Page 80 - Safety Memo

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Excavation, Trenches, and 4. While the excavation is open, the underground utilities
Earthwork must be protected, supported, or removed as necessary.
1541(b)(4)
B. When employees are in an excavation, the following
Hazards associated with excavation are cave-ins, the striking of
underground utilities, falling tools, materials, and equipment, and requirements apply:
hazardous air contaminants or oxygen-deficient environments. 1. Employees shall be protected from cave-ins by an
appropriate protective system. 1541.1(a)(1)
A. The minimum safety requirements are as follows:
Exception: If excavations are made entirely in stable rock
1. Before opening an excavation these actions must or are less than 5 ft. deep, and a competent person has
be taken: 1541
determined that there is no potential for a cave-in, no
a. Must identify subsurface installations prior to opening an protective system is needed.
excavation and ensure they are marked.
2. A competent person must be on site to do the following:
b. Notify all regional notification centers and all subsurface a. Conduct inspections of the excavations, adjacent
installations owners who are not members of the areas, and protective systems before the start of work
notification centers two working days before starting as needed throughout the shift, and daily for potential
the work.
cave ins, failures, hazardous atmospheres, or other
Exception: Emergency repair work to subsurface hazards. 1541(k)(1)
facilities done in response to an emergency as defined b. Take prompt corrective action or remove employees
in Government Code Section 4216(d).
from the hazard.
c. Must receive a positive response from all known 3. The competent person must be able to demonstrate the
owners/operators of subsurface installations.
following:
d. Must meet with owners/operators of high priority (such a. The ability to recognize all possible hazards associated
as high pressure pipelines, natural gas/petroleum with excavation work and to test for hazardous
pipelines, electrical lines greater than 60,000 volts, etc.) atmospheres.
and subsurface installations that are located within 10
ft.of the proposed excavation. b. Knowledge of the current safety orders pertaining to
excavation and trenching.
e. Only qualified persons (persons that meet training and
competency requirements) can perform subsurface c. The ability to analyze and classify soils.
installation locating activities.
d. Knowledge of the design and use of protective
f. All exposed employees must be trained in excavator systems.
notification/excavation activities.
e. The authority and ability to take prompt corrective
g. Obtain a permit from DOSH if workers are required to action when conditions change.
enter an excavation that is 5 ft. deep or deeper. 341(a)(1)
C. Requirements for protective systems include the following:
2. While excavating, the exact locations of the underground
utilities must be determined by safe and acceptable means. 1. Protective system design must be based on soil
classification: Stable rock, Type A, B, or C soils. 1541.1
1541(b)(3)
Appendix A (b),(c)
3. Excavators must immediately notify the subsurface 2. Soil classification is required as follows unless the
installation owner/operator of any damage discovered protective system design is based on Type C soil:
during or caused by excavating activities. If the damage or
escaping material endangers life or property, immediately a. Classification must take into account both site and
notify 911. environmental conditions. 1541.1 Appendix A (a)(1)
48 Cal/OSHA Pocket Guide for the Construction Industry | June 2015 Cal/OSHA Pocket Guide for the Construction Industry | June 2015 49