Trenching and 

Excavation Safety

OSHA 2226-10R 2015
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

“To assure safe and healthful working conditions for 

working men and women; by authorizing enforcement 

of the standards developed under the Act; by assisting 

and encouraging the States in their efforts to assure 

safe and healthful working conditions; by providing for 

research, information, education, and training in the field 

of occupational safety and health.”

Material contained in this publication is in the public domain 

and may be reproduced, fully or partially, without permission. 

Source credit is requested but not required.

This information will be made available to sensory-impaired 

individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 693-1999; 

teletypewriter (TTY) number: 1-877-889-5627. 

This publication is intended to provide information about 

OSHA’s Excavations standards at 29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart P. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to 

comply with safety and health standards promulgated by OSHA 

or by a state with an OSHA-approved state plan. However, this 

publication is not itself a standard or regulation, and it creates no 

new legal obligations.

Cover photo courtesy of Speed Shore Corp.
Trenching and Excavation Safety

U.S. Department of Labor

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA 2226-10R 2015

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

What is the difference between an excavation 

and a trench?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

What are the dangers of trenching and 

excavation operations?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

What do the OSHA Excavation standards cover, 

and how do they protect workers? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

What are the soil classification categories?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

What is a competent person?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Preplanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Why is preplanning important to excavation work?. . . . . . . . . 3

What safety factors should be considered when 

bidding on a job?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

How can employers avoid hitting underground 

utility lines and pipes during excavation work? . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Protective Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

How can employers prevent cave-ins?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

What types of protective systems can employers 

use to protect workers from cave-ins?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

What other precautions do employers need to 

take to protect workers from cave-ins?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

What are the requirements for safely installing 

and removing protective systems?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

What do employers need to do to maintain materials 

and equipment used for protective systems?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Additional Hazards and Protections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

What other excavation hazards do employers 

need to address?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

What is the effect of water accumulation on 

excavation safety and what do employers need to do to 

protect workers from water-related excavation hazards?. . . 10

How can employers protect workers from hazardous 

atmospheres inside excavations?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
What means of access and egress must 

employers provide?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

What protective equipment are employers 

required to provide to workers in pier holes and 

confined footing excavations?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

When must employers conduct site inspections?. . . . . . . . . 12

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Workers’ Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

OSHA Assistance, Services and Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Establishing an Injury and Illness Prevention Program. . . . . 15

Compliance Assistance Specialists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Free On-site Safety and Health Consultation Services 

for Small Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Cooperative Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Occupational Safety and Health Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

OSHA Educational Materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

OSHA Regional Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

How to Contact OSHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Trenching and Excavation Safety

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Introduction

Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous 

construction operations. The Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration’s (OSHA) Excavation standards, 29 Code 

of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1926, Subpart P, contain 

requirements for excavation and trenching operations. This 

booklet highlights key elements of the standards and describes 

safe work practices that can protect workers from cave-ins and 

other hazards.

What is the difference between an excavation 

and a trench?

OSHA defines an excavation as any man-made cut, cavity, trench, 

or depression in the Earth’s surface formed by earth removal. 

A trench is defined as a narrow excavation (in relation to its length) 

made below the surface of the ground. In general, the depth 

of a trench is greater than its width, but the width of a trench 

(measured at the bottom) is not greater than 15 feet (4.6 m).

What are the dangers of trenching and 

excavation operations?

Trenching and excavation work presents serious hazards to all 

workers involved. Cave-ins pose the greatest risk and are more 

likely than some other excavation-related incidents to result in 

worker fatalities. One cubic yard of soil can weigh as much as a 

car. An unprotected trench can be an early grave. Employers must 

ensure that workers enter trenches only after adequate protections 

are in place to address cave-in hazards. Other potential hazards 

associated with trenching work include falling loads, hazardous 

atmospheres, and hazards from mobile equipment.

What do the OSHA Excavation standards cover, 

and how do they protect workers?

The standards apply to all open excavations made in the Earth’s 

surface, including trenches. Following the requirements of the 

standards will prevent or greatly reduce the risk of cave-ins and 

other excavation-related incidents.
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What are the soil classification categories?

Some of the compliance methods permitted under the 

Excavation standards require a competent person to classify 

soil and rock deposits as:

■ Stable rock;

■ Type A soil; 

■ Type B soil; or 

■ Type C soil.

