[PRE TASK PLAN TITLE]

Project: [PROJECT NAME]

Date: 2026-05-29

Location: [LOCATION]

Supervisor: [SUPERVISOR NAME]

Task Overview

This pre-task plan covers excavation and trenching activities including site preparation, utility locating, soil classification, selection and installation of trench protective systems, spoil pile management, access and egress, competent person inspections, atmospheric testing where required, and safe work practices to prevent cave-ins, struck-by incidents, falls, and hazardous atmosphere exposure. The work shall be planned and executed in accordance with OSHA excavation and trenching requirements and applicable site procedures before any worker enters the excavation. [2] [5] [18]

Expected Duration: Duration to be determined by site conditions and scope of excavation work.

Number of Workers: Number of workers to be determined by the crew assignment for the specific excavation task.

Required PPE and Equipment

Personal Protective Equipment

• Hard Hat: Wear an ANSI-compliant hard hat at all times in and around the excavation to protect against falling objects, cave-in debris, and struck-by hazards. Inspect the shell and suspension before use and replace damaged equipment immediately. [13] [9]
  • Keep the chin strap secured when required by site conditions.
  • Do not modify the shell or suspension system.
• High-Visibility Vest or Clothing: Wear high-visibility apparel when exposed to vehicular traffic, mobile earth-moving equipment, or roadway work zones. Select garments suitable for the site traffic conditions and maintain visibility in daylight and low-light conditions. [3] [8]
  • Use Class 2 or higher where traffic exposure is significant.
  • Keep garments clean and unobstructed for maximum visibility.
• Safety Boots: Wear sturdy safety boots with slip-resistant soles and toe protection suitable for uneven ground, mud, and excavation debris. Boots should provide ankle support and reduce the risk of slips, trips, punctures, and foot injuries. [9]
  • Select boots with puncture-resistant soles where sharp debris is present.
  • Keep laces secured and soles free of mud buildup.
• Gloves: Use work gloves appropriate for handling soil, pipe, shoring components, and rough materials. Gloves should provide grip and reduce cuts, abrasions, and pinch-point injuries while still allowing safe tool handling. [9]
  • Choose cut-resistant gloves when handling sharp materials.
  • Replace gloves that are torn, wet, or contaminated.
• Eye Protection: Wear safety glasses or goggles to protect against flying debris, dust, splashes, and soil particles during digging, cutting, backfilling, and equipment operations. Use side shields or sealed eye protection when dust or splash exposure is elevated. [9]
  • Use goggles when airborne dust or splash hazards are present.
  • Keep lenses clean and free of scratches that reduce visibility.
• Respiratory Protection or Gas Monitoring-Related PPE as Required: Where hazardous atmospheres, low oxygen, fumes, or toxic gases are possible, use respiratory protection only as part of a controlled program and only after atmospheric testing and hazard evaluation. Respiratory protection must match the identified hazard and be used with ventilation or other controls as required. [14] [18]
  • Do not rely on respirators instead of atmospheric testing.
  • Use only trained and authorized personnel for respirator use.

Tools and Equipment

• Excavator or Backhoe: Use only qualified operators and maintain exclusion zones around the swing radius and bucket path. Keep workers clear of the machine and never allow personnel under suspended loads or in the line of fire of moving equipment. [9] [13]
  • Verify operator competency before work begins.
  • Use spotters where visibility is limited.
• Trench Box / Shielding System: Use a trench box or other shielding system to protect workers from cave-ins when sloping or shoring is not the selected method. Ensure the system is appropriate for trench depth, soil conditions, and site loads, and do not move the box while workers are inside it. [3] [15]
  • Confirm the box is rated for the excavation depth and soil conditions.
  • Backfill and compact as required if the box is intended to support trench walls.
• Ladders, Stairways, or Ramps for Access and Egress: Provide safe access and egress for trenches 4 feet or deeper, with devices located within 25 feet of workers. Ladders should be secured and extend at least 3 feet above the landing where applicable. [2] [4]
  • Inspect ladders before use and keep bases stable.
  • Keep access points free of mud, debris, and obstructions.
• Atmospheric Testing Equipment: Use calibrated gas monitors to test for oxygen deficiency, hazardous fumes, and toxic gases before entry and as conditions change when atmospheric hazards are possible. Monitoring is especially important in deeper excavations, contaminated soils, or areas near fuel, sewer, or utility sources. [14] [8]
  • Verify calibration and bump-test status before use.
  • Document readings and retest after changes in conditions.
• Utility Locating and Marking Tools: Use utility locate information, detection equipment, and site markings to identify underground installations before digging and to verify approximate utility locations as excavation progresses. Maintain protection of exposed utilities throughout the work. [7] [6]
  • Call the local utility locate service before excavation.
  • Use hand digging or other approved methods near marked utilities.

