Rhode Island Excavator
Operator Study Guide Exam Q’s
and A’s
Scope and application - -This subpart applies to all open excavations made
in the earth's surface. Excavations are defined to include trenches.
- Accepted engineering practices - -means those requirements which are
compatible with standards of practice required by a registered professional
engineer.
- Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring - -means a pre-engineered shoring system
comprised of aluminum hydraulic cylinders (crossbraces) used in conjunction
with vertical rails (uprights) or horizontal rails (walers). Such system is
designed, specifically to support the sidewalls of an excavation and prevent
cave-ins.
- Bell-bottom pier hole - -means a type of shaft or footing excavation, the
bottom of which is made larger than the cross section above to form a belled
shape
- Benching - -(Benching system) means a method of protecting employees
from cave-ins by excavating the sides of an excavation to form one or a
series of horizontal levels or steps, usually with vertical or near-vertical
surfaces between levels.
- Cave-in - -means the separation of a mass of soil or rock material from the
side of an excavation, or the loss of soil from under a trench shield or
support system, and its sudden movement into the excavation, either by
falling or sliding, in sufficient quantity so that
- Competent person - -means one who is capable of identifying existing and
predictable hazards in the surroundings, or working conditions which are
unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has
authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
- Cross braces - -mean the horizontal members of a shoring system
installed perpendicular to the sides of the excavation, the ends of which bear
against either uprights or wales.
- Excavation - -means any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in
an earth surface, formed by earth removal.
, - Faces or sides - -means the vertical or inclined earth surfaces formed as a
result of excavation work.
- Failure - -means the breakage, displacement, or permanent deformation
of a structural member or connection so as to reduce its structural integrity
and its supportive capabilities.
- Hazardous atmosphere - -means an atmosphere which by reason of being
explosive, flammable, poisonous, corrosive, oxidizing, irritating, oxygen
deficient, toxic, or otherwise harmful, may cause death, illness, or injury.
- Kickout - -means the accidental release or failure of a cross brace.
- Protective system - -means a method of protecting employees from cave-
ins, from material that could fall or roll from an excavation face or into an
excavation, or from the collapse of adjacent structures. Protective systems
include support systems, sloping and benching systems, shield systems, and
other systems that provide the necessary protection.
- Ramp - -means an inclined walking or working surface that is used to gain
access to one point from another, and is constructed from earth or from
structural materials such as steel or wood.
- Registered Professional Engineer - -means a person who is registered as a
professional engineer in the state where the work is to be performed.
However, a professional engineer, registered in any state is deemed to be a
"registered professional engineer" within the meaning of this standard when
approving designs for "manufactured protective systems" or "tabulated
data" to be used in interstate commerce.
- Sheeting - -means the members of a shoring system that retain the earth
in position and in turn are supported by other members of the shoring
system.
- Shield/Shield System - -means a structure that is able to withstand the
forces imposed on it by a cave-in and thereby protect employees within the
structure. Shields can be permanent structures or can be designed to be
portable and moved along as work progresses. Additionally, shields can be
either premanufactured or job-built in accordance with § 1926.652 (c)(3) or
(c)(4). Shields used in trenches are usually referred to as "trench boxes" or
"trench shields."
- Shoring - -means a method of protecting employees from cave-ins by
excavating to form sides of an excavation that are inclined away from the
excavation so as to prevent cave-ins. The angle of incline required to prevent
, a cave-in varies with differences in such factors as the soil type,
environmental conditions of exposure, and application of surcharge loads.
- Stable rock - -means natural solid mineral material that can be excavated
with vertical sides and will remain intact while exposed. Unstable rock is
considered to be stable when the rock material on the side or sides of the
excavation is secured against caving-in or movement by rock bolts or by
another protective system that has been designed by a registered
professional engineer.
- Structural ramp - -means a ramp built of steel or wood, usually used for
vehicle access. Ramps made of soil or rock are not considered structural
ramps.
- Support system - -means a structure such as underpinning, bracing, or
shoring, which provides support to an adjacent structure, underground
installation, or the sides of an excavation.
- Tabulated data - -means tables and charts approved by a registered
professional engineer and used to design and construct a protective system.
- Trench - -means a narrow excavation (in relation to its length) made below
the surface of the ground. In general, the depth is greater than the width,
but the width of a trench (measured at the bottom) is not greater than 15
feet (4.6 m). If forms or other structures are installed or constructed in an
excavation so as to reduce the dimension measured from the forms or
structure to the side of the excavation to 15 feet (4.6 m) or less (measured
at the bottom of the excavation), the excavation is also considered to be a
trench.
- Uprights - -means the vertical members of a trench shoring system placed
in contact with the earth and usually positioned so that individual members
do not contact each other. Uprights placed so that individual members are
closely spaced, in contact with or interconnected to each other, are often
called "sheeting."
- Wales - -means horizontal members of a shoring system placed parallel to
the excavation face whose sides bear against the vertical members of the
shoring system or earth.
- Surface encumbrances. - -All surface encumbrances that are located so as
to create a hazard to employees shall be removed or supported, as
necessary, to safeguard employees.