See Appendix A to Subpart P of Part 1926 – Soil Classification.

Stable Rock – Natural solid mineral matter that can be 

excavated with vertical sides and remain intact while exposed.

Type A – Cohesive soils with an unconfined compressive 

strength of 1.5 tons per square foot (tsf) (144 kPa) or greater. 

Examples include: clay, silty clay, sandy clay, and clay loam. 

Certain conditions preclude soil from being classified as Type 

A. For example, no soil is Type A if it is fissured or has been 

previously disturbed. See Appendix A to Subpart P of Part 1926, 

paragraph (b) – Definitions (Type A), for a detailed definition of 

Type A soil.

Type B – Includes cohesive soil with an unconfined compressive 

strength greater than 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) but less than 1.5 tsf (144 

kPa) and granular cohesionless soils (such as angular gravel, 

similar to crushed rock, silt, silt loam, sandy loam, and, in some 

cases, silty clay loam and sandy clay loam). See Appendix A to 

Subpart P of Part 1926, paragraph (b) — Definitions (Type B), for 

a detailed definition of Type B soil.

Type C – Cohesive soil with an unconfined compressive 

strength of 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) or less, granular soils (including 

gravel, sand, and loamy sand), submerged soil or soil from 

which water is freely seeping, submerged rock that is not 

stable, or material in a sloped, layered system where the layers 

dip into the excavation or with a slope of four horizontal to one 

vertical (4H:1V) or steeper. See Appendix A to Subpart P of 

Part 1926, paragraph (b) — Definitions (Type C), for a detailed 

definition of Type C soil.
Trenching and Excavation Safety

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Note: Unconfined compressive strength means the load per 

unit area at which a soil will fail in compression. It can be 

determined by laboratory testing or estimated in the field using 

a pocket penetrometer, 

thumb penetration tests, 

or other methods.

See the video link below 

for additional guidance on 

classifying soil: www.osha.

gov/dts/vtools/construction/

soil_testing_fnl_eng_web.

html.

What is a competent person?

A competent person is an individual, designated by the employer, 

who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards 

in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, 

hazardous or dangerous to workers, and who is authorized to 

take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

Under the Excavation standards, tasks performed by the 

competent person include:

■ Classifying soil;

■ Inspecting protective 

systems;

■ Designing structural ramps;

■ Monitoring water removal 

equipment; and 

■ Conducting site 

inspections.

Preplanning

Why is preplanning important to 

excavation work?

No matter how many trenching, shoring, and backfilling jobs an 

employer has done in the past, it is important to approach each 

new job with care and preparation. Many on-the-job incidents 

result from inadequate initial planning. Waiting until after the 
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work starts to correct mistakes in shoring or sloping slows 

down the operation, adds to the cost of the project, and makes 

a cave-in or other excavation failure more likely.

What safety factors should be considered when 

bidding on a job?

Before preparing a bid, employers should know as much as 

possible about the jobsite and the materials they will need to have 

on hand to perform the work safely and in compliance with OSHA 

standards. A safety checklist may prove helpful when employers 

are considering new projects. Factors to consider may include:

■ Traffic

■ Proximity and physical 

condition of nearby 

structures

■ Soil classification

■ Surface and ground water

■ Location of the water table

■ Overhead and 

underground utilities 

■ Weather

■ Quantity of shoring or 

protective systems that 

may be required

■ Fall protection needs

■ Number of ladders that may 

be needed

■ Other equipment needs.

Employers can gather the information they need through jobsite 

studies, observations, test borings for soil type or conditions, 

and consultations with local officials and utility companies. This 

information will help employers determine the amount, kind, and 

cost of safety equipment they will need to perform the work safely.

How can employers avoid hitting underground 

utility lines and pipes during excavation work? 

Before starting work, the Excavation standards require 

employers to do the following: 

■ Determine the approximate location(s) of utility installations — 

including sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, and water lines. 

One common industry practice is to call 811, the “Call 

Before You Dig” number, to establish the location of any 

underground utility installations in the work area.
Trenching and Excavation Safety

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■ Contact and notify the utility companies or owners involved 

to inform them of the proposed work within established or 

customary local response times.

