S02 SOP-11 Trenching and Excavation.pdf

TRENCHING AND EXCAVATION

SOP 11

Coatesville VA Medical Center Coatesville, PA 19320

Signatory Authority:

FES Chief

Responsible Owner:

FES Chief

Service Line(s):

Facilities Engineering Service

Effective Date:

November 1, 2021

Recertification Date:

November 1, 2026

1. PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY

a. The purpose of this standard operating procedure (SOP) is to establish Facilities Engineering Service (FES) policy, responsibilities and procedure guidance and safety requirements for trenching and excavation operations by VAMC and/or contractor personnel.

b. This SOP sets forth mandatory procedures and processes to ensure compliance with OSHA 29 CFR 1926, Subpart P.

c. It is the VA Medical Center policy to operate under the rules and regulations as outlined by the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Standards covering all excavations. This will include the use of support systems, sloping and benching systems, and other systems which are used as protection against excavation cave-ins, to include the means of access to and egress from excavations, and also the employee’s exposure to vehicular traffic, failing loads, hazardous atmospheres, water accumulation and unstable structures in and adjacent to excavations.

2. PROCEDURES

a. Mandatory Requirements from 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P:

(1) All FES employees and contractors will obtain an excavation and trenching permit from the Safety Office prior to breaking ground. Once the permit is issued it must remain on the worksite for the duration of the excavation by the competent person. All alterations to the permits must be approved by the Safety Office. Deviations from the permit will result in stoppage of work.

(2) The walls and faces of trenches, 5 feet or more deep, and all excavations in which employees are exposed to changes from moving ground or cave-in, shall be guarded by a shoring system, sloping of the ground, or a shielding system.

Plywood is not authorized for shoring or shielding.

November 5, 2021 SOP 11

(3) Trenches 4 feet or more deep shall have an adequate means of exit such as ladders, steps or ramps located so as to require no more than 25 feet of lateral travel. Ladders must be secured and must extend 36 inches above the landing.

(4) In all excavations which employees may be required to enter, all equipment, excavated material, or other material shall be effectively stored and retained at least 2 feet or more from the edge of the excavations.

(5) Daily inspections of excavations, protective systems, and adjacent areas may be made by a competent person and a union representative for any hazardous conditions which might exist. An evacuation checklist will be used as a guide for compliance and will be filled out for each excavation or trench. Where a competent person finds such a hazard, exposed employees shall be removed from the area until actions have been taken to ensure their safety. These inspections are required only when employee exposure is reasonably anticipated.

(6) All material removed from an excavation will be considered Class C soil unless otherwise determined. Determination shall be made by a competent person and utilizing the methods listed in 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P. All protective systems will, therefore, by constructed for Type C soil. The maximum allowable slope will be 34 degrees from horizontal (1-1/2H:1V) on all Type C excavations.

(7) When an excavation is near vehicular traffic, exposed employees shall be provided with and shall wear, warning vests or other suitable garments marked with or made of reflectorized or high-visibility material.

(8) Prior to opening an excavation, as-built plans or any other feasible method will be used to determine the location of utility installations such as sewer, telephone, fuel, electrical/water lines, or any other installation.

b. Additional Requirements

(1) In excavations where hazardous atmospheres or engulfment may exist, the excavation will be treated as a permit-required confined space. The procedures of the confined space policy shall be followed.

(2) Mobile equipment shall be protected by using hand signals, barricades, or stop logs if operator visibility is restricted.

(3) Excavations shall be protected from the accumulations of water by water-removal equipment, dikes, diversion ditches, or other suitable means. Excavations subject to heavy rains or run-off shall be inspected by a competent person prior to entering the excavation.

(4) Employees shall be protected with personal protective equipment for the protection of the head, eyes, respiratory tract, feet and other body parts as required.

(5) Unattended excavations or trenches will be effectively guarded against unauthorized entry by fences, warning lights, signs and any other means necessary.

(6) No employee shall be permitted underneath loads handled by lifting or digging equipment. Employees must stand away from any vehicle being loaded or unloaded to avoid being struck by any spillage or falling materials.

c. Requirements for Protective Systems

(1) Protection of Employees in Excavations:

(a) Each employee in an excavation shall be protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed (by a registered professional engineer) and meeting applicable testing requirements along with training objectives except when:

1. Excavations are made entirely in stable rock; or,

2. Excavations are less than 5 feet (1.52m) in depth and examination of the ground by a competent person provide no indication of a potential cave-in.

(b) Protective systems shall have the capacity to resist without failure all loads that are intended or could reasonably be expected to be applied or transmitted to the system.

(c) Materials and equipment used for protective systems shall be free from damage or defects that might impair their proper function.

(d) Manufactured materials and equipment used for protective systems shall be used and maintained in a manner that is consistent with the recommendations of the manufacturer and in a manner that will prevent employee exposure to hazards.

(e) When material or equipment that is used for protective systems is damaged, a competent person shall examine the material or equipment and evaluate its suitability for continued use. If the competent person cannot assure the material or equipment is able to support the intended loads or is otherwise suitable for safe use, then such material or equipment shall be removed from service and shall be evaluated and approved by a registered professional engineer before being returned to service.

(f) Installation and removal of support: In general, members of the support systems shall be securely connected together to prevent sliding, failing, kick-outs, or other predictable failure. Employees shall not enter the excavation while supporting equipment is being installed or removed.

(g) Support systems shall be installed and removed in a manner that protects employees from cave-ins, structural collapses, or from being struck by members of the support systems.

(h) Individual members of support systems shall not be subjected to loads exceeding the load limits which individual members were designed to withstand.

(i) Before temporary removal of individual members begins, additional precautions shall be taken to ensure the safety of employees, such as installing other structural members to carry the loads imposed on the support system.

