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t • <br />APPENDIX D <br />Excavating & Trenching <br />All ATC employees and subcontractors shall be trained and be familiar with the OSHA Excavation <br />Standard and the ATC Employee Health and Safety Policy Manual, Policy No. 16 (Excavation and <br />Trenching) and Policy No. 33 (Subsurface Investigation). <br /> <br />1.0 UNDERGROUND UTILITIES <br />Prior to any work beginning, the estimated location of utility installations (such as sewer, telephone, fuel, <br />electric, water lines, or any other underground installation) that reasonably may be expected to be <br />encountered during excavation work must be determined prior to opening an excavation. Utility <br />companies or owners shall be contacted and advised of the proposed work and asked to establish the <br />location of the utility underground installations. When utility companies or owners cannot respond to a <br />request to locate underground utilities within 24-48 hours (unless a longer period is required by State or <br />local law), or cannot establish the exact location of these installations, the work may proceed, provided that <br />the work is conducted with caution, and provided detection equipment or other acceptable means to <br />located utilities are used. <br />When excavation operations approach the estimated location of underground installations (approximately <br />18 inches from the installation), the exact location of the installations shall be determined by a safe and <br />acceptable means. While the excavation is open, underground installations shall be protected, supported, <br />or removed to safeguard employees. <br /> <br />2.0 ENTERING EXCAVATIONS OR TRENCHES <br />Daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas, and protective systems shall be made by a "Competent <br />Person" for evidence of a situation that could result in a possible cave-in, indications of failure of <br />protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions. An inspection shall be <br />conducted by the Competent Person prior to the start of work and as needed throughout the shift. <br />Inspections shall also be made after every rainstorm or other hazard increasing occurrence. All inspections <br />made by the Competent Person should be recorded in the field log book. <br />No person(s) shall perform work in a trench or excavation that contains accumulated water. <br />2.1.1 Access/Egress <br />A stairway, ladder, ramp, or other safe means of egress shall be located in trench excavations that <br />are 4 feet or more in depth so as to require no more than 25 feet of lateral travel distance in any <br />direction. <br />2.1.2 Exposure to Falling Loads <br />No employee or subcontractor is permitted underneath loads handled by lifting or digging <br />equipment. All personnel shall be required to stand away from any vehicle being loaded or <br />unloaded to avoid being struck by spilling or falling materials. Operators may remain in the cabs <br />of vehicles being loaded or unloaded when the equipment is provided with a cab shield and/or <br />canopy adequate to protect the operator from falling materials. <br />2.1.3 Warning Systems <br />When mobile equipment is operated adjacent to an excavation and the operators/drivers do not <br />have a clear and direct view of the edge of the excavation, a warning system such as barricades, <br />hand or mechanical signals, or stop logs are required.