■ Ask the utility companies or owners to establish the location 

of underground installations prior to the start of excavation 

work. If they cannot respond within 24 hours (unless the 

period required by state or local law is longer) or cannot 

establish the exact location of the utility installations, 

employers may proceed with caution, which includes using 

detection equipment or other acceptable means to locate 

utility installations.

■ Determine the exact location of underground installations 

by safe and acceptable means when excavation operations 

approach the approximate location of the installations.

■ Ensure that while the excavation is open, underground 

installations are protected, supported or removed as 

necessary to safeguard workers.

Protective Systems

How can employers prevent cave-ins?

OSHA generally requires that employers protect workers from 

cave-ins by: 

■ Sloping and benching the sides of the excavation;

■ Supporting the sides of the excavation; or

■ Placing a shield between the side of the excavation and the 

work area.

What types of protective systems can employers 

use to protect workers from cave-ins?

In many cases the type of protective system needed is well 

known and simple to use. At other times employers will 

undertake the more complex process of designing a protective 

system. Designing a protective system requires consideration 

of many factors, including: soil classification, depth of cut, 

water content of soil, weather and climate, and other operations 
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in the vicinity. Employers are free to choose the most practical 

design that will provide the necessary protections. Any system 

used must meet the required performance criteria.

The Excavation standards describe various methods and 

approaches that can be used to design protective systems. 

Examples of protective systems that can be used to comply 

with the Excavation standards include:

■ Sloping the sides of the excavation to an angle not steeper 

than 11⁄2:1 (for every foot of depth, the trench must be 

excavated back 11⁄2 feet). A slope of this gradation is safe for 

any type of soil.

Figure 1. Slope of 11⁄2:1

■ Designing a sloping and benching system in accord with 

tabulated data, such as tables and charts, approved by 

a registered professional engineer. This data must be in 

writing and must include enough explanatory information 

(including the criteria for selecting a system and the limits 

on the use of the data) for the user to be able to select an 

appropriate protective system. At least one copy of the data, 

which identifies the registered professional engineer who 

approved it, must be kept at the worksite during construction 

of the protective system. After the system is completed, the 

data may be stored away from the jobsite, but a copy must 

be provided upon request to an OSHA compliance officer.

■ Using a trench box or shield approved by a registered 

professional engineer or designed in accord with tabulated 

data approved by a registered professional engineer. 
Trenching and Excavation Safety

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Figure 2. Trench Shields

The Excavation standards do not require a protective system 

when an excavation is made entirely in stable rock or when 

an excavation is less than 5 feet (1.52 meters) deep and a 

competent person has examined the ground and found no 

indication of a potential cave-in.

What other precautions do employers need to 

take to protect workers from cave-ins?

The Excavation standards require employers to provide 

support systems, such as shoring, bracing, or underpinning, 

when necessary to ensure that adjacent structures (including 

adjoining buildings, walls, sidewalks and pavements) remain 

stable for the protection of workers. The standards also prohibit 

excavation below the base or footing of any foundation or 

retaining wall that could be reasonably expected to pose a 

hazard to workers unless:

■ The employer provides a support system, such as 

underpinning;

■ The excavation is in stable rock; or
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■ A registered professional engineer determines that the 

structure is far enough away from the excavation that it 

would not be affected by the excavation activity or that the 

excavation work will not pose a hazard to workers.

Excavations that would undermine sidewalks, pavement, and 

appurtenant structures are prohibited unless the employer 

provides an appropriately designed support system or another 

effective method of protecting workers from the possible 

collapse of those structures.

What are the requirements for safely installing 

and removing protective systems?

The Excavation standards require employers to take certain 

steps to protect workers when installing and removing support 

systems. For example:

■ Members of support systems must be securely connected to 

prevent sliding, falling, kickouts or predictable failure.

■ Support systems must be installed and removed in a manner 

that protects workers from cave-ins and structural collapses 

and from being struck by members of the support system.

■ Members of support systems must not be overloaded.

■ Before temporary removal of individual members, additional 

precautions are required, such as installing other structural 

members to carry loads imposed on the support system. 

■ Removal must begin at, and progress from, the bottom of 

the excavation.

■ Backfilling must progress together with the removal of 

support systems from excavations.

In addition, the standards permit excavation of 2 feet (0.61 

meters) or less below the bottom of the members of a support 

system, but only if the system 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 support system. 

