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Revised: 02/01/2023 2
<br />Job Steps Hazards Actions to Eliminate or Minimize Hazards RAC
<br />4. Excavate Soil - Bodily Injury or Property Damage from Utility Strike
<br />- Excavation Wall Collapse
<br />- Hot weather
<br />- Overhead utilities (electrical, gas, water, etc.)
<br />- Poor Housekeeping
<br />- Slips/Trips/Falls
<br />- Trenches and trench shoring
<br />- Utilities - underground (power, natural gas, water, etc.)
<br />- Heat Stress
<br />- Earthmoving equipment (dozers, graders, excavators, trenchers,
<br />rollers, compactors, backhoe, skip loader)
<br />- Vehicle and Equipment Traffic
<br />- Struck by Equipment
<br />- VAPORS/DUST
<br />1. Call 811, prior to any ground disturbance. Verify that Dig Alert number remains active for projects
<br />beyond 30-days. Physically verify the location and depth of existing utilities prior to starting excavation
<br />through subsurface geophysical survey and utility survey. Assure, scan of the excavation area included
<br />electromagnetic and sonic equipment and mark ground where existing underground utilities are
<br />discovered. Protect all existing utilities during excavation. Protect/support all underground utilities as
<br />soil is removed around or under the utility line. Complete and submit activity notification form for Cal-
<br />OSHA if any personnel are planning to enter excavation that is 5-feet or greater in depth. Identify all
<br />utilities around the site before work commences, cease work immediately if unknown utility markers
<br />are uncovered, use passive digging or air knifing when within 2-feet of known utilities.
<br />2. Inspect trenches and excavation daily, construct diversion ditches or dikes to prevent surface water
<br />from entering excavations, do not work in excavations where water is standing or accumulating unless
<br />special supports are used to prevent cave-ins. Provide drainage away from excavation to prevent water
<br />accumulation, spoil piles at least 2-feet away from the edge of the excavation; prevent excessive
<br />loading of the excavation face, keep heavy equipment away from trench edges and identify other
<br />sources that might affect trench stability. Provide sufficient stairs, ladders, or ramps when workers
<br />enter excavations over 4-feet in depth, place ladders no more than 25-feet apart laterally, treat
<br />excavations over 4-feet deep as confined spaces, complete confined space permit entry procedure
<br />Monitor atmosphere for flammable/toxic vapors, and oxygen deficiency slope, bench, shore, or sheet
<br />excavations over 5-feet deep if worker entry is required assign a competent person to inspect, decide
<br />soil classification, proper sloping, the correct shoring, or sheeting Inspect excavations (when personnel
<br />entry is required) daily, any time conditions change Provide at least two means of exit for personnel
<br />working in excavations Where the ICS competent person finds evidence of a situation that could result
<br />in a possible cave-in, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other
<br />hazardous conditions, exposed employees shall be removed from the hazardous area until the
<br />necessary precautions have been taken to ensure their safety. As required by EM 385-1-1 and EHS 3-8,
<br />Fall Protection, if the excavation is 6-feet or greater in depth, workers must be at least 6-feet from the
<br />edge of the excavation.
<br />If workers must be closer, they must use personal fall protection (full body harness, lanyard or
<br />retractable life line, anchorage point).
<br />If excavation is less than 6-feet deep, workers should stand at least 2-feet from the edge of the
<br />excavation. Workers can only enter excavations that are directly supervised by a competent person
<br />identified above. Each worker who enters can enter only after getting verbal approval from the
<br />competent person who is physically present at the excavation.
<br />3. Monitor weather conditions and discuss potential for heat related illnesses during hot spells. Monitor
<br />yourself and coworkers for signs of heat, provide fluids to prevent worker dehydration establish
<br />work/rest schedule, take periodic breaks in shaded/cool areas when working in humid environments,
<br />drink plenty of water, STOP work if sweating abnormally, feel faint, light headed or nauseous or
<br />become easily confused.
<br />4. Scan areas for overhead hazards as described above.
<br />5. Keep tools, materials, debris and equipment picked up and out of the way.
<br />6. Visually scan the area for trip hazards and uneven terrain, watch where you walk, wear boots with
<br />adequate tread.
<br />7. Ensure excavations and trenches are sloped/benched or shored as described in the work plan. Use
<br />the ICS Daily trenching and excavations inspection form.
<br />8. Physically verify the location and depth of existing utilities prior to starting excavation through
<br />geophysical and utility survey, review as-built/historical drawings. Do not proceed if there's any
<br />uncertainty about location of subsurface structure or utilities. Ensure that underground installations
<br />are protected, supported, or removed while the excavation is open.
<br />9. Continuously monitor workers for signs of Heat Stress, provide water, shade and and increased rest
<br />periods on hot days.
<br />10. Stay clear of moving equipment, unless necessary. If working near equipment, workers must be in
<br />visual contact with the operator. Heavy equipment has right-of-way. Workers will not work under any
<br />equipment or loads.
<br />11. Stay out of the line-of-fire of moving equipment, Conduct Mental Risk Assessments (MRA)
<br />continuously to identify and mitigate hazards and prevent complacency. Do not proceed if unsafe.
<br />12. Isolate equipment swing areas using a physical barrier, maintain eye contact with operators before
<br />approaching, use radios for communication, review hand signals if used. Do not allow unauthorized or
<br />non-essential personnel in the area.
<br />13. Provide workers proper skin, eye and respiratory protection based on potential for exposure to site
<br />contaminants, use water to dampen soil and prevent fugitive dust emissions. Test atmospheric
<br />conditions in excavations greater than four feet deep to identify low oxygen, hazardous fumes, and
<br />toxic gases.
<br />H
<br />NC-25-1137 Tiwana & Sons
<br />1210 East Hammer Lane, Stockton, CA 95210
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