Excavation and Trenching
Safety Program
Workers Manual
Prepared by
Environmental Health and Safety Services
Occupational Safety Programs
June 3, 1996
PREFACE
Environmental Health and Safety Services (EHSS) developed this program to
protect employees from safety hazards during work in trenches and excavations.
This program will make sure that:
• Departments that work in trenches or excavations know how to do this
work safely;
• Departments that work in trenches or excavations have named one or
more people (their Project Manager(s)) to oversee this work for their
department;
• The role of the Project Manager and workers are understood; and,
• People that work in excavations and trenches have been trained and know
how to do their work safely.
This program explains the training that employees must have so that they can
recognize and avoid hazards during excavation work. This program also explains
the work practices they must follow while digging or working in or around an
excavation.
The departmental Project Manager must assure that:
• Approved procedures are followed;
• Employees entering excavations are trained and have been given the
equipment they need to do their jobs safely; and,
• All required inspections and tests have been done, and have been
properly recorded.
The employee must:
• Follow established procedures
• Enter an excavation only after receiving training; and
Demonstrate a complete understanding of the safe work practices that are to
followed while working in an excavation.1.0
INTRODUCTION TO THE
PROGRAM
0The purpose of this program is to put in place work practices and
procedures that will protect employees from excavation hazards.
This is done by:
0Requiring each department that works in excavations to name one
or more people to serve as their Project Manager;
1Training Project Managers so they understand their duties and
their role;
2Requiring that all employees that work in excavations have been
trained and are able to demonstrate a complete
understanding of the safe work practices that are to f