GEOTECHNICAL WORKSHOP:

SOILS & EXCAVATION SAFETY

LLOYD W. YOUNG, JR.
CHIEF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER
BECHTEL GEOTECHNICAL & HYDRAULIC
ENGINEERING SERVICES
FREDERICK, MARYLAND

SPECIAL HEALTH & SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

COMPETENT PERSON - The designated competent person should have and be
able to demonstrate the following:
Training, experience, and knowledge of:
soil analysis
use of protective systems
requirements of 29 CFR Part 1926 Subpart P.

Ability to detect:
conditions that could result in cave-ins
failures in protective systems
hazardous atmospheres
other hazards including those associated with confined spaces

Authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate existing and

predictable hazards and to stop work when required.

PURPOSE
Increase understanding of basic soil mechanics principles
and discuss application of OSHA guidelines for excavation
safety.
Bill paid attention to
excavation safety...

But Fred was too cool

for that.

Trench safety is not our only concern...

Many times trenches are not the only excavation hazard,
slopes can also be a serious hazard.

BASIC SOIL TYPES

Residual

From the decay of rock in place

Alluvial

Moved by and/or deposited in water

Wind Borne

Moved by wind Loess

Glacial

Transported or deposited by glaciers

Rock

Soil is produce as a result of the

weathering of rock.

Fill

Unknown

SOIL COMPONENTS

THREE PHASE SYSTEM

ACTUAL SOIL

SOLID PHASE
COARSE-GRAINED FRACTION

Boulders
Cobbles
Gravel
Sand

- 12 in. plus
- 3-12 in.
- -3 in.
- #4-200 Sieve
(4.76mm - 0.074mm)

FINE GRAINED FRACTION

Silt - Grains
Clay - Plates

GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION CHART

SOIL PLASTICITY
For cohesive soil Clay
Increasing moisture content
SOLID

SEMI-SOLID
SL

SOLID
PL
LL
PI
SL

PLASTIC STATE LIQUID STATE

PI
PL
LL

= No volume change with drying

= Plastic Limit (Start of plastic behavior)
= Liquid limit (Start of soil flowing or exhibiting liquid behavior)
= Plasticity index
= Shrinkage limit

PLASTICITY CHART

UNCONFINED
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
Load per unit area which a soil will fail in compression.

Measured By:

Accuracy:

Laboratory Test

+ 10-20%

SOIL
SAMPLE

Pocket Penetrometer
Thumb Test
Correlations

+ 20-40%
+ 50% + + +
+ 20-40%

SOIL CLASSIFICATION

STATIC CONE CHART

BORING LOG

OSHA CLASS
SPT Penetration
(blows/ft.)

Estimated Consistency

Estimated Range of Unconfined

Compressive Strength
tons/ft.2

<2

Very Soft
(extruded between fingers when squeezed)
Soft
(molded by light finger pressure)
Medium
(molded by strong finger pressure)
Stiff
(readily indented by thumb but penetrated with
great effort)
Very Stiff
(readily indented by thumb)
Hard
(indented with difficulty by thumbnail)

< 0.25

2-4
4-8
8-15
15-30
>30

OSHA CLASS
A > 1.5 tons/ft.2
B 0.5 1.5 tons/ft.2
C < 0.5 tons/ft.2

0.25 0.50
0.50 1.00
1.00 2.00
2.00 4.00
> 4.00

SOIL DESCRIPTION FIELD GUIDE

SOIL MOISTURE
Dry
Moist

- No visible sign of moisture

- Feels damp
- Can roll in ball
- Hangs together
Saturated - Wet
- Flows when handled
Submerged - Below Water
- Seeping

OSHA
29CFR1926
SUBPART P
EXCAVATIONS
Issued in 1990
Took 10 years to produce
Preceded by over 60 pages of commentary

OSHA SOIL CLASSIFICATION

Stable Rock:
Can be excavated vertically and remain intact.

Type A:
Cohesive soil with:
q>1.5 tsf
no fissures
no vibration
no disturbance
no adverse bedding (>4H:1V), no other things

(F.S. = 3.4)
Type B:
Cohesive soil with
q=0.5 1.5 tsf,
some granular soils (dirty),
some fissure soils (Type A),
some fills,
dry unstable rock

OSHA SOIL CLASSIFICATION

Type C:
Cohesive soil with:
q<0.5 tsf
granular soils clean
submerged soil
adverse bedding

(F.S. = 1.1)
Others:
Automatically Type C

VISUAL ANALYSES
Visual:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

View sides of excavation

View excavated material
Look for cracks
Observe area subsidence
Look for water
Feel for vibration
Look for heavy loads

MANUAL ANALYSES
Manual:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Thread of 1/8
Dry strength
Thumb
Pocket penetrometer
Dry test

MAXIMUM ALLOWED SLOPES

MAXIMUM ALLOWED SLOPES

MAXIMUM ALLOWED SLOPES

INSPECTIONS
Inspections shall be made by a competent person and should be
documented. The following guide specifies the frequency and
conditions requiring inspections:
Daily and before the start of each shift
As dictated by the work being done in the trench
After every rainstorm
After other events that could increase hazards, e.g. snowstorm,
windstorm, thaw, earthquake, etc.
When fissures, tension cracks, sloughing, undercutting, water seepage,
bulging at the bottom, or other similar conditions occur
When there is a change in the size, location, or placement of the spoil pile
When there is any indication of change or movement in adjacent
structures.

SITE/EXCAVATION ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

During first and subsequent visits to a construction location, the
competent person may find the following questions useful.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Is the cut, cavity, or depression a trench or an excavation?

Is the cut, cavity, or depression more then 4 ft (1.2m) in depth?
Is there water in the cut, cavity, or depression?
Are there adequate means of access and egress?
Are there any surface encumbrances?
Is there exposure to vehicular traffic?
Are adjacent structures stabilized?
Does mobile equipment have a warning system?
Is a competent person in charge of the operation?
Is equipment operating in or around the cut, cavity, or depression?
Are procedures required to monitor, test, and control hazardous atmospheres?
Does a competent person determine soil type?

SITE/EXCAVATION ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.

Was a soil testing device used to determine soil type?

Is the soil placed 2 ft. (0.6m) or more from the edge of the cut, cavity, or depression?
Is the depth 20ft. (6.1m) or more for the cut, cavity, or depression?
Has a registered professional engineer approved the procedure if the depth is more
than 20 ft. (6.1m)?
Does the procedure require benching or multiple benching? Shoring? Shielding?
If provided, do shields extend at least 18 in. (0.5m) above the surrounding area if it is
sloped toward the excavation?
If shields are used, is the depth of the cut more than 2ft.(0.6m) below the bottom of
the shield?
Are any required surface crossings of the cut, cavity, or depression the proper width
and fitted with hand rails?
Are means of egress from the cut, cavity, or depression no more than 25 ft. (7.6m)
from the work?
Is emergency rescue equipment required?
Is there documentation of the minimum daily excavation inspection?