Page 248 - Safety Memo

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

54 Cal/OSHA Pocket Guide for the Construction Industry June 2019 Cal/OSHA Pocket Guide for the Construction Industry | June 2019 55