Employees in an excavation shall be protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed by a registered professional engineer. This standard provides the details to protect the workers.

Table of Contents

    1. Scope, Application and Definitions Applicable to this Standard
        1.1 Scope and Application
        1.2 Definitions
    2. General Requirements
        2.1 Owner’s Responsibilities
        2.2 Contractor’s or Subcontractor’s Responsibilities
        2.3 Excavation Competent Person’s Responsibilities
        2.4 Surface Encumbrances
        2.5 Underground Installations
        2.6 Access and Egress
        2.7 Exposure to Vehicular Traffic
        2.8 Exposure to Falling Loads
        2.9 Warning System for Mobile Equipment
        2.10 Hazardous Atmospheres
        2.11 Protection from Hazards Associated with Water Accumulation
        2.12 Stability of Adjacent Structures
        2.13 Protection of Employees from Loose Rock or Soil
        2.14 Inspections
        2.15 Fall Protection
    3. Requirements for Protective Systems
        3.1 Protection of Employees in Excavations
        3.2 Design of Sloping and Benching Systems
        3.3 Design of Support Systems, Shield (Trench Box) Systems, and Other Protective Equipment
        3.4 Materials and Equipment
        3.5 Installation and Removal of Support
        3.6 Sloping and Benching Systems
        3.7 Shield (Trench Box) Systems
    APPENDIXES
    A. Soil Classification
        A1 Scope and Application
        A2 Definitions
        A3 Requirements
            A3.1 Classification of Soil and Rock Deposits
            A3.2 Basis for Classification
            A3.3 Visual and Manual Analysis
            A3.4 Layered Systems
            A3.5 Reclassification
        A4 Acceptable Visual and Manual Tests
            A4.1 Acceptable Visual Analysis
            A4.2 Acceptable Manual Test
            A4.3 Other Strength Tests
            A4.4 Drying Test
    B. Sloping and Benching
        B1 Scope and Application
        B2 Definitions
        B3 Requirements
            B3.1 Soil Classifications
            B3.2 Maximum Allowable Slope
            B3.3 Actual Slope
            B3.4 Configurations
            B3.5 Excavations Made in Type A Soil
            B3.6 Excavations Made in Type B Soil
            B3.7 Excavations Made in Type C Soil
            B3.8 Excavations Made in Layered Soil
    C. Timber Shoring for Trench Excavations
        C1 Scope
        C2 Soil Classification
        C3 Presentation of Information
        C4 Basis and Limitations of the Data
            C4.1 Dimensions of Timber Members
            C4.2 Limitation of Application
        C5 Use of Tables
        C6 Examples to Illustrate the Use of Tables C1-C3
        C7 Notes for Appendix C Tables
    D. Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring for Trenches
        D1 Scope
        D2 Soil Classification
        D3 Presentation of Information
        D4 Basis and Limitations of the Data
        D5 Use of Tables D1-D4
        D6 Examples to Illustrate the Use of Tables
        D7 Notes for Tables D1-D4
    E. Alternative Worker Protection Systems
    F. Selection of Protection Systems
    TABLES
        B1 Maximum Allowable Slopes
        C1 Timber Trench Shoring – Minimum Timber
            Requirements Soil Type A
        C2 Timber Trench Shoring – Minimum Timber
            Requirements Soil Type B
        C3 Timber Trench Shoring – Minimum Timber
            Requirements Soil Type C
        C4 Timber Trench Shoring – Minimum Timber
            Requirements Soil Type A
        C5 Timber Trench Shoring – Minimum Timber
            Requirements Soil Type B
        C6 Timber Trench Shoring – Minimum Timber
            Requirements Soil Type C
        D1 Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring, Vertical Shores, For Soil Type A
        D2 Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring, Vertical Shores, For Soil Type B
        D3 Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring, Water Systems, For Soil Type B
        D4 Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring, Water Systems, For Soil Type C
    FIGURES
        B1 Simple Slope – Type A
        B2 Simple Slope – Short-Term
        B3 Simple Bench
        B4 Multiple Bench
        B5 Supported or Shielded Vertically Sided Lower Portion
        B6 Simple Slope – Type B
        B7 Simple Bench
        B8 Multiple Bench
        B9 Vertically Sided Lower Portion
        B10 Simple Slope – Type C
        B11 Vertical Sided Lower Portion
        B12 B Over A
        B13 C Over A
        B14 C Over B
        B15 A Over B
        B16 A Over C
        B17 B Over C
        D1 Vertical Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring (Spot Bracing)
        D2 Vertical Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring (With Plywood)
        D3 Vertical Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring (Stacked)
        D4 Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring Water Typical System
        E1 Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring
        E2 Pneumatic/Hydraulic Shoring
        E3 Trench Jacks (Screw Jacks)
        E4 Trench Shields
        F1 Preliminary Decisions
        F2 Sloping Options
        F3 Shoring and Shielding Options

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