📚 Take the Full Training Module →

Excavation & Trenching Safety Toolbox Talk

Today's Topic

Excavation & Trenching safety highlights:

A cubic yard of soil weighs approximately 3,000 lbs.
Cave-ins can kill instantly.

Call Before You Dig

Call 811 every time, no exceptions.
Hand-dig within the tolerance zone.
Know where all utilities are before breaking ground.

Protective Systems

Required at 5 ft depth: sloping, benching, shoring, or a trench box.
Soil type determines the protective system required.
A competent person decides the appropriate measures.

Egress & Spoil Piles

Ladder or ramp within 25 ft of every worker in a trench 4+ ft deep.
Spoil pile must be a minimum of 2 ft from the edge.

Today's Discussion Questions

Do we have a competent person assigned to today's excavation?
Has 811 been called for this dig?