed beams;
• Digesters and lift stations;
• cesspools;
• silos;
• air receivers;
• sludge gates;
• air preheaters;
• chillers;
• bag houses; and/or
• mixers/reactors
1926.1201(a)

60. November 2014
• Myersville MD
• 10 feet deep.
• Died of internal
injuries after being
buried up his waist.

61. July 2014
• Fort Bragg NC
• 15 feet
• “The 22 year old was
trying to connect two
pieces of drainage
pipes when a rock or
large clump of dirt
knocked a wall loose”
• Tekton faces $123,200
in penalties

62. June 2014
FL. Death
The man was not working in the
hole but he was standing on an
excavator.
He jumped off into the edge of the
trench and the 20 foot deep trench
gave way.
He was covered in about a foot and
a half of dirt.

63. June 2014
• NC
• "The man was lowered
into the trench on a
bucket in a backhoe
before the walls
around him collapsed,
killing him."

64. June 2014
• VA
• 7 hour rescue
• Buried up to chest
• 20 feet deep

65. May 2014
• Windsor CT
• Danny King, 51, was
crushed between a
backhoe and trench
box while inside the
trench, his father, John
King, owner of the
Bloomfield
construction company,
said Friday

66. May 2014
• VA
• Rescue crews were called to a
construction site on the 400
block of N. George Mason
Drive around 3:30 p.m. for a
report of a large piece of
construction equipment that fell
on a person.
• The victim, believed to be the
equipment’s operator, was
pronounced dead on the scene
by medics at 3:40 p.m.

67. Apr 2015
• Atlanta GA
• The excavator
flipped while
moving the trench
box

68. Mar 2014
• Cedar Hills OR
• Two workers from Apollo Excavation were
replacing a sewer line when dirt collapsed onto them.
• A third worker went in to help them and was buried.
• EMS workers helped uncover the face of a man who
was buried the deepest, so the man could breathe,
• The trench is about 15 feet deep.

69. Aug 2013
• GA
• The coroner confirms that
James Jackson, 50, and Allen
Thomas, 46, have died after
being trapped in a trench at
Summit Pointe Apartments on
Williams Road.
• They worked for the company
Allen Development Group.
• Six people were in the trench at
the time. Four escaped and tried
to help the other men get out.
• Jackson's son, Mike, was
working with his father at the
time.
• He was operating a backhoe
when the incident occurred, and
tried to help his family.
• The trench is 30 feet deep, but
the men were trapped 12 feet
under.

70. Aug 2013
See any hazards?

71. June 2013
• June 25
• Death of a 36-year-old worker
who developed heat stroke at a
job site in Chicago.
• The company was installing
electrical conduit in an
uncovered trench.
• "This worker died from heat
stress on his first day on the
job.”
• “This tragedy underscores the
need for employers to ensure
that new workers become
acclimated and build a tolerance
to working in excessive heat
with a program of water, rest
and shade," said Dr. David
Michaels,
• "A worker's first day on the job
shouldn't be the last day of their
life."

72. Mar 22, 2013
• A man remained in
serious condition
Sunday afternoon after
being rescued from an
8-foot-deep trench
Friday afternoon.
• Company cited over
$100,000 again three
months later.

73. Purpose
• The excavation
standard is designed to
protect against cave-
in.
• Violation
• 13’ feet deep, Vertical
walls, type C soil,
undercutting walls

74. Feb 2013
• A woman had to be
rescued from an
underground sanitary
sewer vault in
northern Illinois after
falling about 8 feet
through an unsecured
lid in the pavemen

76. Feb 2013
• Marshfield MA
• Standing at side when
collapsed happened
• 12 feet deep
• 8 foot box
• Only hand visible
• The worker was
conscious when he left
in the ambulance

77. Competent Person
• Competent person
must inspect the
excavation. Visual and
manual test.
• Violation
• Excavation is
undercutting street and
front end loader only
adds weight

78. Training
• Workers must get
training prior to
working in the trench.
• What training is
covered?

79. Weight of soil
• A cubic foot of soil
weighs between 74
and 110 pounds,
depending on the
type of soil and
how moist it is.

