Excavation & Trenching Safety

Presentation by Dan Eschenasy, PE

WARNING
This presentation was prepared in support of the Department of Buildings Excavation and Trench Safety Guidelines Flyer. It illustrates what, in the authors opinion, are the most important issues related to excavation and trenching safety. This presentation, as well as the guidelines flyer, are for informational purposes only. All such work must comply with the requirements in the NYC Building Code and the relevant rules and regulations. You must also comply with all relevant federal and state laws. The presentation provides links to these as well as to other relevant Internet publications.

DOB Flyer
The Department of Buildings has identified excavation and trenching as areas where code compliance needs improvement. The attached flyer is being handed out to remind contractors, workers and the general public of the basic safety rules for excavation and trenching.

OSHA
At about the same time, OSHA published its own card intended to remind the public of the safety rules for trenches.

Photo Courtesy OSHA

Contractors Shall Comply with both OSHA Regulations and the NYC Building Code
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ITS THE LAW IT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE ITS GOOD ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS PRACTICE

Trench Walls will Collapse

Typically, trenches are only open for a short period of time (minutes or hours). The walls of any trench will eventually collapse; it is merely a matter of time. Short-term apparent stability is a temptation for a contractor to send workers into a dangerous trench in hopes of rapid progress and financial gain. Death or serious injury can result. http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0200/d000279/ilochap93.html Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety, fourth Edition Chapter 93 - Construction Jack Mickle, Jack L. Mickle & Associates

Trenching/Excavation Accidents
Cave-in is the most common accident in Excavation & Trenching 38%

J. Irizarry et al . Analysis of Safety Issues in Trenching Operations

Accidents vs. Trench Depth

37 % of all trenching accidents occur at depths less than 5 feet

J Irizarry et all . Analysis of Safety Issues in Trenching Operations

Most Fatalities Occur in Small Construction Projects

Project Value Percent Cumulative

28 %

$50,000.00
1 2 3 4 Under 50,000 50,000 - 250,000 250,000 - 500,000 500,000 - 1,000,000 28.51 18.81 10.35 8.94 28.51 47.38 57.73 66.67

$1,000,000.00
AN ANALYSIS OF FATAL EVENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY 2000

66.6%

Most Fatalities Occur:

In trenches 5 feet to 14 feet deep In collapses that developed extremely fast.

Additional [secondary] collapses are very common Co-workers attempting to rescue someone can also become victims

Analysis of Construction Fatalities - The OSHA Data Base 1985-1989

Plan Before You Start Excavating

Inspect the site. Collect information.

List the risks. Mitigate or eliminate potential problems Establish minimum rate of inspection Have written site safety plan, including emergency procedures

Understand Protection Requirements

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Determine project requirements and conditions Understand basic soil identification Understand available protection choices
Benching Shoring
Terms Selection Installation and Removal

Understand effects of water

Refer to 27-1032 of the NYC Building Code (www.NYC.gov/buildings) and OSHAs regulations (www.osha.gov) for details on the proper protection of an excavation or trench.

Soil Identification - General

See NYC Building Code Subchapter 11 Foundations Article 4. Rock Gravel Sand Silt Clay Fill

NYC Building Code and Soil

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Classification Intended for Excavation Protection and Sheet Piling Hard Likely to crack or crumble Soft sandy filled in loose soil

In most cases the top layer where excavation takes place is fill. Its worked and placed by man and has undetermined properties.

OSHA Soil Classification System

Soil classification system means, for the purpose of this subpart, a method of categorizing soil and rock deposits in a hierarchy of Stable Rock, Type A, Type B, and Type C, in decreasing order of stability. The categories are determined based on an analysis of the properties and performance characteristics of the deposits and the environmental conditions of exposure Stable Rock Type A Soils Type B Soils Type C Soils Layered
http://www.osha.gov/Publications/Homebuilders/Homebuilders.html#subp

Visual Determination-Soil Class

Continued

Soil class by OSHA is dependent on the condition of the soil in the vicinity of the excavation. Check for: Cracked ground at top or wall of excavation. Fill [earth the was added or disturbed] Excavation soil that is exposed to vibrations from traffic or construction equipment. Poor drainage around excavation or water seepage

Manual Tests
See the NYC Continued Building Code -Table 11-1, Unified Soil Classification & Field Identification Procedures

See OSHA Plasticity Dry Strength Thumb penetration

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/Homebuilders/Homebuilders.html#subp

Safety Guidelines

Each side of an excavation or trench which is 5 feet or deeper must be protected by sheeting/bracing shoring or sloped unless it is cut from rock

Sloping & Benching -Required Configuration

Shoring Systems Selection

Continued

Soil type must be known Depth and width of the excavation must be known One must be familiar with the NYC Building Code Tables

Building Code Terms for Shoring

OSHA Terminology

Photo Courtesy of OSHA

In this case, traffic exerts higher loads on walls of excavation tables cannot be used.

Deeper excavations require engineered protective systems

Violation Issued: Improper shoring and improper benching.

The condition shown in the previous slide led to sidewalk collapse.

Do not work in an excavation or trench filled with running or standing water.

Accumulating or Standing Water Must Dos

Use of special support or shield systems approved by a registered professional engineer. Water removal equipment, i.e. well pointing, used and monitored by a competent person. Safety harnesses and lifelines used in conformance with 29 CFR 1926.104. Surface water diverted away from the trench. Employees removed from the trench during rainstorms. Trenches carefully inspected by a competent person after each rain and before employees are permitted to re-enter the trench.
www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0100/d000168/d000168.html

Despite significant shoring -water removal might still damage the adjoining building.

