Excavation Safety: Excavation Procedures

Department: Chemical and General Safety

Program: Excavation Safety

Owner: Program Manager

Authority: ES&H Manual, Chapter 11, Excavation Safety1

Introduction

The following procedures are to be used when planning and conducting excavation
operations, defined in Chapter 11, �Excavation Safety�, as �operations where
contact
with soil is expected, such as trenching and removing soil�, that meet any of the
following conditions, at any time:

1. Are one foot or more in depth

2. Involve the use of power tools

3. In which utilities are identified or any hazardous conditions are likely to be

encountered

Note The following operations are exempt: soil, concrete, and asphalt sampling
from
bins, hoppers, or stockpiles, using hand tools and replacing of existing sign
posts
in and around SLAC roads, parking areas, and pathways, provided sleeves are
utilized.

Legend

CE: construction engineer

EP: Environmental Protection Department

EP-WM: Environmental Protection Department, Waste Management Group

ESPM: excavation safety program manager

JHAM: job hazard analysis and mitigation

JSA: job safety analysis

MD-FDS: Mechanical Design Department, Facilities Design Services Group

PM/UTR: project manager/university technical representative

RP: Radiation Protection Department

RP-FO: Radiation Protection Department, Field Operations Group

SSSP: site-specific safety plan

1 SLAC Environment, Safety, and Health Manual (SLAC-I-720-0A29Z-001), Chapter 11,

�Excavation
Safety�, http://www-
group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/hazardous_activities/excavations/policies.htm
2 �Facilities Design Services�,
http://mdweb.slac.stanford.edu/Facilities%20Design.php

3 Excavation Safety: Excavation Permit Form (SLAC-I-730-0A23R-004), http://www-

group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/references/excavationsFormPermit.pdf | .doc
(Word)

4 Excavation Safety: Utility Marking Requirements (SLAC-I-730-0A23S-009),

http://www-
group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/references/excavationsReqUtilityMarking.pdf

5 Excavation Safety: Utility Line Location Results Form (SLAC-I-730-0A23J-004),

http://www-
group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/references/excavationsFormUtilityLocation.pd
f

Excavation Planning Procedure

Phase

Step

Person

Action

1.

Planning

1.1.

Define Excavation

1.1.

1.

PM/UTR

Submits service request to MD-FDS2

1.1.

2.

MD-FDS

Initiates permit process (numbering permit), pulls all as-builts

pertaining to the proposed excavation area, and sends permit and
as-builts to the PM/UTR3

1.1.

3.

PM/UTR

Marks specific location, width, length, and depth of the proposed

excavation on the as-builts

1.1.

4.

PM/UTR

Completes Section A of the permit

1.1.

5.

PM/UTR

Requests a utility line locator to survey and mark the proposed work
area. May contract this utility survey work or ask MD-FDS to
contract it for them.

1.1.

6.

PM/UTR

Notifies building or area manager

1.2.

Survey Site

1.2.

1.

Utility locator

Surveys excavation and marks utilities following requirements.4

. Area surveyed must extend five feet beyond excavation.

. Different techniques must be used to locate all utilities.

. Survey must result in the successful location and marking of all
utilities shown on the as-built drawings. If known utilities are not
located, potholing of the entire excavation is required until the
utility is found.

1.2.

2.

PM/UTR

Must be present during location. Should be familiar with the

limitations of the available survey techniques.

1.2

3.

MD-FDS

Must be present during location

1.2.

4.

Utility locator

Completes an utility line location results form5

1.2.

5.

PM/UTR

Signs completed utility line location results form

1.2

6.

MD-FDS

Signs completed utility line location results form

1.2.

7.

PM/UTR

Gives permit to MD-FDS

1.2

8.

MD-FDS

Completes Section B of the permit

1.2.

9.

MD-FDS

Sends permit to EP
6 Beam Line Map (8628A1), https://www-
internal.slac.stanford.edu/esh/hazardous_activities/excavations/resources/BeamLine
map.pdf

7 SLAC Environment, Safety, and Health Manual (SLAC-I-720-0A29Z-001), Chapter 2,

�Work
Authorization�, http://www-
group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/general/work_authorization/policies.htm

8 SLAC Environment, Safety, and Health Manual (SLAC-I-720-0A29Z-001), Chapter 42,

�Subcontractor Construction Safety�, http://www-
group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/hazardous_activities/subcon_construction/policies.htm

1.2.

10.

EP

Completes Section C of the permit, examining project area for

chemical contamination issues and other environmental impacts
and noting recommendations for excavated material handling and
disposition on permit

1.2.

11.

EP

Sends permit to RP if applicable (excavation within an radioactive

material area (RMA) or radioactive material management area
(RMMA), or with 25 lateral feet of beam housing) (and copy to EP-
WM with waste disposal recommendations)6

1.2.

12.

RP

If applicable, completes Section D of the permit, reviewing

excavation for radiological and radiation shielding concerns

1.2.

13.

EP (RP if
applicable)

Sends permit to ESPM for approval

1.3.

Plan Work
1.3.

1.