80. Struck By Hazards
• Violation
• Worker under moving
bucket

81. Jan 2017
• San Antonio
• 19 year old Destiny Rodriguez
was killed when the excavator
operator, who didn't see
Rodriguez, dropped the bucket
on her

82. Trench Boxes
• Violation
• This box only has one
horizontal brace across
each end.

83. Trench Boxes
• 1926.652 (g)(2):
Trench shields must
be within 2 feet of the
bottom of the trench.
• Incompliance

84. Sloping
• Type A ¾:1
• Exception for short
term duration under 24
hours.
• Violation
• 13’ deep vertical
• Note: swing radius
unprotected also

85. Sloping
• Jan 2006 – Worker
gets four ribs broken
• Type B Soil (must be
sloped at a 1:1)
• 8 foot side on left
collapses. 15 foot side
does not.

86. Trench Boxes
• Trench boxes must
extend 18 inches
above the grade or
bank.

87. Access and Egress
• Violation
• A ladder must be
available for access
into trench

88. Access
• What is the proper
access?

89. Egress
• Ladder or safe egress
must be available
within 25 feet of
travel.
• Violation
• 75’ long trench with
no ladder.

90. Egress
• Incompliance
• Ladder for use to get
out a box.

91. Spoil Pile
• 1926.651 (j)(2):
Excavated material
must be kept a
minimum of 2 feet
from the edge.
• Violation.
• Spoil at edge.

92. Soil Testing
• Appendix A
• Pocket Penetrometer
• Thumb penetration
• Ribbon Test
• others

93. Soil Classification
• Appendix A, section
(c)(2): The
classification of
deposits shall be made
on the results of least
one manual and one
visual analysis.

94. Soil Classification
• Soil is cracking due to
vibration from traffic.
Soil type was
classified as a Type C.
• Note: Vibration must
be able to be felt.

95. Power lines
• Equipment must stay
at least 10’ away from
power lines
• Violation
• This equipment got
within 5 feet of lower
power lines.

96. 96

97. 97

98. 98

99. August 2014
• Commented OSHA Area
Director Jeffrey Erskine, “This
employer knew the overhead
power lines were dangerous,
but did not take steps to protect
workers or shield them from
contact and electrocution.”
• While it was lucky that no one
was injured or killed, “the
hazard of death or disabling
burns was real and present,”
Erskine added.
• OSHA responded with more
than $70,000 in proposed fines.
Similar photo

100. Swing Radius
• Violation: Excavator
extends 42 inches
beyond track. It is able
to strike anyone
walking by on this
site.
• This is incompliance.
Cones are used to
warn people.

101. December 2014

102. Utilities
• 1926.651 (b)(2):
Utility companies
shall be contacted 24
hour prior to
excavation to establish
the location of
underground utilities.
• Violation. JULIE requires 48 hours

103. Underground Installations
Can be among
the largest
unexpected costs
to contractor

104. Underground
installations
Local utilities shall be contacted to
locate all underground installations .
Hand dig to locate underground
utilities.
 Ground radar popular.

106. Directional Boring
Need to ground the
machine in case hit
electrical.

107. Pot Holing
• Hand dig until find the
lines
• Some companies do
75 locates a week or
more

108. JULIE
Markings
• The gas meter is a
good indicator

109. 109
Tolerance Zones
Hand dig within required “Tolerance Zone” (varies by State),
18” on either side of the utility.

110. Directional Boring
• One person died as the result of a gas
line explosion in April 2016 in Maryville.
• Construction worker John Doug Behme,
44, of Worden, was part of a crew
excavating at the site of the future
Villas at Nottingham on April 6 when
workers hit a 10-inch gas line operated
by Ameren Illinois and triggered a
massive explosion.
• Behme, who was rescued from the fire
by Maryville police officers, was initially
taken to Anderson Hospital, then flown
to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis with
third-degree burns.
• He died about three weeks later.

111. 111

112. October 2014
• Dekalb, IL
• Neighbor Dennis Ervin said he
was outside his home across the
street when the crews struck the
gas line. He heard the person
operating the excavator yell and
run.
• Lines marked correctly.
• $100,000 damage to treatment
plant. Fence burned. House
siding melted.
•

113. Supporting Utilities
• Incompliance:
Existing storm sewer
pipe is supported with
chains.

114. Hard Hats
• Violation: No hard
hats worn despite
being only inches
away from the bucket.

115. Quick Disconnect
• Buckets are falling onto
employees
• Must have a pinned connection
if hydraulic fails that prevents
the bucket from falling.
7/14/2014 OSHA's inspection found that one of the employees sustained fatal
puncture wounds from the bucket after it disconnected from the excavator
and rolled into the trench from a height of about 4 feet.

