EXCAVATION SAFETY EXAM
1. According to the definition in the OSHA standard, what TWO criteria are necessary for a
person to be designated a "competent person"
Answer Must be capable of recognizing hazards in the surroundings, and must be capable of taking prompt, corrective
measures to eliminate hazards
2. Because conditions in an excavation may change rapidly, it is OSHA's intention (although
they do not specifically say so) that a competent person be present on the job site whenever
workers are in an excavationAnswer True
3. The preamble to the OSHA standard for excavations stipulates THREE areas in which the
competent person must be trained. Which of the following are they?
Answer Soil analysis, the use of protective systems, the requirements of the OSHA standard
4. According to the OSHA standard for excavations, registered professional engineers must be
used in what situation
Answer When the excavation is over twenty feet deep, when
using protective systems or methods not found in the OSHA standard, and when variance from the OSHA standard is necessary
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,5. A trench is defined as an excavation that does not exceed 15 feet of base width, true or
false?
Answer True
6. A contractor who digs a pit 10 feet deep and 20 feet square says the OSHA standard does
not apply to him because he has not dug a trench, is he correct?-
Answer No
7. Unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock, employees MUST use a protective
system when the depth is feet or greater
Answer 5 feet
8. A contractor has dug an excavation for a gas line installation four feet deep, the inspector
believes there may be risk of cave ins even though the ditch is relatively shallow, the
contractor tells him not to worry about it because OSHA requires no protection if the ditch is
less than 5 feet deep and that they will be off the hook if anything happens. Is he correct?
Answer No
9. A contractor's trench comes within a few feet of several large trees into landscape
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, boulders. Laborers expressed some concerns about them. Does the OSHA standard have any
applicable requirements for the situation? If so what are they?
Answer Yes, surface circumferences and remove support.
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1. According to the definition in the OSHA standard, what TWO criteria are necessary for a
person to be designated a "competent person"
Answer Must be capable of recognizing hazards in the surroundings, and must be capable of taking prompt, corrective
measures to eliminate hazards
2. Because conditions in an excavation may change rapidly, it is OSHA's intention (although
they do not specifically say so) that a competent person be present on the job site whenever
workers are in an excavationAnswer True
3. The preamble to the OSHA standard for excavations stipulates THREE areas in which the
competent person must be trained. Which of the following are they?
Answer Soil analysis, the use of protective systems, the requirements of the OSHA standard
4. According to the OSHA standard for excavations, registered professional engineers must be
used in what situation
Answer When the excavation is over twenty feet deep, when
using protective systems or methods not found in the OSHA standard, and when variance from the OSHA standard is necessary
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18
,5. A trench is defined as an excavation that does not exceed 15 feet of base width, true or
false?
Answer True
6. A contractor who digs a pit 10 feet deep and 20 feet square says the OSHA standard does
not apply to him because he has not dug a trench, is he correct?-
Answer No
7. Unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock, employees MUST use a protective
system when the depth is feet or greater
Answer 5 feet
8. A contractor has dug an excavation for a gas line installation four feet deep, the inspector
believes there may be risk of cave ins even though the ditch is relatively shallow, the
contractor tells him not to worry about it because OSHA requires no protection if the ditch is
less than 5 feet deep and that they will be off the hook if anything happens. Is he correct?
Answer No
9. A contractor's trench comes within a few feet of several large trees into landscape
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18
, boulders. Laborers expressed some concerns about them. Does the OSHA standard have any
applicable requirements for the situation? If so what are they?
Answer Yes, surface circumferences and remove support.
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18