Regularly check the walls of an excavation or trench for cracks, bulges and spalling. Check the shoring for signs of distress -especially after a rain storm.

Daily Inspections Should Include:

Area at the top of the trench Trench walls Excavated area at trench bottom Excavation protection system

Site Conditions Can Change Rapidly

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Weather conditions. Inspect several times each day in case of :

Heavy rains and flooding Hot or Cold Temperatures Heavy Snow or Snow Melting

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Vibration Dewatering

What and Where to Look?

Photo Courtesy OSHA

Tension cracks at a collapse

Do not store spoil, materials or equipment along the edge of an excavation or trench.

Temporary Spoil Pile

2 ft. min.

Excavator left for the weekend too close to the trench edge. The improperly benched excavation might collapse.

Underground Installations - OSHA

(b)(1) The estimated location of utility installations, such as sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water lines, or any other underground installations that reasonably may be expected to be encountered during excavation work, shall be determined prior to opening an excavation. (b)(2) Utility companies or owners shall be contacted .. to locate utility installations. (b)(3) When excavation operations approach the estimated location of underground installations, the exact location of the installations shall be determined by safe and acceptable means. (b)(4) While the excavation is open, underground installations shall be protected, supported or removed as necessary to safeguard employees.

Stability of Adjacent Structures

Excavation below the base of an existing foundation is not permitted as the foundation or the excavation wall might collapse. Shoring is required when: A controlled inspection is required. A licensed engineer needs to specify procedure and protection. Lack of such measures is one of the major causes of recent building distress and collapse.

Unprotected excavation next to existing building led to bearing wall collapse.

Each open side of an excavation or trench shall have a guardrail or a solid enclosure.

Each excavation or trench shall have a way out such as a ladder or ramp.

Trench Ingress and Egress

Access to and exit from the trench require the : Trenches 4 ft or more in depth should be provided with a fixed means of egress. Spacing between ladders or other means of egress must be such that a worker will not have to travel more than 25 ft laterally to the nearest means of egress. Ladders must be secured and extend a minimum of 36 in (0.9 m) above the landing. Metal ladders should be used with caution, particularly when electric utilities are present.

Special Attention
Continued

Removal of excavation support systems must be planned and usually proceed from the bottom up. Placing as well as removal of shoring or protecting systems shall be executed without inducing collapse. Must backfill together or immediately after removal of support system. Must follow specifications. All shoring members or any other protecting system shall be assembled together as per specs. Various elements of the support systems must be securely connected together and shall not be subjected to loads beyond their capacity such as those resulting from large vehicles or equipment.

Special Attention
Installation of the support system is closely coordinated with the excavation of the trench. [1541.1(d)(1)] Workers are protected from cave-ins, structural collapse, or accidentally being hit during installation and removal of the support system. [1541.1(e)(1)(E)] Removal of shoring or other protective systems starts at the bottom of the excavation. Members are released slowly so structural failures will be noticed. [1541.1(e)(1)(E)] Backfilling progresses with the removal of support systems from excavations. [1541.1(e)(1)(F)]
Trenches and Excavations Checklist - http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0200/d000246/d000246.html

Trench Rescue
Often, one death or severe injury in a trench is compounded by a poorly thought-out rescue attempt. The victim and rescuers may become trapped and overcome by deadly gases, fumes or lack of oxygen; drowned; or mutilated by machines or rescue ropes. With failed rescue attempts, most of the dead are would-be rescuers. Emergency teams trained in trench rescue should be contacted immediately in the event of a cave-in.
http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0200/d000279/ilochap93.html Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety, Fourth Edition Chapter 93 - Construction Jack Mickle, Jack L. Mickle & Associates

Basic Rules of Trench Rescue

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Immediately get help from units trained in trained in trench/confined space rescue Call 911 Do not enter trench Get people out of the trench

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Bibliography
.New York City Building Code http://10.217.254.107/NXT/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm$vid=BldgCd2:viewBC .CDC -Occupational Fatalities During Trenching and Excavation Work United States, 1992-2001 www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5315a2.htm .CIRPC-University of Tennessee, Knoxville An Analysis Of Fatal Events In The Construction Industry 2001 prepared for Office of Statistics OSHA http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0300/d000333/d000333.pdf . CIRPC-University of Tennessee, Knoxville An Analysis Of Fatal Events In The Construction Industry 2000 http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0600/d000644/d000644.PDF .CIRPC-University of Tennessee, Knoxville An Analysis Of Fatal Events In The Construction Industry 1999 prepared for Office of statistics OSHA http://www.riskworld.com/Nreports/2001/Construction/C010802.htm . Charles Culver et all. Analysis of Construction Fatalities - The OSHA Data Base 1985-1989 http://www.osha.gov/Publications/Construction_Fatalities/Confat.pdf .OSHA Technical Manual SECTION V: CHAPTER 2 EXCAVATIONS: HAZARD RECOGNITION IN TRENCHING AND SHORING http://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_v/otm_v_2.html#1 .Larry C. Brown et all , Ohio State University Trenching And Excavation Safety Principles http://ohioline.osy.edu/aex-fact/0391.html .J Irizarry et al . Analysis Of Safety Issues In Trenching Operations, Purdue University https://engineering.purdue.edu/CSA/publications/trenching01 Trenches and Excavations Checklist - Taken from the "Tailgate Meetings that Work : A Guide to Effective Construction Safety Training" series http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0200/d000246/d000246.html