Chapters
Transcript
Intro
How will you get out of this trench? Ask that before you climb in. The law requires a stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe way out of any trench 4 feet deep or more. It must be placed so no one has to travel more than 25 feet sideways to reach it.
Where the Way Out Goes
Where there's a trench box, you must be protected from a cave-in while getting into or out of the area it protects. Best practice: keep the ladder as close as you can to where people are working, and long enough to stick up above any shoring or box. Another good habit: check where the ways out are before you go in. Move the ladder forward as the trench advances, and keep its path clear of pipe and materials. A few more good habits: never jump in or out, and never climb the walls or the shoring. And never count on outrunning a collapse.
Ladders
A portable ladder used to get out must have its side rails extend at least 3 feet above the top landing; if it's too short, it must be secured at the top to a rigid support that won't bend, with a grab rail to hold.
Ramps and Light
A structural ramp used only by workers to get in or out must be designed by a competent person. One used by equipment must be designed by a competent person qualified in structural design, and built to that design. If a ramp is made of two or more pieces, they must be connected together and be the same thickness. A ramp used in place of steps needs cleats or a surface that prevents slipping. Best practice: before using a ramp, check it is solid, wide enough, not slippery, and has its edge protection. Stay within its load limit. Don't walk a ramp while a machine is using it; keep people and equipment apart.
The trench and the ways in and out must be lit to at least 3 foot-candles while any work is going on.
Recap
To recap. A stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe way out, in any trench 4 feet deep or more, within 25 feet of travel. Stay protected from a cave-in while getting into or out of the box. A portable ladder for getting in and out extends at least 3 feet above the top landing, or is secured there with a grab rail. Make it a habit to keep the ladder as close to the work as you can, and never climb the walls or the shoring.
Sources
- US OSHA excavation standard (29 CFR 1926 Subpart P)
- US OSHA construction standards: ladders
- US OSHA construction standards: illumination
- Dashpot recommended practice (said as such in the video)
This video is for work in the United States. It covers federal OSHA requirements and good practice, and the narration says which is which. States with their own OSHA-approved plans, and each state's 811 law, can set different or stricter rules. Rules also differ in Canada. General information only, not legal advice. Always follow federal and state regulations, your employer's procedures and the instructions of a competent person on your site. Narration is AI-generated (the Dashpot narrator voice); every script is checked against the sources listed above before it is voiced.
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