Trenching & Excavation Program

Benching (Benching system) - A method of protecting employees 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.

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.

Competent Person - Person who is capable of identifying existing and predictable trenching hazards in the work environment, which are hazardous or dangerous, AND has the authority to stop work or take corrective actions to eliminate these conditions.

Distress - When soil is in a condition where a cave-in is imminent or is likely to occur. Distress is evidenced by such phenomena as the development of fissures in the face of or adjacent to an open excavation; the subsidence of the edge of an excavation; the slumping of material from the face or the bulging or heaving of material from the bottom of an excavation; the spilling of material from the face of an excavation; and raveling, i.e., small amounts of material such as pebbles or little clumps of material suddenly separating from the face of an excavation and trickling or rolling down into the excavation. 

Excavation - Cal/OSHA defines an excavation as any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth's surface formed by earth removal.

Faces or sides - The vertical or inclined earth surfaces formed as a result of excavation work

Ingress and Egress - "entry" and "exit," respectively. In trenching and excavation operations, they refer to the provision of safe means for employees to enter or exit an excavation or trench.

Shoring (Shoring system) - A structure such as a metal hydraulic, mechanical or timber shoring system that supports the sides of an excavation and which is designed to prevent cave-ins.

Sloping (Sloping system) - A method of protecting employees from cave-ins by excavating to form sides of an excavation that are inclined away from the excavation so as to prevent cave-ins. The angle of incline required to prevent a cave-in varies with differences in such factors as the soil type, environmental conditions of exposure, and application of surcharge loads.

Trench (Trench excavation) - A narrow excavation (in relation to its length) made below the surface of the ground. In general, the depth is greater than the width, but the width of a trench (measured at the bottom) is not greater than 15 feet. If forms or other structures are installed or constructed in an excavation so as to reduce the dimension measured from the forms or structure to the side of the excavation to 15 feet or less, (measured at the bottom of the excavation), the excavation is also considered to be a trench.

Department Supervisors

Supervisors are responsible for implementing the CSUDH Trenching and Excavation Program.

Supervisors will implement the program through:

1. Ensuring that work location health and safety practices related to trenching and excavation are communicated and understood through documented training;
2. Establishing any department specific procedures for equipment maintenance to comply with elements of this program;
3. Ensuring that trenching or excavations greater than 5’ are not entered by CSUDH employees. Any Trench/excavation that requires benching, sloping or shoring will be contracted out.
4. Including compliance with health and safety procedures as part of CSUDH Injury Illness Prevention Program (IIPP);
5. Encouraging employees to report safety concerns without fear of reprisal
6. Verifying that any employee who plans to work in or around trenching operations has been properly trained.
7. A trenching/Excavation hazard assessment will be completed when necessary (appendix A) and
8. Ensuring the competent person for the work being performed has reviewed the hazard assessment.

Competent Person

A competent person is one who can identify existing and predictable hazards in the surrounding or working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measure(s) to eliminate them. All competent persons must be trained in trenching and excavation, pass an exam, and be certified for completion of the class. 

A competent person should be able to:

1. Analyze soil;
2. Have knowledge in the use of protective systems; and
3. Be able to detect conditions that could result in cave-ins and failures in protective systems; and
4. Recognize hazardous atmospheres and other hazards including those associated with confined spaces

The competent person will also be required to perform inspections:

1. Before the start of each shift for any trench/excavation that is 4’ or greater (Appendix B).
2. As dictated by the work being performed in the trench
3. After every rainstorm
4. After other events that could increase hazards, such as windstorms, ground thaw, earthquake, dramatic change in weather, etc.
5. When fissures, tension cracks, undercutting, water seepage, bulging at the bottom, or other similar conditions occur
6. When there is a change in the size, location, or placement of the spoil pile
7. When there is an indication of change or movement in adjacent structures.

EHS

EHS is responsible for the following

1. Initial Roll-out of this program
2. Maintaining and reviewing this program and making updates as necessary.
3. Reviewing any trench or excavation that is 4’ or greater.
   • EHS has the ability to halt any trench work that is deemed unsafe.

Contractors

1. Contractors working for CSUDH must have their own Cal/OSHA compliant Trenching and Excavation Program.
2. Contractors performing Trenching and Excavation work on campus greater than 4’ are required to apply for an annual permit from Cal/OSHA.
   • CSUDH is a state agency and therefore is not required to apply for or notify Cal/SOHA when performing trenching or excavating operations

Any trench/excavation that is 4’ to 5’ will first need to contact EHS at ehs@csudh.edu . This notification will need to be at least 1 business day before the excavation is dug to a depth of 4’ or greater. Along with the notification the department shall submit the Trenching/Excavation hazard assessment for EHS review.

 EHS will not approve any trench/excavation where benching, sloping or shoring will be required, either because the depth has reached 5’ or due to the nature of the trench/excavation.