OSHA Trench Safety Checklist

How to Use This Trench Safety Checklist

Trench conditions can change quickly. Soil movement, rainfall, groundwater, nearby equipment, traffic, vibration, utility conflicts, and changes in the excavation can affect conditions after work has already started.

This checklist is designed as a field aid for reviewing common trench and excavation hazards. It does not replace OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P, manufacturer tabulated data, site-specific engineering, company procedures, or the judgment and authority of the project Competent Person.

Key OSHA Trench Safety Requirements

Several OSHA requirements are especially useful to keep in mind during excavation planning and daily inspections.

Before Digging

Excavation safety begins before the first bucket of soil is removed. The location of underground installations should be determined before opening the excavation, and the planned work should be reviewed for conditions that can affect the protective system or expose workers to other hazards.

Daily Competent Person Inspections

The Competent Person should inspect the excavation, adjacent areas, and protective systems before work begins and as needed throughout the shift.

Additional inspections are required after rainstorms and other hazard-increasing occurrences when employee exposure can reasonably be anticipated.

Inspect the Protective System

Trench boxes, hydraulic shores, and other manufactured protective-system equipment should be checked for damage, missing components, improper installation, and conditions outside the applicable design information.

When a protective system is selected from manufacturer tabulated data, the system should be used within the manufacturer's specifications, recommendations, and limitations. Required documentation should be available as applicable to the design option being used.

Check Access and Egress

In trench excavations 4 feet or more in depth, a stairway, ladder, ramp, or other safe means of egress must be positioned so employees have no more than 25 feet of lateral travel.

Access points should remain usable as the excavation progresses. Crews should not have to leave the protected area and travel through an unprotected portion of the trench to reach the required exit.

Spoil Piles, Loads, and Equipment

Soil, materials, and equipment near an excavation can create both falling-object hazards and additional surcharge loading.

Excavated material or equipment that could fall or roll into the excavation should be kept at least 2 feet from the edge or controlled by adequate retaining devices or another permitted method.

Equipment operating close to an excavation should also be evaluated for visibility, vibration, loading, and the possibility of approaching or crossing the edge.

Water and Atmospheric Hazards

Workers should not remain in excavations with accumulated or accumulating water unless adequate precautions have been taken for the hazards created by that water.

Where an oxygen-deficient or hazardous atmosphere exists or could reasonably be expected to exist, OSHA requires atmospheric testing before employees enter excavations greater than 4 feet deep.

Atmospheric hazards can be especially important around landfills, contaminated ground, fuel or chemical facilities, sewer work, and other locations where harmful gases or oxygen deficiency may reasonably be expected.

Field Checklist

Printable Trench Safety Checklist

Print this on-page checklist or open Iron Lot's existing PDF version.

Print Checklist Open PDF

Trench Safety Checklist Daily Excavation Field Review

336-516-8011

Project:

Date:

Location:

Competent Person:

Excavation Depth:

Soil Classification:

Pre-Excavation Planning

Utility locating services contacted before excavation.

Expected underground electric, gas, water, sewer, communications, fuel, and other utilities identified.

Excavation dimensions and work plan reviewed.

Nearby structures and surface encumbrances evaluated.

Traffic, lifting, and equipment movement hazards identified.

Emergency procedures reviewed with the crew.

Soil and Excavation Conditions

Soil classified by the Competent Person when classification is required for the protective-system design.

Visual soil examination completed.

Required manual soil tests completed.

Cracking, sloughing, raveling, or soil movement checked.

Wet, disturbed, previously excavated, or changing conditions evaluated.

Vibration sources and surcharge loads evaluated.

Protective System

Required protective system selected for the actual excavation.

Trench box, shoring, sloping, or benching configuration checked.

Manufactured protective equipment inspected for damage or missing components.

Protective system installed in the required configuration.

Manufacturer tabulated data or other required design documentation available at the jobsite as applicable.

Excavation dimensions remain within the permitted protective-system configuration.

Access and Egress

Safe means of egress provided in trenches 4 feet or deeper.

Employees have no more than 25 feet of lateral travel to required egress.

Ladders, stairs, or ramps inspected and securely positioned.

Employees are protected from cave-in hazards while entering and exiting shielded areas.

Walkways and crossing points checked where applicable.

Trench Safety Checklist Page 2 · 336-516-8011

Spoil, Equipment, and Falling Loads

Spoil and materials that could fall or roll into the excavation are at least 2 feet from the edge or adequately restrained.

Heavy equipment and other surcharge loads evaluated.

Warning system provided where mobile equipment approaches an edge that the operator cannot clearly see.

Workers kept clear of suspended loads.

High-visibility garments used where workers are exposed to public vehicular traffic.

Water and Atmospheric Conditions

Standing or accumulating water checked.

Water-control equipment and operations monitored where used.

Rainfall, runoff, and drainage conditions evaluated.

Potential hazardous atmosphere evaluated.

Atmosphere tested before entry in excavations greater than 4 feet deep where an oxygen-deficient or hazardous atmosphere exists or could reasonably be expected.

Daily Competent Person Inspection

Inspection completed before work.

Conditions monitored as needed throughout the shift.

New inspection completed after rainstorm or other hazard-increasing event when exposure is anticipated.

Protective system checked for indications of failure or movement.

Changing soil, water, surcharge, traffic, and equipment conditions reviewed.

Crew Safety Review

Crew understands current excavation hazards.

Required PPE inspected and used.

Workers informed of changed conditions.

Workers know the required entry, exit, and protected work areas.

Corrective actions completed before exposed employees enter a hazardous area.

Stop Work / Remove Exposed Employees

If the Competent Person identifies evidence of a possible cave-in, protective-system failure, hazardous atmosphere, or another hazardous condition, exposed employees must be removed from the hazardous area until the necessary precautions have been taken.

Competent Person Signature

Date / Time

This Iron Lot field checklist is a general educational aid and is not an OSHA-issued form. It does not replace OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P, state or local requirements, manufacturer tabulated data, site-specific engineering, employer safety procedures, or the evaluation of the project Competent Person.

Conditions That Require Immediate Attention

When the Competent Person identifies a hazardous condition, exposed employees should be removed until the necessary precautions have been taken.