- Underground installations - the estimated location of utility installations,
such as sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water lines, or any other
Operator Study Guide Exam Q’s
and A’s
Scope and application - -This subpart applies to all open excavations made
in the earth's surface. Excavations are defined to include trenches.
- Accepted engineering practices - -means those requirements which are
compatible with standards of practice required by a registered professional
engineer.
- Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring - -means a pre-engineered shoring system
comprised of aluminum hydraulic cylinders (crossbraces) used in conjunction
with vertical rails (uprights) or horizontal rails (walers). Such system is
designed, specifically to support the sidewalls of an excavation and prevent
cave-ins.
- Bell-bottom pier hole - -means a type of shaft or footing excavation, the
bottom of which is made larger than the cross section above to form a belled
shape
- Benching - -(Benching system) means a method of protecting employees
from cave-ins by excavating the sides of an excavation to form one or a
series of horizontal levels or steps, usually with vertical or near-vertical
surfaces between levels.
- Cave-in - -means the separation of a mass of soil or rock material from the
side of an excavation, or the loss of soil from under a trench shield or
support system, and its sudden movement into the excavation, either by
falling or sliding, in sufficient quantity so that
- Competent person - -means one who is capable of identifying existing and
predictable hazards in the surroundings, or working conditions which are
unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has
authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
- Cross braces - -mean the horizontal members of a shoring system
installed perpendicular to the sides of the excavation, the ends of which bear
against either uprights or wales.
- Excavation - -means any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in
an earth surface, formed by earth removal.
, - Faces or sides - -means the vertical or inclined earth surfaces formed as a
result of excavation work.
- Failure - -means the breakage, displacement, or permanent deformation
of a structural member or connection so as to reduce its structural integrity
and its supportive capabilities.
- Hazardous atmosphere - -means an atmosphere which by reason of being
explosive, flammable, poisonous, corrosive, oxidizing, irritating, oxygen
deficient, toxic, or otherwise harmful, may cause death, illness, or injury.
- Kickout - -means the accidental release or failure of a cross brace.
- Protective system - -means a method of protecting employees from cave-
ins, from material that could fall or roll from an excavation face or into an
excavation, or from the collapse of adjacent structures. Protective systems
include support systems, sloping and benching systems, shield systems, and
other systems that provide the necessary protection.
- Ramp - -means an inclined walking or working surface that is used to gain
access to one point from another, and is constructed from earth or from
structural materials such as steel or wood.
- Registered Professional Engineer - -means a person who is registered as a
professional engineer in the state where the work is to be performed.
However, a professional engineer, registered in any state is deemed to be a
"registered professional engineer" within the meaning of this standard when
approving designs for "manufactured protective systems" or "tabulated
data" to be used in interstate commerce.
- Sheeting - -means the members of a shoring system that retain the earth
in position and in turn are supported by other members of the shoring
system.
- Shield/Shield System - -means a structure that is able to withstand the
forces imposed on it by a cave-in and thereby protect employees within the
structure. Shields can be permanent structures or can be designed to be
portable and moved along as work progresses. Additionally, shields can be
either premanufactured or job-built in accordance with § 1926.652 (c)(3) or
(c)(4). Shields used in trenches are usually referred to as "trench boxes" or
"trench shields."
- Shoring - -means a method of protecting employees from cave-ins by
excavating to form sides of an excavation that are inclined away from the
excavation so as to prevent cave-ins. The angle of incline required to prevent
, a cave-in varies with differences in such factors as the soil type,
environmental conditions of exposure, and application of surcharge loads.
- Stable rock - -means natural solid mineral material that can be excavated
with vertical sides and will remain intact while exposed. Unstable rock is
considered to be stable when the rock material on the side or sides of the
excavation is secured against caving-in or movement by rock bolts or by
another protective system that has been designed by a registered
professional engineer.
- Structural ramp - -means a ramp built of steel or wood, usually used for
vehicle access. Ramps made of soil or rock are not considered structural
ramps.
- Support system - -means a structure such as underpinning, bracing, or
shoring, which provides support to an adjacent structure, underground
installation, or the sides of an excavation.
- Tabulated data - -means tables and charts approved by a registered
professional engineer and used to design and construct a protective system.
- Trench - -means a narrow excavation (in relation to its length) made below
the surface of the ground. In general, the depth is greater than the width,
but the width of a trench (measured at the bottom) is not greater than 15
feet (4.6 m). If forms or other structures are installed or constructed in an
excavation so as to reduce the dimension measured from the forms or
structure to the side of the excavation to 15 feet (4.6 m) or less (measured
at the bottom of the excavation), the excavation is also considered to be a
trench.
- Uprights - -means the vertical members of a trench shoring system placed
in contact with the earth and usually positioned so that individual members
do not contact each other. Uprights placed so that individual members are
closely spaced, in contact with or interconnected to each other, are often
called "sheeting."
- Wales - -means horizontal members of a shoring system placed parallel to
the excavation face whose sides bear against the vertical members of the
shoring system or earth.
- Surface encumbrances. - -All surface encumbrances that are located so as
to create a hazard to employees shall be removed or supported, as
necessary, to safeguard employees.
- Underground installations - the estimated location of utility installations,
such as sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water lines, or any other