116. All Crane Decision - 2012
• Appeals Court ruled that an
employee does not actually
need to be exposed to a hazard
before an employer can be
found in violation of an OSHA
standard.
• Rather, the Sixth Circuit held
that the fact that an employee
could have been exposed to a
hazard is enough to find an
employer in violation of an
OSHA standard.
OSHA needs four elements
to cite:
- Hazard that could cause
harm
- Employee Exposure
- Employer Knowledge
of Condition
- Applicable Standard

117. Comtran August 2013
• Comtran
• Big loss to OSHA in court
• " The court first determined that
the foreman knew or should
have known about his own
misconduct, notwithstanding
his testimony that he was not
aware of the excavation and
cave-in hazards because he
became "lost" in his work“
• Work Rule
• Inspection
• Training
• Enforcement
• The analysis must be different
when the violation at issue is
committed by only a single
supervisor.
• Six foot deep hole with 4 feet
of spoil at edge.

118. Calloway Lawsuit Aug 2013
• On June 6, 2005, two of
Hamilton's employees, father
and son Herman Calloway,
Sr. (Senior), and Herman
Calloway, Jr. (Junior), were
working in a trench. The
trench collapsed, killing
Senior and injuring Junior.
• Jury found Senior 49%
contributorily negligent.
• CM ordered to pay Junoir
$8.5 million.
• CM ordered to pay Senoir’s
estate $1.0 million.
• Construction Manager
• CM had the authority to stop
unsafe work that he
observed.
• CM provided safety
orientation to all
subcontractors and
contractors
• 34-page site-specific "Safety
Plan“
• CM told Senior to use proper
trenching equipment

119. Excavation Safety

120. 120
Cave-In
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, and
its sudden movement into the
excavation, either by falling or
sliding, in sufficient quantity so
that it could entrap, bury, or
otherwise injure and
immobilize a person.

121. 121
Types of trench collapse

122. July 2014
• "It sounds like he was
trapped in an area that
was like an air pocket,
because they could
hear him screaming,
according to the co-
workers here,”
• West Bloomfield MI
• 9 feet deep. Vertical
walls.

123. 123

124. 124

125. 125
Competent Person
A person who has
the training in and is
knowledgeable
about, soil analysis,
the use of protective
systems, and the
requirements of the
standard, and has
the authority to
eliminate the
hazards promptly.

126. 126
Qualified Person (RPE)
Recognized degree,
certificate, or
professional standing,
or who by extensive
knowledge, training,
and experience, has
successfully
demonstrated his
ability to solve or
resolve problems
relating to the subject
matter, the work, or
the project.

127. 127
Registered Professional Engineer
(RPE)
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 when approving
designs for “manufactured
protective systems” or
“tabulated data” to be used
in interstate commerce.

128. Protective systems
deeper than 20 ft.
must be designed or approved by a
Registered Professional Engineer

129. 129
Tabulated Data
Tables and charts approved
by a registered professional
engineer and used to design
and construct a protective
system. The tabulated data
for protective systems must
be made available on the
job-site.

130. 130
Protective System
A method of protecting
employees from cave-
ins, from material that
could fall or roll from an
excavation face or into
an excavation, or from
the collapse of adjacent
structures.

131. 131
Protective System
• Support systems;
• Sloping and benching systems;
• Shield systems, and;
• Other systems that provide the
necessary protection.
Protective systems include, but are not
limited to:

132. 2017

133. Plate and Piles
Need Tab Data
Common
A = 1/3
B = ½
C = 2/3

134. 2017

135. 2017

136. 2017

137. 2017

138. 2017

139. Feb 2014

140. The Future

141. 141
Frequently Cited

142. #1 1926.652(a)(1)
• Protection from Cave-
in
• Many use double
stacked boxes when
over 10 feet.

143. #2 1926.651 (c)(2)
• Means of egress from
trench excavations. A
stairway, ladder, ramp or
other safe means of egress
shall be located in trench
excavations that are 4 feet
(1.22 m) or more in depth
so as to require no more
than 25 feet (7.62 m) of
lateral travel for
employees.

