• Excavation is a very dangerous procedure and must be done with extreme caution.Construction Vehicle image by Scott Griessel from Fotolia.com
  
  The definition of excavation by OSHA, the Operation and Safety Healthy Administration is, "any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth's surface formed by earth removal." Cave-ins are the most dangerous and likely hazard when excavating. Section 5 (a) (1) of the OSHA act of 1970 states that it is required, by law, for employers to provide a work space that is "free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees."
  
  

Protective Systems

• A protective system suited to each excavation is required. Protective systems include: "sloping" or cutting into the wall of the trench at an angle, "shoring" or providing a system to prevent soil movement and "shielding", or providing workers with physical protection such as a steel trench box.
  
  

Inspections

• Inspections are mandatory daily on an excavation site. The inspection must be performed by what OSHA deems a "competent person," meaning someone with enough experience to see the hazards and risks of the excavation site.
  
  

Safe Access

• All workers working 4 feet or deeper are entitled to safe access to the excavation site. This may come in the form of ladders, pulls, ropes or other safety devices. The devices are required to be 25 feet from the employees.
  
  

General Excavation Rules

• General excavation rules include: all heavy equipment should be away from the trench edge; underground utilities need to be located; oxygen, fumes and hazardous gas tests must be performed; surcharge loads need to be two feet or further from the edge of the trench; work is not permitted under raised loads; and trenches need to be thoroughly checked after rain.