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Indiana Excavation Contractor
Examination — Local Jurisdiction
Practice Exam 2026 | 100 Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam Prep & Study Guide
1. Before beginning an excavation that may encounter underground utilities,
what is the contractor's most appropriate first step?
A. Begin potholing with the excavator
B. Review the site plans only
C. Have underground utility locations determined and utilities located before
excavation begins
D. Remove the topsoil across the entire work area
Answer: Have underground utility locations determined and utilities located
before excavation begins
Rationale: OSHA requires the estimated location of underground installations
reasonably expected to be encountered to be determined before opening an
excavation. Utilities should be contacted and their locations established before
actual excavation.
, 2. Under OSHA excavation requirements, which condition generally triggers
the requirement for a protective system against cave-ins?
A. Every excavation regardless of depth
B. Only excavations deeper than 10 feet
C. An excavation 5 feet or deeper, unless it is entirely in stable rock
D. Only trenches containing utilities
Answer: An excavation 5 feet or deeper, unless it is entirely in stable rock
Rationale: OSHA generally requires employees in excavations to be protected
from cave-ins when the excavation is 5 feet or deeper, subject to the stable-rock
exception and other limited circumstances.
3. Which person is responsible for conducting required excavation
inspections?
A. Equipment operator
B. Project owner
C. Building owner
D. A competent person
Answer: A competent person
Rationale: Required inspections of excavations, adjacent areas, and protective
systems must be performed by a competent person who can identify existing
and predictable hazards and has authority to correct them.
4. A trench is 10 feet deep and 4 feet wide. Which description most accurately
applies under OSHA terminology?
A. Foundation pit
B. Benched excavation
C. Trench excavation
D. Surface depression
Answer: Trench excavation
,Rationale: A trench is generally a narrow excavation where depth exceeds width
and whose bottom width does not exceed 15 feet.
5. What is the principal purpose of a trench shield?
A. Prevent groundwater infiltration
B. Support adjacent buildings
C. Increase excavation productivity
D. Protect workers from cave-in hazards within the shielded area
Answer: Protect workers from cave-in hazards within the shielded area
Rationale: A shield system is designed to protect employees from cave-ins and
can be used as one type of protective system in trench excavations.
6. Which protective method changes the geometry of the excavation to
reduce cave-in potential?
A. Shielding
B. Hydraulic shoring
C. Sloping or benching
D. Underpinning
Answer: Sloping or benching
Rationale: Sloping and benching protect workers by changing the configuration
of excavation faces so that soil is less likely to collapse into the work area.
7. For an excavation using OSHA's default allowable slope option, what is the
maximum slope for Type C soil?
A. 1/2:1
B. 1:1
C. 1-1/4:1
D. 1-1/2:1
Answer: 1-1/2:1
, Rationale: Under the applicable OSHA sloping provisions, Type C soil has a
maximum allowable simple slope of 1-1/2 horizontal to 1 vertical for
excavations 20 feet or less when that option is used.
8. Which soil type generally requires the flattest slope under OSHA's basic
sloping table?
A. Type A
B. Type B
C. Type C
D. Stable rock
Answer: Type C
Rationale: Type C soil is the least stable of the three OSHA soil classifications
and therefore generally requires the flattest slope when sloping is used.
9. What is the maximum allowable simple slope for Type B soil under the
basic OSHA sloping option?
A. 1/2:1
B. 3/4:1
C. 1:1
D. 1-1/2:1
Answer: 1:1
Rationale: OSHA Appendix B specifies a maximum allowable simple slope of 1
horizontal to 1 vertical for Type B soil under the specified option.
10.Which factor can cause otherwise competent soil to become less stable?
A. Reduced excavation depth
B. Increased daylight
C. Water saturation
D. Proper compaction
Answer: Water saturation
Indiana Excavation Contractor
Examination — Local Jurisdiction
Practice Exam 2026 | 100 Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam Prep & Study Guide
1. Before beginning an excavation that may encounter underground utilities,
what is the contractor's most appropriate first step?
A. Begin potholing with the excavator
B. Review the site plans only
C. Have underground utility locations determined and utilities located before
excavation begins
D. Remove the topsoil across the entire work area
Answer: Have underground utility locations determined and utilities located
before excavation begins
Rationale: OSHA requires the estimated location of underground installations
reasonably expected to be encountered to be determined before opening an
excavation. Utilities should be contacted and their locations established before
actual excavation.
, 2. Under OSHA excavation requirements, which condition generally triggers
the requirement for a protective system against cave-ins?
A. Every excavation regardless of depth
B. Only excavations deeper than 10 feet
C. An excavation 5 feet or deeper, unless it is entirely in stable rock
D. Only trenches containing utilities
Answer: An excavation 5 feet or deeper, unless it is entirely in stable rock
Rationale: OSHA generally requires employees in excavations to be protected
from cave-ins when the excavation is 5 feet or deeper, subject to the stable-rock
exception and other limited circumstances.
3. Which person is responsible for conducting required excavation
inspections?
A. Equipment operator
B. Project owner
C. Building owner
D. A competent person
Answer: A competent person
Rationale: Required inspections of excavations, adjacent areas, and protective
systems must be performed by a competent person who can identify existing
and predictable hazards and has authority to correct them.
4. A trench is 10 feet deep and 4 feet wide. Which description most accurately
applies under OSHA terminology?
A. Foundation pit
B. Benched excavation
C. Trench excavation
D. Surface depression
Answer: Trench excavation
,Rationale: A trench is generally a narrow excavation where depth exceeds width
and whose bottom width does not exceed 15 feet.
5. What is the principal purpose of a trench shield?
A. Prevent groundwater infiltration
B. Support adjacent buildings
C. Increase excavation productivity
D. Protect workers from cave-in hazards within the shielded area
Answer: Protect workers from cave-in hazards within the shielded area
Rationale: A shield system is designed to protect employees from cave-ins and
can be used as one type of protective system in trench excavations.
6. Which protective method changes the geometry of the excavation to
reduce cave-in potential?
A. Shielding
B. Hydraulic shoring
C. Sloping or benching
D. Underpinning
Answer: Sloping or benching
Rationale: Sloping and benching protect workers by changing the configuration
of excavation faces so that soil is less likely to collapse into the work area.
7. For an excavation using OSHA's default allowable slope option, what is the
maximum slope for Type C soil?
A. 1/2:1
B. 1:1
C. 1-1/4:1
D. 1-1/2:1
Answer: 1-1/2:1
, Rationale: Under the applicable OSHA sloping provisions, Type C soil has a
maximum allowable simple slope of 1-1/2 horizontal to 1 vertical for
excavations 20 feet or less when that option is used.
8. Which soil type generally requires the flattest slope under OSHA's basic
sloping table?
A. Type A
B. Type B
C. Type C
D. Stable rock
Answer: Type C
Rationale: Type C soil is the least stable of the three OSHA soil classifications
and therefore generally requires the flattest slope when sloping is used.
9. What is the maximum allowable simple slope for Type B soil under the
basic OSHA sloping option?
A. 1/2:1
B. 3/4:1
C. 1:1
D. 1-1/2:1
Answer: 1:1
Rationale: OSHA Appendix B specifies a maximum allowable simple slope of 1
horizontal to 1 vertical for Type B soil under the specified option.
10.Which factor can cause otherwise competent soil to become less stable?
A. Reduced excavation depth
B. Increased daylight
C. Water saturation
D. Proper compaction
Answer: Water saturation
