California Department of Industrial Relations

Division of Occupational Safety and Health

Publications Unit

TAILGATE/TOOLBOX TOPIC October 2022

Excavation Safety
Over a 5-year period, 26 California workers died and 207 • A damaged subsurface installation requires the
others were injured in trench cave-ins. In almost every following notifications: [Describe site-specific
instance, improperly implemented protective measures notifications and measures to be taken, including
were the cause of the accident. The following will be calling 911 where damage to a high priority subsurface
implemented at this job site (only cover the issues that installation results in escape of any hazardous gas/
are relevant to your scope of work and be sure to review liquid.]
Article 6—Excavations of the Construction Safety Orders • While the excavation is open, employees are
to ensure all regulatory requirements are addressed and safeguarded from subsurface installations by:
implemented). Red italics set in brackets indicate where you [Describe site-specific means of doing this (for
must customize the content of this tailgate meeting for your example, protection, support, or removal of subsurface
job site’s equipment and conditions. installations).]

Before Excavation Begins—Checklist Surface Encumbrances, Adjacent Structures, and

• The excavator has: Sidewalks
Ê Determined the approximate locations of
subsurface installations that can be reasonably • The following pose a hazard and are addressed by:
expected to be encountered. [List the site-specific encumbrances, including adjacent
Ê Notified all affected utility Regional Notification structures, and describe how they are being removed or
Centers at least 2 working days and not more than adequately supported.]
14 calendar days from the start date.
Ê Received clearance from all known owner/operators Protective Systems
of subsurface installations that might be affected.
Ê Met with the facility owner/operator to determine • The following protective systems are being used:
how to verify the location for high priority [Describe the site-specific systems that will be used
installations that come within 10 ft. of the (for example, type of shoring and/or sloping based on
excavation. soil type and condition) for excavations greater than 5
• The excavation area has been marked. ft. deep and less than 5 ft. deep where the competent
• A qualified person performed subsurface installation person has determined there is indication of a potential
locating activities. cave-in. For excavations more than 20 feet deep, include
• Permits for excavations 5 ft. or deeper that a person how the protective system has been designed by a
might enter have been obtained from Cal/OSHA. registered professional engineer.]
Protective systems such as shoring or sloping are
used regardless of depth should soil type or condition Falling Loads
warrant it.
• All employees exposed to excavation hazards have • Employees are not permitted underneath loads handled
received required training on excavator notification and by lifting or digging equipment and are required to
excavation practices. stand away from any vehicle being loaded or unloaded
to avoid being struck by any spillage or falling materials.
Subsurface Installations (Utilities, Etc.)
Operators may remain in the cabs of vehicles being
loaded or unloaded when the vehicles are equipped to
• The following safe means of determining the exact
provide adequate protection for the operator during
location of subsurface installations are used when
loading and unloading operations.
excavation operations approach their approximate
location: [Describe the site-specific methods to be used,
such as hand tools, and if necessary, power-driven
excavation or boring equipment.]
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Access/Egress Loose Rock/Soil

• • [Describe how employees are protected from loose

rock/soil that could pose a hazard by falling from
an excavation face (for example, scaling, protective
barricades, etc.).]
Inspection • Excavated materials or equipment that could fall into
an excavation are kept at least 2 feet from the edge of
• [Provide the name of the competent person] will inspect the excavation unless the following retaining devices are
the trench and protective systems daily, before the start used: [Specify the site-specific means.]
of work and throughout the day as conditions change.
These daily inspections include: General Concerns
Ê Soil conditions and accumulation of water or
anything else that would be indicative of a cave-in. To ensure safe working conditions, be on the lookout for:
Ê Protective system integrity.
Ê Hazardous atmospheres. • Changing weather conditions: Hard packed soil can
Ê [Describe other site-specific hazards and how they become soupy or unstable after a rain. Trenches that
are abated.] are safety sloped or shored in dry weather can pose
• Employees are not allowed to enter the excavation a hazard when wet. Thawing soil can also suddenly
unless cleared safe to do so by the competent person. become unstable.
• Heavy loads in area: Do not park heavy equipment next
Vehicular Traffic and Warning System to a trench.
• Vibration: If you are digging a trench near a roadway or
• [Describe the warning vests/garments used by exposed where other operations create vibration, make certain
employees.] the shoring/sloping design reflects these conditions.
• [Describe the warning system (e.g., barricades, hand • [Describe other site-specific hazards that can develop
or mechanical signals, stop logs) for mobile equipment and are not discussed elsewhere in this tailgate
operating adjacent to an excavation.] meeting.]

Hazardous Atmospheres Fall Protection

• [Describe how oxygen deficiency or other hazardous • Walkways or bridges with standard guardrails are
atmospheres will be tested and controlled in excavations provided for excavations deeper than 6 ft. and wider
greater than 4 ft. in depth.] than 30 inches where employees or equipment are
• [Describe the emergency equipment (e.g., breathing required to cross.
apparatus, safety harness/line, basket stretcher, etc.) to • Remote excavations are provided with: [Describe the
be readily available.] adequate barrier physical protection used.]
• All wells, pits, shafts, etc., are: [Describe how they will
be barricaded or covered.]
Water Accumulation
• Temporary wells, pits, shafts, etc., are backfilled upon
completion of exploration and similar operations.
• Employees will not work in excavations where there is
accumulated water unless the following precautions
have been taken: [Describe precautions (for example,
special support or shield systems, water removal pumps,
the means of diverting water from entering excavations,
use of harness and safety line, etc.).]

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 Discussion Questions

• Do you have any questions or concerns about the excavations on this site?
• Do you have any suggestions for improvement?
• [Provide other questions related to the particular working conditions.]

Permit-Required Confined Spaces

Excavations can be confined spaces, but not covered by the construction permit-required confined space standard unless a
structure within the excavation, such as a pipe, creates a secondary confined space. Refer to Article 37 of the Construction
Safety Orders and section 5158 for details.

Disclaimer

The user of this Tailgate Topic must tailor it to site-specific conditions and issues. The regulations for excavations are covered
in Title 8, California Code of Regulations, Article 6 of the Construction Safety Orders. The information provided in this Tailgate
Topic is neither a substitute for, nor a legal interpretation of the occupational safety and health regulations. Readers are
cautioned to refer directly to Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations for detailed information regarding the regulation’s
scope, specifications, exceptions, and other requirements that may be applicable to their operations.

Resources

Title 8, California Code of Regulations (www.dir.ca.gov/samples/search/query.htm)

• Construction Safety Orders (www.dir.ca.gov/Title8/sub4.html)

• Excavations—Article 6 (www.dir.ca.gov/Title8/sb4a6.html)
• Confined Spaces in Construction—Article 37 (www.dir.ca.gov/Title8/sb4a37.html)
• Other Confined Space Operations—section 5158 (www.dir.ca.gov/Title8/5158.html)
• Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)—section 1509 (www.dir.ca.gov/Title8/1509.html)

Cal/OSHA Publications (www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/PubOrder.asp)

• Cal/OSHA Pocket Guide for the Construction Industry (www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh_publications/ConstGuideOnline.

pdf)

Cal/OSHA Consultation Service (www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/consultation.html)

• 1-800-963-9424
• [email protected]

This document is available with active links at www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/PubOrder.asp

© 2022 California Department of Industrial Relations

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 Employees in Attendance
(excavation safety)
Date: Person conducting the meeting:

Name (Print) Signature