Rhode Island Excavator Operator Study Guide
Questions and Verified Answers
Scope and application Correct Answer: This subpart applies to all open excavations made in the earth's
surface. Excavations are defined to include trenches.
Accepted engineering practices Correct Answer: means those requirements which are compatible with
standards of practice required by a registered professional engineer.
Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: (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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: means any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in an earth surface,
formed by earth removal.
Faces or sides Correct Answer: means the vertical or inclined earth surfaces formed as a result of
excavation work.
Failure Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: means the accidental release or failure of a cross brace.
Protective system Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: means a structure such as underpinning, bracing, or shoring, which
provides support to an adjacent structure, underground installation, or the sides of an excavation.
Questions and Verified Answers
Scope and application Correct Answer: This subpart applies to all open excavations made in the earth's
surface. Excavations are defined to include trenches.
Accepted engineering practices Correct Answer: means those requirements which are compatible with
standards of practice required by a registered professional engineer.
Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: (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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: means any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in an earth surface,
formed by earth removal.
Faces or sides Correct Answer: means the vertical or inclined earth surfaces formed as a result of
excavation work.
Failure Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: means the accidental release or failure of a cross brace.
Protective system Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: 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 Correct Answer: means a structure such as underpinning, bracing, or shoring, which
provides support to an adjacent structure, underground installation, or the sides of an excavation.
