Model Excavation Safety Program 



Model A








Choose this model when another contractor is performing the 
excavation work, but your employees will be working in the excavation  
 (See Appendix I for details)

(Type In Your Company Name Here)







Model Excavation Safety Program for

(Type in the Job Name Here)




Located at



(Type in the Job Site Address Here)

______________________


______________________


______________________


______________________

Table of Contents



Introduction	
5-A
Competent Person	
6-A
Pre-Entry Procedures
6-A
Additional Inspections
7-A
Hazardous Conditions or Situations
7-A
Documentation
7-A




Introduction


(Type in your company name) has determined that an excavation safety program is necessary when our employees are working in an excavation that has been dug by another contractor. The program is intended to help (type in your company name) supervisors keep our workers safe from excavation hazards. The program is also intended to provide our workers with critical information about safe work practices in a specified excavation. 

This excavation program applies to all company employees who are required to supervise or perform work in the excavation. Before starting work in the excavation, all affected company employees will be:
n	Informed of who the company's designated competent person is for the specified excavation, and how to reach that person quickly, if needed. 
n	Informed of who the excavation contractor's designated competent person is for the specified excavation, and how to reach that person quickly, if needed. 
n	Informed about the type of protective system that is being used to prevent a cave-in and any limitations associated with the system in that excavation. 
n	Informed about other potential excavation hazards that are pertinent to the excavation.
n	Trained in the safe work practices that are appropriate for work performed in the excavation.




Competent Person
(Type in the name of your company's designated competent person) is the company's designated competent person for all excavations on this jobsite that affect our workers. (He or She) has the authority to take whatever action is necessary to protect our workers from excavation hazards. All questions regarding excavation safety on this project will be directed to (type in the name of your company's designated competent person). 
Pre-Entry Procedures   
Before any (type in your company name) workers are permitted to enter the excavation (type in the name of your company's designated competent person) will meet with the excavation contractor or his designated competent person to ensure the following: 
n	Surface encumbrances that could be hazardous have been removed or supported.  
n	Uncovered utilities or other underground installations have been supported, protected, or removed.
n	A competent person has designed structural ramps used for worker access/egress.
n	A person qualified in structural design has designed the structural ramps used for equipment.
n	Where appropriate, the excavation has been tested for oxygen deficiency and the presence of flammable gases and atmospheric contaminants.
n	Support systems have been established where the stability of adjacent buildings, walls, or other structures is in question.
n	Steps have been taken to ensure that rock and/or soil will not fall on workers inside the excavation.
n	A schedule has been established for the excavation contractor's competent person to inspect the excavation prior to the start of work each day, as necessary throughout each shift, immediately after each rainstorm, and any time a change occurs that could become hazardous to workers inside the excavation.

(Type in the name of your company's designated competent person) will document all responses to these seven pre-entry procedural inquiries and will conduct a pre-entry inspection of the excavation. By inspection of the excavation, (type in the name of your company's designated competent person) will verify that: 
n	The excavation contractor or his designated competent person's responses to the previous seven pre-entry procedure inquiries are accurate.
n	Structural ramps have been equipped with a surface treatment that will help prevent workers from slipping.
n	There is a ladder, stairway, ramp, or other safe means of egress within 25 feet of where each (type in the company name) employee will be working in the excavation.
n	Appropriate emergency rescue equipment is readily available where hazardous atmospheric conditions could become a factor.
n	No water has accumulated in the excavation.
n	Spoil piles and other materials are at least two feet back from the edge of the excavation or a material retaining device has been erected to prevent material from falling into the excavation.
n	Walkways with guardrails have been established where workers are allowed to cross over the excavation.

(Type in the company name) workers will not be permitted to enter the excavation until (type in the name of your company's designated competent person) has completed the company's pre-entry procedures and determined that it is safe to do so.



Additional Inspections
(Type in the name of your company's designated competent person) will inspect the excavation using the same inspection criteria established by the company's pre-entry inspection procedures as follows:

n	Prior to the start of work each day.
n	As necessary throughout each work shift.
n	Immediately after each rainstorm.
n	Each time a change occurs that could become hazardous to (type in the company name) workers.
Hazardous Conditions or Situations
Anytime a hazardous condition or situation is identified by (type in the name of your company's designated competent person) or any (type in the company name) worker, all workers will be removed from the area until the condition or situation is corrected and workers can perform their jobs safely. 
Documentation
(Type in the name of your company's designated competent person) will document all conversations, inquiries, responses, complaints, etc. that pertain to the excavation, that occur between (himself or herself) and any company worker or any other affected contractor or contractor representative. All documentation will be kept on file until the work has been completed and the excavation has been filled in completely. 




