Arizona Excavating Contractor Actual Exam
2025 – Verified Practice Questions & Answers
with Safety, Grading & Utility Topics | 100%
Verified | Graded A+
According to OSHA, at what depth must an excavation have a protective system?
A) 3 ft
B) 4 ft
C) 5 ft
D) 6 ft
AnswerC
Rationale: A) Too shallow. B) Not the threshold. C) Correct, 5 ft or deeper requires protection. D) Deeper
than required.
Who inspects the excavation site daily?
A) Supervisor
B) Competent Person
C) Manager
D) Director
AnswerB
Rationale: A) May lack training. B) Correct, identifies hazards and corrects them. C) Handles overall
project. D) Oversees programs.
Minimum distance for spoils pile from trench edge?
A) 1 ft
B) 2 ft
C) 3 ft
,D) 4 ft
AnswerB
Rationale: A) Too close. B) Correct, 2 ft minimum. C) More than required. D) Not the standard.
Minimum depth for a ladder in a trench?
A) 2 ft
B) 3 ft
C) 4 ft
D) 5 ft
AnswerC
Rationale: A) Too shallow. B) Not the requirement. C) Correct, 4 ft or deeper requires egress. D) Depth
for protective systems.
Maximum travel distance to a ladder in a trench?
A) 10 ft
B) 20 ft
C) 25 ft
D) 50 ft
AnswerC
Rationale: A) Closer than required. B) Not the standard. C) Correct, max 25 ft travel. D) Too far.
Slope ratio for Type A soil?
A) 3/4:1
B) 1:1
C) 1.5:1
D) 2:1
AnswerA
Rationale: A) Correct, 53 degrees. B) For Type B. C) For Type C. D) Not standard.
Slope ratio for Type B soil?
A) 3/4:1
B) 1:1
C) 1.5:1
,D) 2:1
AnswerB
Rationale: A) For Type A. B) Correct, 45 degrees. C) For Type C. D) Not standard.
Slope ratio for Type C soil?
A) 3/4:1
B) 1:1
C) 1.5:1
D) 2:1
AnswerC
Rationale: A) For Type A. B) For Type B. C) Correct, 34 degrees. D) Not standard.
Soil that is granular and cohesionless?
A) Type A
B) Type B
C) Type C
D) Stable Rock
AnswerC
Rationale: A) Cohesive. B) Cohesive. C) Correct, granular/cohesionless. D) Can stand vertically.
Unconfined compressive strength for Type A?
A) 0.5 tsf
B) 1.5 tsf
C) >1.5 tsf
D) <0.5 tsf
AnswerC
Rationale: A) Type C. B) Type B limit. C) Correct, >1.5 tsf. D) Weaker than C.
Unconfined compressive strength for Type B?
A) 0.5 tsf
B) 0.5-1.5 tsf
C) >1.5 tsf
D) <0.5 tsf
, AnswerB
Rationale: A) Type C. B) Correct, 0.5 to 1.5 tsf. C) Type A. D) Weaker than C.
Unconfined compressive strength for Type C?
A) 0.5 tsf
B) 0.5-1.5 tsf
C) >1.5 tsf
D) <0.5 tsf
AnswerA
Rationale: A) Correct, <=0.5 tsf. B) Type B. C) Type A. D) Weaker than C.
What is a benching system?
A) Sloping
B) Cutting steps in trench wall
C) Using trench box
D) Using hydraulic shoring
AnswerB
Rationale: A) Sloping is different. B) Correct, stepping the wall. C) Shielding, not benching. D) Shoring,
not benching.
Can you bench Type C soil?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Only if dry
D) Only with engineer
AnswerB
Rationale: A) Incorrect. B) Correct, Type C cannot be benched. C) Incorrect. D) Incorrect.
What is a shield in excavation?
A) Sloping the wall
B) Structure to withstand collapse
C) Soil reinforcement
D) Water removal
2025 – Verified Practice Questions & Answers
with Safety, Grading & Utility Topics | 100%
Verified | Graded A+
According to OSHA, at what depth must an excavation have a protective system?
A) 3 ft
B) 4 ft
C) 5 ft
D) 6 ft
AnswerC
Rationale: A) Too shallow. B) Not the threshold. C) Correct, 5 ft or deeper requires protection. D) Deeper
than required.
Who inspects the excavation site daily?
A) Supervisor
B) Competent Person
C) Manager
D) Director
AnswerB
Rationale: A) May lack training. B) Correct, identifies hazards and corrects them. C) Handles overall
project. D) Oversees programs.
Minimum distance for spoils pile from trench edge?
A) 1 ft
B) 2 ft
C) 3 ft
,D) 4 ft
AnswerB
Rationale: A) Too close. B) Correct, 2 ft minimum. C) More than required. D) Not the standard.
Minimum depth for a ladder in a trench?
A) 2 ft
B) 3 ft
C) 4 ft
D) 5 ft
AnswerC
Rationale: A) Too shallow. B) Not the requirement. C) Correct, 4 ft or deeper requires egress. D) Depth
for protective systems.
Maximum travel distance to a ladder in a trench?
A) 10 ft
B) 20 ft
C) 25 ft
D) 50 ft
AnswerC
Rationale: A) Closer than required. B) Not the standard. C) Correct, max 25 ft travel. D) Too far.
Slope ratio for Type A soil?
A) 3/4:1
B) 1:1
C) 1.5:1
D) 2:1
AnswerA
Rationale: A) Correct, 53 degrees. B) For Type B. C) For Type C. D) Not standard.
Slope ratio for Type B soil?
A) 3/4:1
B) 1:1
C) 1.5:1
,D) 2:1
AnswerB
Rationale: A) For Type A. B) Correct, 45 degrees. C) For Type C. D) Not standard.
Slope ratio for Type C soil?
A) 3/4:1
B) 1:1
C) 1.5:1
D) 2:1
AnswerC
Rationale: A) For Type A. B) For Type B. C) Correct, 34 degrees. D) Not standard.
Soil that is granular and cohesionless?
A) Type A
B) Type B
C) Type C
D) Stable Rock
AnswerC
Rationale: A) Cohesive. B) Cohesive. C) Correct, granular/cohesionless. D) Can stand vertically.
Unconfined compressive strength for Type A?
A) 0.5 tsf
B) 1.5 tsf
C) >1.5 tsf
D) <0.5 tsf
AnswerC
Rationale: A) Type C. B) Type B limit. C) Correct, >1.5 tsf. D) Weaker than C.
Unconfined compressive strength for Type B?
A) 0.5 tsf
B) 0.5-1.5 tsf
C) >1.5 tsf
D) <0.5 tsf
, AnswerB
Rationale: A) Type C. B) Correct, 0.5 to 1.5 tsf. C) Type A. D) Weaker than C.
Unconfined compressive strength for Type C?
A) 0.5 tsf
B) 0.5-1.5 tsf
C) >1.5 tsf
D) <0.5 tsf
AnswerA
Rationale: A) Correct, <=0.5 tsf. B) Type B. C) Type A. D) Weaker than C.
What is a benching system?
A) Sloping
B) Cutting steps in trench wall
C) Using trench box
D) Using hydraulic shoring
AnswerB
Rationale: A) Sloping is different. B) Correct, stepping the wall. C) Shielding, not benching. D) Shoring,
not benching.
Can you bench Type C soil?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Only if dry
D) Only with engineer
AnswerB
Rationale: A) Incorrect. B) Correct, Type C cannot be benched. C) Incorrect. D) Incorrect.
What is a shield in excavation?
A) Sloping the wall
B) Structure to withstand collapse
C) Soil reinforcement
D) Water removal