Employers must coordinate the installation of support systems 

with the excavation work.
Trenching and Excavation Safety

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What do employers need to do to 

maintain materials and equipment used 

for protective systems?

Employers are responsible 

for maintaining materials and 

equipment used for protective 

systems. Defective and damaged 

materials and equipment can cause 

protective systems to fail and 

lead to other excavation hazards. 

Employers must ensure that:

■ Materials and equipment are free from damage or defects 

that might impair their proper function;

■ Manufactured materials and equipment are used 

and maintained consistent with the manufacturer’s 

recommendations and are used so as to prevent worker 

exposure to hazards; 

■ A competent person examines any damaged materials or 

equipment to evaluate its suitability for continued use; and

■ If a competent person cannot assure that damaged material 

or equipment can support the intended loads or is otherwise 

suitable for use, the materials and equipment are removed 

from service until evaluated and approved by a registered 

professional engineer.

Additional Hazards and Protections

What other excavation hazards do employers 

need to address?

In addition to cave-ins and related hazards, workers involved in 

excavation work are exposed to hazards involving falling loads 

and mobile equipment. To protect workers from these hazards, 

OSHA requires employers to take certain precautions. For 

example, employers must:

■ Protect workers from excavated or other materials or 

equipment that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

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inside the excavation by placing and keeping such materials 

or equipment at least 2 feet (0.61 meters) from the edge 

and/or by using a retaining device to keep the materials or 

equipment from falling or rolling into the excavation.

■ Provide a warning system (such as barricades, hand or 

mechanical signals, or stop logs) when mobile equipment is 

operated adjacent to an excavation, or when such equipment 

must approach the edge of an excavation, and the operator 

does not have a clear and direct view of the edge.

■ Protect workers from loose rock or soil that could fall or roll 

from an excavation face by scaling to remove loose material, 

installing protective barricades at appropriate intervals, or 

using other equivalent forms of protection.

■ Institute and enforce work rules prohibiting workers from 

working on faces of sloped or benched excavations at levels 

above other workers unless the workers at the lower levels 

are adequately protected from the hazards of falling, rolling, 

or sliding material or equipment.

■ Institute and enforce work rules prohibiting workers from 

standing or working under loads being handled by lifting or 

digging equipment. 

■ Require workers to stand away from vehicles being loaded 

or unloaded to protect them from being struck by any 

spillage or falling materials. (Operators may remain inside 

the cab of a vehicle being loaded or unloaded if the vehicle 

is equipped, in accord with 29 CFR 1926.601(b)(6), to provide 

adequate protection for the operator.)

What is the effect of water accumulation on 

excavation safety and what do employers need 

to do to protect workers from water-related 

excavation hazards?

Water in an excavation can undermine the sides of the 

excavation and make it more difficult for workers to get out 

of the excavation. The OSHA standards prohibit employers 

from allowing workers to enter an excavation where water has 

accumulated or is accumulating unless adequate precautions are 

taken to protect workers. Such precautions can include special 
Trenching and Excavation Safety

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support or shield systems to prevent cave-ins, water removal to 

control the water level, or the use of a safety harness and lifeline. 

If an employer uses water removal equipment to control or 

prevent water accumulation, the equipment and operations must 

be monitored by a competent person to ensure proper use. If 

excavation work interrupts the natural drainage of surface water, 

the OSHA standards also require the use of diversion ditches, 

dikes, or other suitable means to prevent surface water from 

entering the excavation and to provide adequate drainage of 

the adjacent area. In addition, a competent person must inspect 

excavations subject to runoffs from heavy rains, and excavations 

subject to such runoffs are subject to the requirements described 

previously in this paragraph.

How can employers protect workers from 

hazardous atmospheres inside excavations?

Atmospheric testing is required before workers enter an 

excavation greater than 4 feet (1.22 meters) in depth where an 

oxygen deficiency or a hazardous atmosphere is present or 

could reasonably be expected, such as in excavations in landfill 

areas or excavations in areas where hazardous substances are 

stored nearby. If there are any hazardous conditions present, 

the employer must ensure that adequate precautions are 

taken to prevent employee exposure to those conditions. Such 

precautions include providing workers with proper respiratory 

protection or ventilation. In addition, when controls are used 

to reduce the level of atmospheric contaminants to acceptable 

levels, testing must be conducted as often as necessary to 

ensure that the atmosphere remains safe.