144. #3 1926.651(j)(2)
• Protection shall be provided by
placing and keeping such
materials or equipment at least
2 feet (.61 m) from the edge of
excavations, 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.

145. #4 1926.651(k)(1)
• Daily inspections of
excavations, the
adjacent areas, and
protective systems
shall be made by a
competent person

146. #5 1926.651(k)(2)
• Where the competent person
finds evidence of a situation
that could result in a possible
cave-in, indications of failure of
protective systems, hazardous
atmospheres, or other hazardous
conditions, exposed employees
shall be removed from the
hazardous area until the
necessary precautions have
been taken to ensure their
safety.

147. #6 1926.651 (h)(1)
• Employees shall not
work in excavations in
which there is
accumulated water, or
in excavations in
which water is
accumulating,

148. #7 1926.651 (d)
• Exposure to vehicular
traffic. Employees
exposed to public
vehicular traffic shall be
provided with, and shall
wear, warning vests or
other suitable garments
marked with or made of
reflectorized or high-
visibility material.

149. #8 1926.651 (i)(3)
• Sidewalks, pavements and
structure shall not be
undermined unless a
support system or another
method of protection is
provided to protect
employees from the
possible collapse of such
structures.

150. #9 1926.651(j)(1)
• Adequate protection
shall be provided to
protect employees
from loose rock or soil
that could pose a
hazard by falling or
rolling from an
excavation face.

151. #10 1926.651(e)
• No employee shall be
permitted underneath
loads handled by
lifting or digging
equipment.

152. The Top Five Trenching
Hazards
1. Cave – ins
2. Overhead Electric Line Contact
3. Hit by Bucket or Bucket Falls
4. Confined Space
5. Fire

153. UNSAFE ATTITUDES
• “I Know what I’m doing.”
• “It can’t happen to me.”
• “I’ve been doing it that way for years.”
• “I wouldn’t go in there if I didn’t think it
was safe”
• “It will only take a minute”

154. Oct 2016

156. September 2014
• Elyria, OH
• A construction worker
was rescued Tuesday
morning after a 12-
foot trench he was
working in collapsed,
leaving him buried in
heavy dirt up to his
waist.

157. Most Common Causes of
Cave-ins:
• Poor Planning
• Rush
• Ignorance of protective systems
• Misjudgment of soil type.
• Inadequate, or incorrect installation of
protective devices.
• Defective protective devices.
• Failure to adjust for changing conditions

158. September 2014
• Wisconsin:
• Lake Geneva Fire
Department said that
two men were buried
when an earthen berm
collapsed

159. 159

160. 160

161. 161

162. June 2015
• "Jeff Glup, 42, was fatally
injured Wednesday afternoon
about 2:30 p.m. on the Papillion
Public Works construction site.
Glup, who was a laborer,
received a fatal electrical shock
when he came in contact with a
live electrical conductor while
working in a trench installing a
storm sewer drain.

163. 163
Ladder Safety:
• Job-made ladders must be constructed
according to ANSI A14.4 – Safety
Requirements for Job-Made Ladders.
• Ladders are to be used with caution around
electrical lines, especially metal ladders, use
only non-conductive ladders.
• Secure ladders to prevent displacement.
• Ladders extend 3-feet above excavation.

164. 164

165. 165

166. 166

167. 167

168. 168

169. May 2017
Photo: K. Crowder

170. 170

171. 171

172. 172

173. 173

174. 174
(d) Exposure to Vehicular Traffic
• Employees exposed to public
vehicular traffic must be provided
with, and must wear, warning vests
or other suitable garments marked
with or made of reflectorized or
high-visibility material.
• Use a designated, trained flag-
person along with signs, signals,
and barricades when necessary.

175. 175

176. 176
Cones, Drums and Barricades

177. Traffic Control
• Employees working in
street.
• No signs placed
• Moving two opposite
lanes into one requires
flagging or channeling
devices (see next
page)

178. Work in Travel Lane

179. Work on Sidewalks
• Workers are going in
and out of traffic lane.
• No signage (see next
page)

180. Shoulder work

181. Excavation Work
• No traffic signs with
excavation at the edge
of traffic. (see next
page)
• Trench box is
inadequate too

