Excavation Safety Inspections

Daily inspections

The departmental competent person shall conduct daily inspections of excavations, adjacent areas, and protective systems for evidence of a situation that could result in possible cave-ins, failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions. Daily inspections must be conducted by the competent person prior to the start of work or personnel entering the excavation each day and as needed throughout the shift. Inspection is especially critical on Mondays, where rain or other changing conditions occurring over the weekend may have deteriorated soil conditions and/or protective systems. If personnel will not be entering the excavation on a given day, inspection is not required.

The competent person shall maintain a written log of all inspections conducted. This log shall include the date, worksite location, results of the inspection, and a summary of any action taken to correct existing hazards. The back of the Excavation Assessment Form can be used to document inspections. Items to inspect include:

• Surface conditions:
  • No cracks along the top edge of the excavation;
  • Spoil piles, materials, and equipment are not within 2 feet of the edge of the excavation;
  • No standing water in the excavation; and/or
  • No sources of vibration .
• Banks and sides of slope/bench:
  • No cracks on the walls of the excavation;
  • No spalling (i.e. soil falling from the sides of the excavation into the excavation);
  • No changes in soil type; and/or
  • The slope remains adequate for the class of soil originally selected. 
• Shoring/shielding:
  • Shoring/shielding still in place and effective;
  • Hydraulic cylinders not leaking; and/or
  • Wedges remain tight. 
• Access/egress:
  • Stairs, ladders, or ramps for access/egress in place and secured, where applicable) 
• Existing utilities:
  • Utilities identified and protected;
  • Utilities de-energized or shut-off, where necessary; and/or 
  • Support is adequate. 
• Weather (which could affect the integrity of the soil or excavation):
  • No overnight freezing/thawing
  • No overnight rain (heavy)

Additional inspections

Inspections shall also be made after each hazard-changing event, such as heavy rains, where necessary. 

Where the competent person, or personnel entering the excavation, find evidence of a situation that could result in a possible cave-in, protective system failure, hazardous atmospheric conditions, or other hazardous conditions that may expose personnel shall evacuate the excavation until the situation has been evaluated and corrected.