HAZARD INFORMATION SHEET

OPEN PIT EXCAVATION

Soil collapse in a trench or excavation as a result of improper or inadequate

Description of General Hazards
shoring.

Level of Risk EXPOSURE X PROBABILITY X SEVERITY =

Soil Categorization (OSHA Classification System)

Stable Rock
Stable Rock is natural solid mineral matter that can be excavated with vertical sides and remain intact while
exposed. It is usually identified by a rock name such as granite or sandstone. Determining whether a deposit is of
this type may be difficult unless it is known whether cracks exist and whether or not the cracks run into or away
from the excavation.
Type A Soils

These are cohesive soils with an unconfined compressive strength of 1.5 tons per square foot (144 kPa) or greater.
Examples of Type A cohesive soils are clay, silty clay, sandy clay, clay loam and, in some cases, silty clay loam and
sandy clay loam. (No soil is Type A if it is fissured, is subject to vibration of any type, has previously been disturbed,
is part of a sloped, layered system where the layers dip into the excavation on a slope of four horizontal to one
vertical or greater, or has seeping water).
Type B Soils

These are cohesive soils with an unconfined compressive strength greater than 0.5 tons per square foot (48 kPa)
but less than 1.5 (144 kPa). Examples of Type B soils are angular gravel, silt, silt loam, previously disturbed soils
unless otherwise classified as Type C, soils that meet the unconfined compressive strength or cementation
requirements of Type A soils but are fissured or subject to vibration, dry unstable rock, and layered systems
sloping into the trench at a slope less than four horizontal to one vertical (only if the material would be classified
as a Type B soil).
Type C Soils

These are cohesive soils with an unconfined compressive strength of 0.5 tons per square foot (48 kPa) or less.
Type C soils include granular soils such as gravel, sand and loamy sand, submerged soil, soil from which water is
freely seeping, and submerged rock that is not stable. Also included in this classification is material in a sloped,
layered system where the layers dip into the excavation or have a slope of four horizontal to one vertical or
greater.
IMPORTANT: If soils are configured in layers, the soil must be classified on the basis of the soil classification of the
weakest soil layer. Each layer may be classified individually if a more stable layer lies below a less stable layer, (for
example, where a Type C soil rests on top of stable rock.)

Evaluation of Soil Type

The laboratory testing process and compressive strength calculations must be conducted under the direction of a
registered professional engineer. To determine the unconfined compressive strength of the soil with a shear vane,
the blades of the vane are pressed into a level section of undisturbed soil, and the torsional knob is slowly turned
until soil failure occurs. The direct instrument reading must be multiplied by 2 to provide results in tons per square
foot or kilograms per square centimeter.
 HAZARD INFORMATION SHEET
OPEN PIT EXCAVATION

General Control Measures - Protective Systems

Excavations 5 feet or deeper should be protected against collapse. Excavation protection system should be
designed by a registered professional engineer when the depth of the excavation exceeds 20 feet or where
unusual site conditions exist.

Checklist - Concerns to be Addressed by a competent person

1 Evaluate soil conditions and select appropriate protective systems.

2 Pre-Plan: contact utilities (gas, electric) to locate underground lines.
3 Plan for traffic control, if necessary
4 Determine proximity to structures that could affect your choice of protective system
5 Test for low-oxygen, hazardous fumes and toxic gas, especially when gasoline engine-

driven equipment is running, or the dirt has been contaminated by leaking lines or storage
6 Provide safe access into and out of the excavation.
7 Inspect the site daily at the start of each shift, following a rainstorm, or after any other

hazard-increasing event.

Additional Precautions:

1 Work crew in the excavation are the minimum required to preform the task.
2 The work has been planed and carried out in a manner to minimize the time employees are

in the excavation.
3 There is no water, surface tension cracks or other environmental conditions present that

reduce the excavation stability.
4 There is no heavy equipment operating in the vicinity that causes vibration to the

excavation while employees are in the excavation.
5 The holding of toolbox talks (weekly or daily) covering the safe work practices necessary for

the day's ctivities and any safety concerns workers may have.

