Injury Illness Prevention Plan - Flipbook - Page 189
Health and Safety Program Manual
Teamwrkx
Construction, Inc.
Issue Date: 10/16/23
Revision Date: 10/16/23
Trenching and Excavation
Reference: A-15
Workers are required to stand away from equipment that is being loaded or unloaded to avoid being struck by
falling materials or spillage.
Equipment operators or truck drivers may remain in their equipment during loading and unloading if the
equipment is properly equipped with a cab shield or adequate canopy.
Warning Systems for Mobile Equipment
The following steps should be taken to prevent vehicles from accidentally falling into the trench:
x
Barricades must be installed where necessary when:
o Hand or mechanical signals must be used as required
o Stop logs must be installed if there is danger of vehicles falling into the trench
o Soil should be graded away from the excavation; this will assist in vehicle control
and channeling of run-off water
o Trenches left open overnight shall be fenced and barricaded
Hazardous Atmospheres and Confined Spaces
Workers shall not be permitted to work in hazardous and/or toxic atmospheres. Such atmospheres include
those with:
x
x
x
less than 19.5% oxygen
a combustible gas concentration greater than 20% of the lower flammable limit
concentrations of hazardous substance that exceed those specified in the Threshold Limit Values
for airborne contaminants established by the ACGIH
All operations involving such atmospheres must be conducted in accordance with OSHA requirements for
occupational health and environmental controls for personal protective equipment and for lifesaving
equipment. Engineering controls (such as ventilation) and respiratory equipment may be required.
Testing for Atmospheric Contaminants
If there is any possibility that the trench or excavation could contain a hazardous atmosphere, atmospheric
testing must be conducted prior to entry. Conditions that might warrant atmospheric testing would be if the
excavation was made in a landfill area or if the excavation was crossed by, was adjacent to, or contained
pipelines containing a hazardous material (for example, natural gas lines).
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