RESPONSE 6

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1. Who should be responsible for excavation safety? 

The Competent Person, as per the OSHA excavation standard is the contractor’s authorized party to ensure excavation work proceeds to the OSHA standard and does so safely.

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2. What are the requirements to be a “competent person” under OSHA? 

OSHA defines a “Competent Person” as “one who by way of training and/or experience, is knowledgeable of applicable OSHA Standards, capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate those hazards.”

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3. What affects the decision of what type of support system to use?

The design and construction of excavation support systems can be complex due to the soil structure, depth of cut and ground water, weather conditions, superimposed loads, seismic loads, vibrations, and adjacent construction. The design must address stability of the excavation bottom when below the water table.

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JR

2. What are the requirements to be a “competent person” under OSHA?

This is a person who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. Respond

3. What affects the decision of what type of support system to use?

Soil types, required excavation depths, ground water, side stabilization, surrounding structures and their required support, excavation area requirements, existing utilities in the surrounding ground and consider movement will not cause damage to surrounding structures. Plans, specifications and geotechnical reports should be well reviewed to better understand the constraints and conditions of the project site.  

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4. When might you use the caisson excavation method?

This method will be taken into consideration when the construction project requires stability. The weight of the structure will cause the ground to shift and the caisson method will evenly distribute the high load capacity.

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DG

1. Who should be responsible for excavation safety?

As we know, the person most responsible is the most competent person, however, they must be capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards or working conditions that are hazardous, dangerous to workers, all soil types and authorized to make corrective measures to eliminate these hazards. Respond

2. What are the requirements to be a “competent person” under OSHA?

Based on OSHA standard, the competent person is the last person in the field responsible for looking for and identifying hazards prior to beginning excavation. They must walk the site and think through all the possible scenarios given the person’s experience and training. The should also understand that in the event of an accident, the employer may be cited and fined by OSHA; however, negligence is found to have been in play.

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3. What affects the decision of what type of support system to use?

Various soil types, soil depths, ground water, and other surrounding structures are variables that affect the decision on the type of support system to use.

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