16 Excavation and Trenching
29 CFR 1926 Subpart P
-
Call JULIE (811) at least 48 hours (2 business days) before digging anywhere in Illinois; locate and mark all utilities
-
A competent person inspects excavations, adjacent areas, and protective systems daily before work, after rainstorms, and as needed
-
Trenches 5 feet or deeper require a protective system: sloping, benching, shoring, or trench shields per Subpart P (in Type C soil assume 1.5:1 slope unless a competent person classifies otherwise); at 20+ ft a registered professional engineer designs the system
-
Ladder, ramp, or other safe egress within 25 lateral feet of workers in trenches 4 ft or deeper
-
Spoils, materials, and equipment kept at least 2 feet from the edge; no workers under loads or in the swing radius of digging equipment
-
Water accumulation, hazardous atmospheres, and adjacent structures addressed before entry