Note: A competent person is one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the
surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has
authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
 HAZARD INFORMATION SHEET
OPEN PIT EXCAVATION

Hazards and Recommended Control Measures Checklists

Entering and Exiting Excavations:
1 Excavations of depth four feet (4ft) or more must have a clearly defined entry and exit
points.
2 Entry to excavations should only be given to authorized personnel.
3 Chosen methods of entry and exit (e.g.. Ladders, stairways, ramps, etc.) must be within

twenty five feet (25ft) of all employees.
4 Structural ramps used for the entry and exit of the excavation must have a non-slip surface

and be designed by a competent person.
5 A competent person must also evaluate ramps made of soil that are used to enter and exit

an excavation.

Prevention of Falls into Excavations:

1 Use of Guard rails and toe boards inserted into the ground immediately next to the

supported excavation side.
2 Use of fabricated guard rails that connect to the sides of a trench or open excavation.
3 Prevention of unauthorized personnel (e.g.. Members of the public) from accessing the

immediate area around the trench or open excavation.

Collapse of Excavations:
1 Assessment and selection of a suitable side slope based on the encountered soil conditions

by a competent person.
2 The vertical face of no excavation must exceed four feet (4ft).
3 Assessment and selection of a suitable benching horizontal to vertical ratio by a competent

person.
4 Assessment and selection of a suitable shoring design by a competent person.

Measures against falling or dislodged materials:

1 Edge protection should include toeboards or other means such as projecting trench sheets

or box sides to protect against falling materials.
2 Head protection should be worn by all authorized personnel entering an excavation.
3 Ensure that excavations does not undermine scaffold footings, buried services or the

foundations of nearby structures.
4 Do not park plant and vehicles close to the sides of excavations.
5 Do not deposit excavated material within close proximity of the edge of open excavations.

Conducting of Inspections:
1 A competent person who fully understands the dangers and necessary precautions should

inspect the excavation at the start of each shift.
2 Excavations should also be inspected after any event that may have affected their strength

or stability, or after a fall of rock or earth or heavy rainfall.
3 A record of the inspections will be required and any faults that are found should be

corrected immediately.
4 A competent person must test an excavation deeper than 4ft or where an oxygen
deficiency or hazardous atmosphere is present or could be expected to be present before
an employee enters the excavation.
5 A record of the inspections will be required and any faults that are found should be

corrected immediately.
 HAZARD INFORMATION SHEET
RISK TABLES

How frequently is an employee placed in the physical or environmental

EXPOSURE hazard zone. Scores represent work durations of one (1) hour. Double scores
for durations greater than one (1) hour.

Exposure Occurrence Rating

Very rarely (not known to have occurred, but remotely possible 1 2

Rarely (known to occure) 2 4
Usually (once per month to once per year) 5 10
Occasionally (once per week to once per month) 10 20
Frequently (approximately once daily) 50 100
Continuously 100 200
Note: Multiply the exposure rating by the number of employees exposed.

PROBABILITY Likelihood of the occurance of an injury or illness

Likelihood of injury or illness Rating

1
Practically impossible or has never happened in spite of exposure over many years
Extremely remote or conceivably possible 2
Remotely possible/known to have happened 3
Unusual of coincidence 5
Is quite possible, would not be unusual of has an even 50/50 chance. 10
Is the most likely and expected result if employee enters danger zone. 100

SEVERITY Measure of the seriousness of the injury or illness (minor, major, fatal)

Exposure Occurrence Rating

Minor cuts, bruises, bumps; minir damages 1

Disabling injuries; damages amounting to $200,000 20
Extrmely serious injury; (amputations, permanent disability) damages ranging from
40
$200,000 to $2,000,000
Fatality; Damages ranging from $2,000,000 to $10,000,000 200
Several fatalities; Damages ranging from $10,000,000 to $20,000,000 600
Major catastrophe; Numerous fatalities; extensive damages ($50,000,000 and above);
1000
major disruptions

RISK SCORE = EXPOSURE X PROBABILITY X SEVERITY