Excavation, Trenching and Shoring
Master Answer Key
1. Excavating is considered one of the most hazardous construction operations.
2. Accepted engineering practices are procedures compatible with the standards of practice required
of a registered professional engineer.
3. No specific training or expertise is required for construction operations that include only excavation.
4. Any man-made cut, cavity, trench or depression formed by earth removal is an excavation. A narrow
excavation is called a trench. A trench cannot wider than 15 feet when measured at the bottom.
5. A safe means for employees to enter or exit an excavation or trench is called ingress and egress.
6. Protective systems can include support systems, sloping and benching systems, shield systems, etc.
All of these are methods of protecting employees from cave-ins.
7. Support systems include structures such as underpinning, bracing and shoring that provide support
to an adjacent structures or underground installations.
8. Subsurface encumbrances include underground utilities, streams, water tables, etc.
9. Surcharges mean any activities that may affect trench stability.
10. The term “angle of response” has been replaced by the term “maximum allowable slope”.
11. Tension cracks can cause sliding or toppling into the excavation
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Excavation, Trenching and Shoring
Master Answer Key
12. The load per unit area at which soil will fail in compression is called the unconfined compressive
13. “Soil mechanics” includes squeezing, sloughing and toppling.
14. Subsidence and bulging is caused by tension cracks.
15. Heaving or squeezing is caused by downward pressure created by the weight of the soil. It does
NOT occur when shoring or shielding has been properly installed.
16. Boiling can be caused by a high water table.
17. OSHA classified soil into four classes: Type A, B, C and Stable Rock. Type C is the most unstable.
18. The most accurate of all the soil-testing methods is the “thumb penetration test”.
19. In a visual test, the entire excavation site is observed.
20. Shoring or shielding is used when the location or depth of the cut makes sloping back to the
“maximum allowable slope” impractical.
21. Shoring or shielding is used to support the side of an excavation. Hydraulic shoring is prefabricated
and can be installed by one worker.
22. Shoring is installed from the bottom up and removed from the top down.
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Excavation, Trenching and Shoring
Master Answer Key
23. Pneumatic shoring uses air pressure instead of hydraulic pressure
24. Screw jack systems are manually.
25. The least advantageous method of shoring is pneumatic.
26. Underpinning stabilizes other structures that may have an impact on the excavation and do not
have to have a qualified engineer to install.
27. Maximum bench excavation depths are determined by the type of soil. The type of soil
determines the horizontal to vertical ratio of the benched side.
28. “Temporary Spoil” must be no closer than 24 inches from the surface edge of the excavation.
29. Surface water should always be diverted away from the trench or excavation.
30. Walkways can be used for foot traffic; ladders must extend at least 36 inches above the landing.
31. Employees must wear warning vest or garments with high-visibility materials and a flag person,
signs, signals, etc. must be present when working on excavation sites around motor traffic.
32. When an excavation is designated as a confined space, the confined space regulations apply.
33. Employees are not allowed to work in confined spaces during excavation with hazardous
atmospheres where the oxygen level is less than 19.55 or more than 23.5%.
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Excavation, Trenching and Shoring
Master Answer Key
34. Emergency rescue equipment is required whenever a hazardous atmosphere is expected to exist.
35. A respirator program must be instituted. When used, lifelines must be attended at all times.
36. During a rain storm, employees cannot be in a trench, but can return to the trench immediately
after the rain stops.
37. The minimal expectation for excavation and trench inspections is daily and at the beginning of each
work shift.