If hazardous atmospheric conditions exist or may reasonably 

be expected to develop in an excavation, the employer must 

ensure the ready availability of emergency rescue equipment, 

such as breathing apparatus, a safety harness and line, or a 

basket stretcher. This equipment must be attended when in use.

Note: In addition to the Excavation standards’ provisions on 

hazardous atmospheres in excavations, OSHA’s Confined Spaces 

in Construction standard (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart AA) applies 

to non-excavation work within a confined space located in an 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

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excavation. These standards are intended to complement each 

other and address two distinct hazards: hazardous atmospheres 

in excavations and the additional hazards associated with 

confined spaces located within excavations. For example, the 

Confined Spaces in Construction standard covers entry into a 

prefabricated storm drain, other pipe, or manhole even if located 

at the bottom of an open excavation. 

What means of access and egress must 

employers provide?

OSHA requires employers to provide ladders, steps, ramps, 

or other safe means of egress for workers working in trench 

excavations 4 feet (1.22 meters) or deeper. The means of egress 

must be located so as not to require workers to travel more than 

25 feet (7.62 meters) laterally within the trench.

Any structural ramps used solely for worker access or egress must 

be designed by a competent person. Structural ramps used for 

access or egress of equipment must be designed by a competent 

person qualified in structural design. Also, structural members 

used for ramps or runways must be uniform in thickness and 

joined in a manner to prevent tripping or displacement.

What protective equipment are employers 

required to provide to workers in pier holes and 

confined footing excavations?

Employers must ensure that any worker who enters a bellbottom pier hole or similar deep and confined footing 

excavation wears a harness with a lifeline. The lifeline must 

be attached securely to the harness and must be separate 

from any line used to handle materials. Also, the lifeline must 

be individually attended by an observer at all times when the 

worker wearing the lifeline is in the excavation.

When must employers conduct site inspections?

Employers must ensure that a competent person inspects all 

excavations, adjacent areas, and protective systems daily for 

possible cave-ins, indications of failures in protective systems 

and equipment, hazardous atmospheres, and other hazardous 
Trenching and Excavation Safety

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conditions. Inspections must be done prior to the start of 

work and as needed throughout the shift. Inspections are also 

required after natural events, such as rainstorms, or other 

hazard-increasing occurrences, such as blasting work. If an 

inspector finds any unsafe conditions during an inspection, the 

employer must clear workers from the hazardous area until the 

necessary safety precautions have been taken.

Conclusion

When employers share the details of their safety and health 

programs with workers, they should emphasize the critical role 

workers play in keeping the jobsite safe. Employers also need 

to emphasize specific practices that will help reduce the risk 

of on-the-job injuries at excavation sites. Such practices can 

include the following:

■ Know where underground utilities are located before digging.

■ Keep excavated soil (spoils) and other materials at least 

2 feet (0.61 meters) from trench edges.

■ Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges.

■ Identify any equipment or activities that could affect 

trench stability.

■ Test for atmospheric hazards such as low oxygen, 

hazardous fumes, and toxic gases when workers are more 

than 4 feet deep.

■ Inspect trenches at the start of each shift.

■ Inspect trenches following a rainstorm or other water 

intrusion.

■ Inspect trenches after any occurrence that could have 

changed conditions in the trench.

■ Do not work under suspended or raised loads and materials.

■ Ensure that personnel wear high-visibility or other suitable 

clothing when exposed to vehicular traffic.

Employers should consider establishing and maintaining safety 

and health management systems that provide systematic 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

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policies, procedures, and practices for protecting workers from 

job-related safety and health hazards. See www.osha.gov/

Publications/safety-health-management-systems.pdf.

Workers’ Rights

Workers have the right to:

■ Working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm. 

■ Receive information and training (in a language and 

vocabulary the worker understands) about workplace 

hazards, methods to prevent them, and the OSHA standards 

that apply to their workplace. 

■ Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses. 

■ File a complaint asking OSHA to inspect their workplace if 

they believe there is a serious hazard or that their employer 

is not following OSHA’s rules. OSHA will keep all identities 

confidential.

■ Exercise their rights under the law without retaliation, including 

reporting an injury or raising health and safety concerns with 

their employer or OSHA. If a worker has been retaliated against 

for using their rights, they must file a complaint with OSHA as 

soon as possible, but no later than 30 days. 

