Excavations, Trenching, and Shoring Safety

Digging holes on campus poses two main hazards:

· Pedestrians could fall into the hole. Therefore, all excavations greater than one foot deep must be surrounded by warning tape or other means of making pedestrians aware of the hazard.

· Workers in the hole could become trapped should a subsidence of the surrounding soil occur. Therefore, all holes deeper than four feet must address this risk with trenching, shoring, protective trench boxes, or other means approved by OSHA.