Publication Details
Record Type: Report
Title: Excavations
Publication Number: OSHA 2226
Abstract: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued its first Excavation and Trenching Standard in 1971 to protect workers from excavation hazards. Since then, OSHA has amended the standard several times to increase worker protection and to reduce the frequency and severity of excavation accidents and injuries. Despite these efforts, excavation-related accidents resulting in injuries and fatalities continue to occur.
To better assist excavation firms and contractors, OSHA has completely updated the existing standard to simplify many of the existing provisions, add and clarify definitions, eliminate duplicate provisions and ambiguous language, and give employers added flexibility in providing protection for employees.
In addition, the standard provides several new appendices. One appendix provides a consistent method of soil classification. Others provide sloping and benching requirements, pictorial examples of shoring and shielding devices, timber tables, hydraulic shoring tables, and selection charts that provide a graphic summary of the requirements contained in the standard.
This booklet highlights the requirements in the updated standard for excavation and trenching operations, provides methods for protecting employees against cave-ins, and describes safe work practices for employees.
Publisher: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Publication Date: 2000 (Reprinted)
Full Text URL: Link to URL
