Excavation Safety

Excavation and trenching operations are among the most hazardous activities in construction. Cave-ins kill an average of 40 workers per year in the United States — a disproportionately high fatality rate given the relatively small number of workers exposed. This topic provides supervisors with the technical knowledge needed to manage excavation work safely, covering soil classification (Type A, B, and C), the protective systems required at 5 feet of depth — sloping, benching, shoring, and shielding — and the competent person's daily inspection duties. You will also learn the requirements for safe access and egress, atmospheric testing in deep or contaminated excavations, utility locate protocols, and water-accumulation hazards that can rapidly destabilize trench walls.