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29 CFR 1926.652: Trench protection

Subpart P—Excavations · official heading: Requirements for protective systems

Workers in trenches 5 feet deep or more must be protected from cave-ins by sloping, shoring or a trench box, unless the excavation is entirely in stable rock.

8,969citations since 2015
6,760employers cited
87%serious, willful or repeat
$2,500median penalty per item

OSHA has cited 29 CFR 1926.652 8,969 times since 2015, against 6,760 employers. Penalties on these items add up to $51,957,568 at their current amounts.

Citations per year

The parts of the rule cited most

1926.652(a)(1) · 7,146 citations

(a) Protection of employees in excavations. (1) Each employee in an excavation shall be protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed in accordance with paragraph (b) or (c) of this section except when:

1926.652(g)(1)(ii) · 162 citations

(ii) Shields shall be installed in a manner to restrict lateral or other hazardous movement of the shield in the event of the application of sudden lateral loads.

1926.652(g)(1)(iii) · 161 citations

(iii) Employees shall be protected from the hazard of cave-ins when entering or exiting the areas protected by shields.

1926.652(b) · 152 citations

(b) Design of sloping and benching systems. The slopes and configurations of sloping and benching systems shall be selected and constructed by the employer or his designee and shall be in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (b)(1); or, in the alternative, paragraph (b)(2); or, in the alternative, paragraph (b)(3), or, in the alternative, paragraph (b)(4), as follows:

1926.652(g)(2) · 142 citations

(2) Additional requirement for shield systems used in trench excavations. Excavations of earth material to a level not greater than 2 feet (.61 m) below the bottom of a shield shall be permitted, but only if the shield is designed to resist the forces calculated for the full depth of the trench, and there are no indications while the trench is open of a possible loss of soil from behind or below the bottom of the shield.

1926.652(b)(2) · 132 citations

(2) Option (2)—Determination of slopes and configurations using Appendices A and B. Maximum allowable slopes, and allowable configurations for sloping and benching systems, shall be determined in accordance with the conditions and requirements set forth in appendices A and B to this subpart.

1926.652(c)(2)(iii) · 131 citations

(iii) Manufacturer's specifications, recommendations, and limitations, and manufacturer's approval to deviate from the specifications, recommendations, and limitations shall be in written form at the jobsite during construction of the protective system. After that time this data may be stored off the jobsite, but a copy shall be made available to the Secretary upon request.

1926.652(c)(2)(i) · 101 citations

(2) Option (2)—Designs Using Manufacturer's Tabulated Data. (i) Design of support systems, shield systems, or other protective systems that are drawn from manufacturer's tabulated data shall be in accordance with all specifications, recommendations, and limitations issued or made by the manufacturer.

Industries cited most

  • Construction 8,482
  • Utilities 150
  • Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 88
  • Public Administration 64
  • Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 32
  • Manufacturing 25

States cited most

Recently cited employers