Hazard Analysis

Identified Hazards

Control Measures

• The competent person must identify hazards, evaluate soil and protective systems, and remove workers from unsafe conditions immediately.: Use a competent person to inspect the excavation before worker entry, at the start of each shift, after rainstorms, and whenever conditions change. [2] [17]
• Select sloping, benching, shoring, or shielding based on soil type, depth, water content, weather, and nearby loads. Trenches 20 feet or deeper require engineer-designed or engineer-approved systems.: Provide a protective system for trenches 5 feet deep or greater, or for shallower trenches where cave-in hazards exist. [2] [3]
• Contact utility owners or the local locate service, verify approximate locations, and use safe methods such as detection equipment or hand digging near marked lines. Support, isolate, or de-energize exposed utilities as needed.: Locate, identify, and protect underground utilities before excavation begins. [7] [6]
• Provide ladders, steps, ramps, or other safe means of exit within 25 feet of workers. Secure ladders and keep access points clear of debris, mud, and water.: Maintain safe access and egress for all trenches 4 feet or deeper. [2] [4]
• Place excavated material at least 2 feet from the edge, and farther where site conditions, equipment loads, or local requirements demand greater separation. Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges.: Keep spoil piles, materials, and equipment back from the trench edge. [2] [2]
• Use pumps, diversion ditches, dikes, shoring, or other approved methods. Do not allow workers to remain in trenches with standing or accumulating water unless controls are in place and monitored by a competent person.: Control water accumulation and surface runoff before and during excavation work. [14] [4]
• Use calibrated monitoring equipment and continue testing as needed when conditions change. Provide ventilation or respiratory protection only when required by the hazard assessment and site program.: Test the atmosphere before entry where hazardous gases, vapors, or oxygen deficiency may exist. [14] [8]
• Do not permit entry until the protective system is installed and verified. Establish exclusion zones for lifting and excavation equipment and use spotters where needed.: Restrict workers from entering unprotected trenches and from working under suspended loads. [4] [13]
• Set up signage, barricades, channelization, and lighting as needed. Keep workers visible to operators and motorists at all times.: Use high-visibility clothing and traffic control measures where vehicles or mobile equipment are present. [8] [16]

Emergency Procedures

Emergency Contact Information

• Site Emergency: Site emergency number or radio channel to be filled in by the site supervisor before work begins.
• First Aid: Designated first aid responder or site medical contact to be filled in by the site supervisor before work begins.
• Supervisor: Immediate supervisor or competent person contact to be filled in by the site supervisor before work begins.

Emergency Response Steps

1. Stop work immediately and alert all personnel if a cave-in, utility strike, hazardous atmosphere alarm, water intrusion, or other emergency condition occurs.
2. Evacuate the trench and move all workers to a safe location away from the excavation edge, equipment, and any unstable ground.
3. Contact site emergency services and first aid support, and provide the exact location, nature of the incident, number of affected workers, and any known hazards such as utilities or atmospheric concerns.
4. Do not attempt unplanned rescue entry into a collapsed or contaminated trench. Only trained rescue personnel with appropriate equipment may enter after the scene is secured.
5. Account for all workers at the assembly point and do not resume work until the competent person and supervisor verify that the excavation is safe.

Evacuation Routes

Use the nearest safe access route out of the trench, typically the secured ladder, stairway, ramp, or other approved egress point within 25 feet of workers. Move away from trench edges, spoil piles, and equipment travel paths to the designated safe route to the surface.

Report to the designated site assembly point established by the supervisor, located away from the excavation, spoil piles, and vehicle routes. The exact assembly point shall be communicated during the pre-task briefing. [2] [4]

Required Permits and Certifications

• Excavation/trenching permit or site-specific excavation authorization, where required by the employer or local jurisdiction.
• Utility locate clearance or call-before-you-dig confirmation before excavation begins.
• Confined space entry permit if the excavation meets confined space criteria or hazardous atmosphere conditions are present.
• Competent person designation for excavation and trenching inspections and hazard control decisions.
• Registered professional engineer design or approval for protective systems on trenches 20 feet deep or greater, where applicable.

Additional Safety Considerations

• Keep the excavation open for the minimum time necessary to complete the work, and reassess conditions continuously as weather, groundwater, or adjacent loads change. [18]
• Do not rely on natural freezing, informal soil assumptions, or visual appearance alone to judge trench stability; verify soil conditions and protective system requirements through competent-person evaluation. [15] [12]
• Maintain good housekeeping around the excavation, including clear walking surfaces, organized materials, and unobstructed ladder bases to reduce slips, trips, and falls. [9] [9]
• Train workers on excavation hazards, protective systems, emergency procedures, and stop-work authority before they enter the trench. [11] [17]

Pre-Task Plan Verification

By signing below, you acknowledge that you have reviewed and understand this pre-task safety plan:

Supervisor: _________________________ Date: __________

Safety Representative: _________________________ Date: __________

Workers:

1. Name: _________________________ Signature: _________________________ Date: __________
2. Name: _________________________ Signature: _________________________ Date: __________
3. Name: _________________________ Signature: _________________________ Date: __________

This pre-task plan must be reviewed and updated if conditions or scope of work changes.

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