Excavation, Trenching and Soil Mechanics

This course provides instruction on the OSHA standards and safety aspects of excavation and trenching. Participants learn the principles of 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 an exercise is completed using instruments such as penetrometers, torvane shears and engineering rods. Topics covered:

• Excavations
• Soil classification
• Sloping and benching
• Timber shoring for trenches
• Aluminum hydraulic shoring for trenches
• Alternatives to timber shoring
• Selection of protective equipment