For more information, see OSHA’s Workers page.

OSHA Assistance, Services and Programs 

OSHA has a great deal of information to assist employers in 

complying with their responsibilities under OSHA law. Several 

OSHA programs and services can help employers identify and 

correct job hazards, as well as improve their injury and illness 

prevention program.
Trenching and Excavation Safety

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Establishing an Injury and Illness 

Prevention Program

The key to a safe and healthful work environment is a 

comprehensive injury and illness prevention program.

Injury and illness prevention programs are systems that can 

substantially reduce the number and severity of workplace 

injuries and illnesses, while reducing costs to employers. 

Thousands of employers across the United States already 

manage safety using injury and illness prevention programs, and 

OSHA believes that all employers can and should do the same. 

Thirty-four states have requirements or voluntary guidelines 

for workplace injury and illness prevention programs. Most 

successful injury and illness prevention programs are based 

on a common set of key elements. These include management 

leadership, worker participation, hazard identification, hazard 

prevention and control, education and training, and program 

evaluation and improvement. Visit OSHA’s Injury and Illness 

Prevention Programs web page at www.osha.gov/dsg/topics/

safetyhealth for more information.

Compliance Assistance Specialists

OSHA has compliance assistance specialists throughout the 

nation located in most OSHA offices. Compliance assistance 

specialists can provide information to employers and workers 

about OSHA standards, short educational programs on specific 

hazards or OSHA rights and responsibilities, and information on 

additional compliance assistance resources. For more details, 

visit www.osha.gov/dcsp/compliance_assistance/cas.html or 

call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) to contact your local OSHA office.

Free On-site Safety and Health Consultation 

Services for Small Business

OSHA’s On-site Consultation Program offers free and 

confidential advice to small and medium-sized businesses 

in all states across the country, with priority given to highhazard worksites. Each year, responding to requests from small 

employers looking to create or improve their safety and health 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

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management programs, OSHA’s On-site Consultation Program 

conducts over 29,000 visits to small business worksites 

covering over 1.5 million workers across the nation.

On-site consultation services are separate from enforcement 

and do not result in penalties or citations. Consultants from state 

agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace 

hazards, provide advice on compliance with OSHA standards, and 

assist in establishing safety and health management programs.

For more information, to find the local On-site Consultation office 

in your state, or to request a brochure on Consultation Services, 

visit www.osha.gov/consultation, or call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).

Under the consultation program, certain exemplary employers 

may request participation in OSHA’s Safety and Health 

Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). Eligibility for 

participation includes, but is not limited to, receiving a fullservice, comprehensive consultation visit, correcting all 

identified hazards and developing an effective safety and 

health management program. Worksites that receive SHARP 

recognition are exempt from programmed inspections during 

the period that the SHARP certification is valid.

Cooperative Programs

OSHA offers cooperative programs under which businesses, 

labor groups and other organizations can work cooperatively 

with OSHA. To find out more about any of the following 

programs, visit www.osha.gov/cooperativeprograms.

Strategic Partnerships and Alliances

The OSHA Strategic Partnerships (OSP) provide the opportunity 

for OSHA to partner with employers, workers, professional or 

trade associations, labor organizations, and/or other interested 

stakeholders. OSHA Partnerships are formalized through unique 

agreements designed to encourage, assist, and recognize 

partner efforts to eliminate serious hazards and achieve model 

workplace safety and health practices. Through the Alliance 

Program, OSHA works with groups committed to worker safety 
Trenching and Excavation Safety

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and health to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses 

by developing compliance assistance tools and resources to 

share with workers and employers, and educate workers and 

employers about their rights and responsibilities.

Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)

The VPP recognize employers and workers in private industry 

and federal agencies who have implemented effective safety and 

health management programs and maintain injury and illness rates 

below the national average for their respective industries. In VPP, 

management, labor, and OSHA work cooperatively and proactively 

to prevent fatalities, injuries, and illnesses through a system 

focused on: hazard prevention and control, worksite analysis, 

training, and management commitment and worker involvement.

Occupational Safety and Health Training

The OSHA Training Institute partners with 27 OSHA Training 

Institute Education Centers at 42 locations throughout the United 

States to deliver courses on OSHA standards and occupational 

safety and health topics to thousands of students a year. For more 

information on training courses, visit www.osha.gov/otiec.

