Trenching and Excavation — Access and Egress
Construction · Ver en español
Talking points
- A ladder, stairway, or ramp must be provided in trenches 4 feet deep or more. You must not travel more than 25 feet laterally to reach the exit.
- Ladders must extend at least 3 feet above the top of the trench and be secured against displacement.
- The spoil pile — the excavated dirt — must be placed at least 2 feet back from the edge of the trench to prevent material from falling in and adding surcharge load to the walls.
- Heavy equipment, vehicles, and stored materials must also be kept back from the trench edge. Vibration from equipment can destabilize the soil.
- In an emergency — water rushing in, the sound of cracking soil, or visible wall movement — exit immediately. Do not wait for instructions.
Ask the crew
Can you see the nearest ladder from where you'd be standing in today's trench — or do we need to add one?
Standards this talk is built on
A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.
Run this talk with your crew and keep the record
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Sign-in sheet
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| Name | Signature | Date |
|---|---|---|
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