Maryland Excavation Contractor License
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
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1. Which organization must an excavation contractor notify before
beginning most excavation activities in Maryland to identify and
protect underground utilities?
A. Maryland Department of Labor
B. Maryland Department of Planning
C. Maryland One-Call System (Miss Utility)
D. Maryland State Highway Administration
C. Maryland One-Call System (Miss Utility)
The Maryland Underground Facilities Damage Prevention requirements
mandate notification of the one-call system before excavation so
underground facilities can be located and marked, reducing the risk of
utility damage and injury.
2. Before excavation work begins in Maryland, a contractor should
primarily obtain utility markings to:
,A. Increase equipment productivity
B. Reduce fuel consumption
C. Prevent damage to underground facilities
D. Eliminate the need for permits
C. Prevent damage to underground facilities
Utility locating and marking are intended to prevent damage to
underground infrastructure, protect workers, avoid service interruptions,
and reduce liability exposure.
3. What is the greatest hazard associated with trenching operations?
A. Noise exposure
B. Cave-ins
C. Sun exposure
D. Equipment vibration
B. Cave-ins
Cave-ins are widely recognized as the most dangerous trenching hazard
because they can occur suddenly and often result in serious injury or
fatalities.
4. A competent person on an excavation project is primarily responsible
for:
A. Preparing payroll reports
B. Inspecting excavations and identifying hazards
C. Operating heavy equipment exclusively
D. Purchasing materials
B. Inspecting excavations and identifying hazards
A competent person must recognize hazardous conditions, conduct
inspections, and have authority to implement corrective actions to protect
workers.
, 5. When excavation markings become destroyed or unreadable, the
excavator should:
A. Repaint the markings independently
B. Ignore the markings and continue work
C. Request remarking through the proper notification process
D. Estimate the utility location
C. Request remarking through the proper notification process
Maryland requirements place responsibility on the excavator to request
remarking when markings are obliterated rather than replacing them
independently.
6. Within what distance of a marked underground facility must
mechanized excavation generally be avoided until the facility is
exposed?
A. 6 inches
B. 12 inches
C. 18 inches
D. 36 inches
C. 18 inches
Maryland excavation requirements establish an 18-inch tolerance zone
where hand digging or nondestructive methods are used to expose
underground facilities.
7. Which method is generally acceptable for exposing underground
facilities within the tolerance zone?
A. Explosives
B. Large bulldozers
C. Hand digging or nondestructive excavation
D. Pile driving
, C. Hand digging or nondestructive excavation
Hand excavation and approved nondestructive techniques reduce the risk
of damaging buried utilities when working near marked facilities.
8. Excavated soil should generally be kept at least how far from the edge
of a trench?
A. 6 inches
B. 1 foot
C. 2 feet
D. 5 feet
C. 2 feet
Keeping spoil piles at least two feet from the trench edge reduces
surcharge loads and helps prevent cave-ins.
9. Workers entering an excavation deeper than four feet should
generally have access to:
A. A crane basket only
B. A ladder, stairway, or other safe means of egress
C. A forklift platform
D. A rope only
B. A ladder, stairway, or other safe means of egress
Safe access and egress are required to allow workers to quickly enter and
exit excavations in emergency and routine situations.
10. How often should a competent person inspect excavations
under normal conditions?
A. Once per month
B. Once per project
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationale 2026 Q&A| Instant Download
1. Which organization must an excavation contractor notify before
beginning most excavation activities in Maryland to identify and
protect underground utilities?
A. Maryland Department of Labor
B. Maryland Department of Planning
C. Maryland One-Call System (Miss Utility)
D. Maryland State Highway Administration
C. Maryland One-Call System (Miss Utility)
The Maryland Underground Facilities Damage Prevention requirements
mandate notification of the one-call system before excavation so
underground facilities can be located and marked, reducing the risk of
utility damage and injury.
2. Before excavation work begins in Maryland, a contractor should
primarily obtain utility markings to:
,A. Increase equipment productivity
B. Reduce fuel consumption
C. Prevent damage to underground facilities
D. Eliminate the need for permits
C. Prevent damage to underground facilities
Utility locating and marking are intended to prevent damage to
underground infrastructure, protect workers, avoid service interruptions,
and reduce liability exposure.
3. What is the greatest hazard associated with trenching operations?
A. Noise exposure
B. Cave-ins
C. Sun exposure
D. Equipment vibration
B. Cave-ins
Cave-ins are widely recognized as the most dangerous trenching hazard
because they can occur suddenly and often result in serious injury or
fatalities.
4. A competent person on an excavation project is primarily responsible
for:
A. Preparing payroll reports
B. Inspecting excavations and identifying hazards
C. Operating heavy equipment exclusively
D. Purchasing materials
B. Inspecting excavations and identifying hazards
A competent person must recognize hazardous conditions, conduct
inspections, and have authority to implement corrective actions to protect
workers.
, 5. When excavation markings become destroyed or unreadable, the
excavator should:
A. Repaint the markings independently
B. Ignore the markings and continue work
C. Request remarking through the proper notification process
D. Estimate the utility location
C. Request remarking through the proper notification process
Maryland requirements place responsibility on the excavator to request
remarking when markings are obliterated rather than replacing them
independently.
6. Within what distance of a marked underground facility must
mechanized excavation generally be avoided until the facility is
exposed?
A. 6 inches
B. 12 inches
C. 18 inches
D. 36 inches
C. 18 inches
Maryland excavation requirements establish an 18-inch tolerance zone
where hand digging or nondestructive methods are used to expose
underground facilities.
7. Which method is generally acceptable for exposing underground
facilities within the tolerance zone?
A. Explosives
B. Large bulldozers
C. Hand digging or nondestructive excavation
D. Pile driving
, C. Hand digging or nondestructive excavation
Hand excavation and approved nondestructive techniques reduce the risk
of damaging buried utilities when working near marked facilities.
8. Excavated soil should generally be kept at least how far from the edge
of a trench?
A. 6 inches
B. 1 foot
C. 2 feet
D. 5 feet
C. 2 feet
Keeping spoil piles at least two feet from the trench edge reduces
surcharge loads and helps prevent cave-ins.
9. Workers entering an excavation deeper than four feet should
generally have access to:
A. A crane basket only
B. A ladder, stairway, or other safe means of egress
C. A forklift platform
D. A rope only
B. A ladder, stairway, or other safe means of egress
Safe access and egress are required to allow workers to quickly enter and
exit excavations in emergency and routine situations.
10. How often should a competent person inspect excavations
under normal conditions?
A. Once per month
B. Once per project