PM/UTR

Ensures hazard analysis and work planning documents are

complete (JHAM for work performed by SLAC employees; SSSP
and JSA, plus Cal/OSHA annual permit if excavation five feet or
more deep, if by subcontractor). Prepares any additional paperwork
required.

See Chapter 2, �Work Authorization�,7 and Chapter 42,

�Subcontractor Construction Safety�8

1.3.

2.

PM/UTR

Contacts EP Waste Management Group to arrange for disposal

coordination or waste containers

1.4.

Approve Permit

1.4.

1.

ESPM

Approves permit

1.4

2.

ESPM

Sends copy of approved permit to PM/UTR for posting at work site

Notifies EP and MD-FDS that the excavation has been approved

9 Excavation Safety: Excavated Material Handling Requirements (SLAC-I-730-0A23S-
006),
http://www-
group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/references/excavationsReqMaterial.pdf

10 Excavation Safety: Physical Requirements (SLAC-I-730-0A23S-007), http://www-

group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/references/excavationsReqPhysical.pdf

11 Excavation Safety: Potholing Requirements (SLAC-I-730-0A23S-004), http://www-

group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/references/excavationsReqPotholing.pdf

Excavation Procedure

Phase

Step

Person

Action

2.

Excavating

2.

1.

PM/UTR

Posts completed permit with job safety plans (JHA or SSSP and
JSA, Cal/OSHA annual permit). Permit must be posted at job site
before work can begin.

2.

2.

PM/UTR

If scope of project changes, for example, size of excavation

changes or unexpected conditions are encountered, must notify the
ESPM. The ESPM will then determine whether the permit needs to
be revised and resubmitted.

2.

3.

PM/UTR and/or
competent person
Any time an unknown/unidentified subsurface utility is encountered,
stops the activity until the exact nature and condition of the utility
can be determined

2.

4.

PM/UTR and/or
competent person

If sheen is observed, odor is detected, or discoloration of soil is

encountered in an excavation, stops the activity and contacts EP9

2.

5.

Personnel

Conduct work according to permit conditions and excavation

requirements10, 11

2.

6.

Personnel

In the event of an emergency situation requiring rescue from an

excavation, SLAC or subcontractor personnel will not attempt to
enter an unprotected or failed trench to perform a rescue.

The fire department will be notified at 9-911 and the exact location
of trenching activities given. The fire department will be notified by
the UTR of the details of the trenching or excavation activities
according to the posted permit at the excavation site.

Personnel in the excavation who are physically able will exit

immediately, providing assistance to others only when not
endangering their own safety. Rescue services that can be
performed safely from outside the excavation, such as hoisting a
harnessed victim, may be undertaken while waiting for rescue
personnel.

2.

7.

ESPM/CE

Visits excavation site periodically, checks presence of a competent

person and compliance with requirements. If problems noted, meets
with PM/UTR/competent person.

2.

8.
Competent person

Whenever employee presence can reasonably be anticipated,

completes daily inspection of excavations, the adjacent areas, and
protective systems for evidence of a situation that could result in
possible edge or wall collapse, cave-ins, indications of failure of
protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous
conditions
12 Excavation Safety: Daily Inspection Checklist (SLAC-I-730-0A23J-003),
http://www-
group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/references/excavationsChecklistInspectDaily.
pdf

13 SLAC University Technical Representative Requirements and Procedures for

Construction (SLAC-I-
720-0A03Z-002), https://www-
internal.slac.stanford.edu/operations/manuals/UTRManual.pdf

An inspection must be conducted before the start of work and as

needed, as determined by the competent person and the PM/UTR,
throughout the shift. In addition, inspections must be conducted
after every rain event, exposure to vibrations or heavy loads, or
other hazard increasing occurrences.

Where evidence is of found of a situation that could result in a

possible edge or wall collapse, cave-in, indications of failure of
protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous
conditions, must remove exposed employees from the hazardous
area until the necessary precautions have been taken to ensure
their safety

Maintains record of inspections12

2.

9.

Competent Person

Must be present during active operations

2.

10.

PM/UTR

Must be present at the excavation site during

. Active operations in which employees are expected to descend

and when powered machinery is to be used

. Placement of access/egress components such as ramps,

ladders, or stairs

. Placement of support systems

. Activities where heavy equipment is used

. Activities that present a significant hazard to personnel or

equipment
Meets at least daily with subcontractor to discuss the JSA for that
day

Documents activities at the job site in a daily log and signs daily
inspection checklist

See SLAC University Technical Representative Requirements and

Procedures for Construction13

2.

11.

EP-WM

Coordinates disposition of excavated material with PM/UTR

according to recommendations from EP and RP
Excavation Close Out Procedure

Phase

Step

Person

Action

3.

Closing Out

3.

1.

PM/UTR

Ensures completion of as-builts, if required, and verifies in the field

3.

2.

PM/UTR

Ensures completion of excavation

Meets with ESPM, delivers as-builts, if required, and signs Section F

of permit

3.

3.

ESPM

Closes permit record, signs Section F of permit

Notifies EP and MD-FDS that the permit has been closed, delivers
as-builts, if required, to MD-FDS

3.

4.

MD-FDS

Updates as-builts