Excavation, Trenching and Soil Mechanics

About This Event:

This course focuses on the OSHA Excavation standard and on the safety and health aspects of excavation and trenching. Participants are introduced to practical soil mechanics and its relationship to the stability of shored and unshored slopes and walls of excavations.

Various types of shoring (wood timbers and hydraulic) are covered. Testing methods are demonstrated and a field exercise is conducted.  At the conclusion of the course, participant will be able to identify compliance with OSHA standards 29 CFR 1926.650 through 29 CFR 1926.652.
 

Participants will:

• Identify general excavation hazards
• Identify types of protective systems used at excavation sites
• Identify types of acceptable soil testing methods Identify sloping system design requirements
• Identify support and shield systems
• Apply principles of soil mechanics regarding factors affecting soil stability
• Assess compliance of trench Protective System

Topics include:

• Excavation hazards
• Protective systems
• Soil classification process
• Sloping system design
• Shoring Systems
• OSHA regulations of protective systems