EXCAVATION
DEFINITIONS:
1.
Excavation
Any
man-made cavity or depression in the earth's surface, including its sides,
walls, or faces, formed by earth removal and producing unsupported earth
conditions because of the excavation.
2. Trench
Excavation
A narrow excavation made below the surface of the ground. In general,
the depth is greater than the width, but the width of a trench is not greater
than 4.5 meters (15 feet).
3. Accepted
Engineering and Construction Practices
Plans
for excavations and protective system, methods shall be submitted to Loss
Prevention before work startup.
4. Protective
Systems
Methods
used to protect employees from cave-ins, from materials that could fall or roll
into the excavation onto the workers or from the collapse of adjacent
structures. Protective systems include supports, sloping and
benching, shields, and other means to protect workers.
5. Shoring
Hydraulic,
timber, or mechanical systems that support the sides of an excavation, designed
to prevent cave-ins.
6. Hydraulic
Shoring
A
pre-engineered support system of aluminum hydraulic cylinders (cross-braces)
used with vertical rods (uprights) or horizontal rods designed specifically to
support sidewalls of an excavation to prevent a cave-in.
7. Benching
A
method of protecting employees from cave-ins by excavating the sides of an
excavation to form one or a series of horizontal steps, with a vertical rise
between steps.
8. Sloping
A method of excavating in which the sides of excavation are laid back to a safe angle to prevent cave-ins. (The safe angle required varies with different types of soil, exposure to the elements, and superimposed loads. There is no single angle of repose. Soil classification must be identified to select safe sloping and benching methods.)
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