(j) Removal shall begin at and progress from the bottom of the excavation.

Members shall be released slowly so as to note any indication of possible failure of the remaining members of the structure or possible cave-ins of the sides of the excavation.

(k) Back-filling shall progress together with the removal of support system from excavations.

(l) Additional requirements for support systems for trench excavations.

Excavation of material to a level no greater than 2 feet (.61m) below the bottom of the members of a support system shall be permitted, but only if the system is designed to resist the forces calculated for the full depth of the trench and there are no indications while trench is open of a possible loss of soil from behind or below the bottom of the support systems.

(m) Installation of a support system shall be closely coordinated with the excavation of trenches.

(n) Sloping and benching systems: Employees shall not be permitted to work on the faces of sloped or benched excavation at level above other employees except when employees at the lower levels are adequately protected from the hazard of falling, rolling, or sliding material or equipment.

d. Emergency Rescue Equipment – emergency rescue equipment, such as breathing apparatus, a safety harness and line, or a basket stretcher, shall be readily available where hazardous atmospheric conditions exist or may reasonably be expected to develop during work in an excavation. This equipment shall be maintained and used only by Fire Department personnel who are trained in confined space rescue.

e. Stability of Adjacent Structures.

(1) Where the stability of adjoining buildings, walls, or other structures is endangered by excavation operations, support systems such as shoring, bracing, or underpinning shall be provided to ensure the stability of such structures for the protection of employees under the guidance of the registered professional engineer of record.

(2) Excavation below the level of the base or footing of any foundation or retaining wall shall not be permitted unless specifically evaluated and designed by the registered professional engineer of record to account for the actual conditions to ensure that the adjoining structure is not affected and that there is no resultant risk to employees. These evaluations must be clearly communicated with the Project Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), the FES Project Section Supervisor, the Chief FES and the Safety Office.

(3) Sidewalks, pavements, and appurtenant structure shall not be undermined unless a support system or another method of protection is provided to protect employees from the possible collapse of such structure and this system has been approved by the COR, FES Project Section Supervisor, Chief FES and reviewed the Safety Office.

(4) When outside contractors are used, the above criteria will be included in the VA contract specifications.

(5) Protection of Employees from Loose Rock or Soil:

(a) Adequate protection shall be provided to protect employees from loose rock or soil that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling from an excavation face.

Such protection shall consist of scaling to remove loose material; installation of protective barricades at intervals, as necessary, on the face to stop and contain falling material; or other means that provide equivalent protection.

(b) Employees shall be protected from excavated or other materials or equipment that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling into excavations.

Protection shall be provided by placing and keeping such materials or equipment, at least 2 feet (.61m) from the edge of excavations, or by the use of retaining devices that are sufficient to prevent materials or equipment from falling or rolling into excavations, or by a combination of both, if necessary.

3. ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

a. Chief, Facilities Engineering Service (FES). Chief, FES is assigned the responsibility to enforce the requirements of this policy and 29 CFR 1926, Subpart P.

b. FES Section Supervisors or Designee(s). FES Section Supervisors or Designee(s) are assigned the responsibility to ensure that the excavation or trench is safe and in compliance with 29 CFR 1926, Subpart P and shop supervisors will be designated as “competent persons” after the completion of excavation training.

c. FES Employees. FES employees are assigned the responsibility to follow the requirements of this policy and 29 CFR 1926, Subpart P.

d. FES Project Contracting Officer Representative’s (COR’s). FES Project Contracting Officer Representative’s (COR’s) are assigned the responsibility to ensure contractors comply with the requirements of this policy and 29 CFR 1926, Subpart P. CORs shall ensure that contractors obtain dig permits from the Safety Office. CORs shall document any discrepancy from the excavation permit or the regulations from 29 CFR 1926.

4. DEFINITIONS

a. Cave-in means the separation of a mass of soil or rock material from the side of an excavation either by falling or sliding in sufficient quantity so that it could entrap, bury, or otherwise injure and immobilize a person.

b. Competent Person means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the environment, or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measure to eliminate them. Competent person is required to have an up-to-date 30 hour OSHA training certificate and/or equivalent trenching safety certification on their person.

c. Excavation means any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in an earth surface, formed by earth removal.

d. Hazardous Atmosphere means an atmosphere which by reason of being explosive, flammable, poisonous corrosive, oxidizing, irritation, oxygen deficient, toxic, or otherwise harmful, may cause death, illness or injury. Hazardous atmosphere exists when the oxygen concentration is below 19.5%.

e. Trench (trench excavations) means a narrow excavation (in relation to its length) made below the surface of the ground. In general, the depth is greater than the width. If the width of a trench (measured at the bottom) is not greater than 15 feet, then the excavation is also considered a trench.

f. Bell-bottom Pier Hole means a type of shaft or footing excavation, the bottom of which is made larger than the cross section above to form a bell shape.

5. REFERENCES

a. OSHA 29 CFR 1926, Subpart P

6. REVIEW

Review of this SOP occurs every five years during the recertification process.

7. RECERTIFICATION

This SOP is scheduled for recertification on or before the last working day of November 2026. In the event of contradiction with national policy, the national policy supersedes and controls.

8. SIGNATORY AUTHORITY

Anthony S. Caruso, PE, PMP Assistant Chief, Facilities Engineering Service Date Approved: 11/5/2021

NOTE: The signature remains valid until rescinded by an appropriate administrative action.

DISTRIBUTION: Medical Center Policies are available here. Medical Center Policy Attachments are available here https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/VHACOAvamc/policies/default.aspx https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/VHACOAvamc/policies/MCP%20Attachments/Forms/AllItems.aspx