182. Work Within Two Feet

183. Lane Closure on a Four-Lane
Road
• Arrow display should
be 540 feet from work

184. Lane Closure on a Four-Lane
Road
• 35 mph
• Taper = 250 ft
• 45 mph
• Taper = 540 ft
• 55 mph
• Taper = 660 ft

185. Side Roads
• Must be closed with
road signs warning of
closure (see sample
IDOT plan on next
page)
• This side road is not
closed

186. Sample IDOT Plan (excerpt)

187. Work adjacent to traffic
• Ramp used to dump
material in hopper is
unprotected from
vehicles coming from
right side
• No traffic control
devices other than
single cone used

188. Flaggers
• Must stay out of traffic
• Must have flags or
paddles and not use
hands

189. Directing Traffic
• Need to have vests and
flags/paddles

190. Warning systems for mobile
equipment
• When operator does not have clear view of
edge of excavation
• Warning system shall be utilized
– Barricades
– Hand or mechanical signals
– Stop logs

191. Nov 2016

193. February 2015
• Houston TX
• Worker
seriously
hurt when
falling 20 ft
into
excavation

194. Confined Spaces
• Among the new provisions are requirements that:
• a ‘‘competent person’’ conduct the initial job site
evaluation,
• continuous air monitoring of confined spaces is performed,
• continuous ventilation is used
• information to be shared among employers is specified by
the rule and
• coordination with rescue teams must be done in advance of
a confined space entry, although teams don’t have to be
present at the site.

195. Hazardous Atmospheres
• Testing and controls
– To prevent harmful levels of atmospheric contaminants
– Less than 19.5% or more than 23.5% oxygen
– Less than 10% LEL
– No Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen Sulfide and other
Toxics

196. Confined Space
A space that:
 Is large enough and so
configured that an employee
can bodily enter and perform
assigned work
 Has limited or restricted
entry/exit means
 Is not designed for continuous
Employee occupancy

197. Hazardous Atmosphere
Atmosphere that is hazardous if:
• Flammable gas, vapor, or mist in excess of 10 percent of its lower flammable
limit (LFL);
• Airborne combustible dust at a concentration that meets or exceeds its LFL;
• Atmospheric oxygen concentration below 19.5 percent or above 23.5
percent;
• Atmospheric concentration of any substance for which a dose or a
permissible exposure limit is published in subpart D of this part
(Occupational Health and Environmental Control), or in subpart Z of this part
(Toxic and 590 Hazardous Substances), and which could result in employee
exposure in excess of its dose or permissible exposure limit;

198. Test or Testing
• means the process by which the
hazards that may confront
entrants of a permit space are
identified and evaluated.
• Testing includes specifying the
tests that are to be performed in
the permit space.
• Note to the definition of
“Test or testing”.
• Testing enables employers
both to devise and
implement adequate
control measures for the
protection of authorized
entrants and to determine
if acceptable entry
conditions are present
immediately prior to, and
during, entry

199. Ventilate or Ventilation
• means controlling a
hazardous
atmosphere using
continuous forced-
air mechanical
systems that meet
the requirements of
§1926.57

200. • the employer who identifies, or
who receives notice of, a permit
space must:
• Inform exposed employees by
posting danger signs or by any
other equally effective means, of
the existence and location of, and
the danger posed by, each permit
space; and
• Note to paragraph (b)(1). A sign
reading “DANGER -- PERMIT-
REQUIRED CONFINED
SPACE, DO NOT ENTER” or
using other similar language
would satisfy the requirement for
a sign.
• (2) Inform, in a timely manner
and in a manner other than
posting, its employees’ authorized
representatives and the controlling
contractor of the existence and
location of, and the danger posed
by, each permit space.
1926.1203(b)(
1)

201. • the employer who identifies, or
who receives notice of, a permit
space must:
• Inform, in a timely manner and
in a manner other than posting,
its employees’ authorized
representatives and the
controlling contractor of the
existence and location of, and
the danger posed by, each
permit space.
1926.1203(b)(2)

202. • Continuous forced
air ventilation must
be used…..
1926.1203(b)(2)(
v)

203. • The atmosphere
within the space
must be
continuously
monitored
1926.1203(b)(2)(
vi)

204. • If any employer decides that
employees it directs will enter a
permit space, that employer
must have a written permit
space program that complies
with §1926.1204 implemented
at the construction site.
• The written program must be
made available prior to and
during entry operations for
inspection by employees and
their authorized representatives.
1926.1203(d)
(1)

205. Monitoring

206. March 2015
• Water jet cutting at 2000 psi
to cut tree roots blocking the
sewer.
• The cutting head by the green
flag.
• No need to enter the confined
space or dig it out.
• Everything is lowered in the
manhole.

207. Ventilation Blowers

208. Emergency Rescue Equipment
• Rescue equipment
– Breathing equipment
– Safety harness and line
or basket stretcher
– Blowers
– Emergency Hydraulic
Shoring
– Ladders
– Training
– Must be readily
available

209. 209

210. 210

211. 211

212. 212

213. 213

214. 214

215. Landfills
• Large quantities of
methane
• Hydrogen Sulfide is
potential
• All previously dug soil

216. Water Accumulation
• Employees shall not work in excavations
where there is accumulated water, or where
water is accumulating, unless adequate
precautions have been taken, to protect
employees.

217. Water Accumulation
• Must take adequate precautions to protect
employees
– Accumulating water
– Varies with each situation
– Removal monitored by competent person
– Run off from heavy rains requires inspection by
competent person

219. Stability of adjacent structures
• Where stability is endangered by excavation
operations
• Support systems such as shoring, bracing or
underpinning shall be provided
• Sidewalks, pavement and appurtenant structures
shall not be undermined unless support systems
are used to protect employees

222. 222

223. 223

224. September 2014
Midtown NYC
Concrete slab
from adjacent
Building crushed
worker.

225. Timber Shoring for Trenches
1926 Subpart P App C
• Basis and limitations
of data
– Trenches do not exceed
20 ft in depth
– Each table presents the
minimum sizes of
timber members to use
in a shoring system
– Tables are taken from
National Bureau of
Standards

226. Timber Shoring

227. Timber Shoring

228. Timber Shoring

229. Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring
1926 Subpart P App D
• Basis and limitations of data
– Vertical shore rails and horizontal wales
– Meet equivalent strength properties
– 2 inch cylinder inside diameter minimum safe working
capacity of no less than 18000 lbs compressive load at
maximum extension
– 3 inch cylinder inside diameter safe working load not
less than 30000 lbs axial compressive load
– Vertical shores used must be minimum of 3 spaced
equally

230. ALUMINUM SHORING
VERTICAL HORIZONTAL

231. ALUMINUM SHORING
DIMENSIONS

232. August 2014
• Thoughts?

233. Aluminum Hydraulic

234. Aluminum Hydraulic

235. Spot-bracing Usage

236. Hydraulic Shoring Usage

237. CAUTION!
Ordinary ¾ plywood CANNOT
be used as sheeting unless
approved by an RPE
If approved, it can only be
used to control local
raveling

238. Finland Form or Inform Sheeting
4 x 8 home made panels
Manufactured panels (14-ply
arctic white birch)
2 x 12 x 12Panel rope
used for
lowering
Strongback

239. 239
Other Inspection Concerns…
– Overhead Power Line Hazards
– Horizontal Directional Drilling Machines
– Material (Pipe) Storage Hazards
– Cutting Poly-Pipe Hazards
– Skid-Steer Loaders
– Quick Couplers

240. What’s good?

241. September 2014
• Waterville WI
• Andrews said 2 year old Macin
David Olson Finstuen was
placed in the trench with Unser
while the boy's step dad went to
grab a shovel.
• “The trench was about 50 feet
long and ten feet wide and six
to eight feet high.

242. May 2003
• Staten Island, NY
• Then, when the 15 foot deep
trench collapsed, completely
burying one worker, Formica
tried to get him out with an
excavator, but decapitated him
in the process
• He was charged in a seven
count indictment with
manslaughter in the second
degree, criminally negligent
homicide, four counts of
reckless endangerment in the
first degree and assault in the
third degree. One count of
reckless endangerment in the
first degree.
• The trial court upheld
criminally negligent homicide
charges
• Mr. Formica served 4 months of
weekends in prison (16
weekends) and paid a fine of
$5,000 in 2007.

243. Who Will Rescue?
• July 2015
• Fairfax County VA

244. Oct 2016

245. Oct 2016

247. Summary
• Many contractors are
not putting in cave-in
protection for manhole
installations.
• Some companies have
the equipment to
protect against cave-in
but do not use it. Worker was hurt in a cave-in
when the excavation wall
collapsed into the box.

248. Questions?