OSHA Educational Materials

OSHA has many types of educational materials in English, 

Spanish, Vietnamese and other languages available in print or 

online. These include:

■ Brochures/booklets;

■ Fact Sheets;

■ Guidance documents that provide detailed examinations of 

specific safety and health issues;

■ Online Safety and Health Topics pages;

■ Posters;

■ Small, laminated QuickCardsTM that provide brief safety and 

health information; and
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

1 8

■ QuickTakes, OSHA’s free, twice-monthly online newsletter 

with the latest news about OSHA initiatives and 

products to assist employers and workers in finding and 

preventing workplace hazards. To sign up for QuickTakes

visit www.osha.gov/quicktakes.

To view materials available online or for a listing of free 

publications, visit www.osha.gov/publications. You can also call 

1-800-321-OSHA (6742) to order publications. 

Select OSHA publications are available in e-Book format. 

OSHA e-Books are designed to increase readability on 

smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. For access, 

go to www.osha.gov/ebooks. 

OSHA’s web site also has information on job hazards and injury 

and illness prevention for employers and workers. To learn 

more about OSHA’s safety and health resources online, visit 

www.osha.gov or www.osha.gov/html/a-z-index.html.

NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation Program

Getting Help with Health Hazards

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

(NIOSH) is a federal agency that conducts scientific and medical 

research on workers’ safety and health. At no cost to employers 

or workers, NIOSH can help identify health hazards and 

recommend ways to reduce or eliminate those hazards in the 

workplace through its Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) Program.

Workers, union representatives and employers can request a 

NIOSH HHE. An HHE is often requested when there is a higher 

than expected rate of a disease or injury in a group of workers. 

These situations may be the result of an unknown cause, a new 

hazard, or a mixture of sources. To request a NIOSH Health 

Hazard Evaluation go to www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/request.html. 

To find out more, in English or Spanish, about the Health Hazard 

Evaluation Program: 

E-mail HHERequestHelp@cdc.gov or call 800-CDC-INFO 

(800-232-4636).
Trenching and Excavation Safety

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OSHA Regional Offices

Region I

Boston Regional Office

(CT*, ME*, MA, NH, RI, VT*) 

JFK Federal Building, Room E340

Boston, MA 02203

(617) 565-9860 (617) 565-9827 Fax 

Region II

New York Regional Office

(NJ*, NY*, PR*, VI*)

201 Varick Street, Room 670

New York, NY 10014

(212) 337-2378 (212) 337-2371 Fax

Region III

Philadelphia Regional Office

(DE, DC, MD*, PA, VA*, WV)

The Curtis Center

170 S. Independence Mall West

Suite 740 West

Philadelphia, PA 19106-3309

(215) 861-4900 (215) 861-4904 Fax

Region IV 

Atlanta Regional Office

(AL, FL, GA, KY*, MS, NC*, SC*, TN*)

61 Forsyth Street, SW, Room 6T50

Atlanta, GA 30303

(678) 237-0400 (678) 237-0447 Fax

Region V

Chicago Regional Office

(IL*, IN*, MI*, MN*, OH, WI)

230 South Dearborn Street 

Room 3244

Chicago, IL 60604

(312) 353-2220 (312) 353-7774 Fax
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

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Region VI

Dallas Regional Office

(AR, LA, NM*, OK, TX)

525 Griffin Street, Room 602

Dallas, TX 75202

(972) 850-4145 (972) 850-4149 Fax

(972) 850-4150 FSO Fax

Region VII

Kansas City Regional Office

(IA*, KS, MO, NE)

Two Pershing Square Building

2300 Main Street, Suite 1010

Kansas City, MO 64108-2416

(816) 283-8745 (816) 283-0547 Fax

Region VIII

Denver Regional Office

(CO, MT, ND, SD, UT*, WY*)

Cesar Chavez Memorial Building

1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 551

Denver, CO 80204

(720) 264-6550 (720) 264-6585 Fax

Region IX 

San Francisco Regional Office

(AZ*, CA*, HI*, NV*, and American Samoa, 

Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands)

90 7th Street, Suite 18100

San Francisco, CA 94103

(415) 625-2547 (415) 625-2534 Fax

Region X

Seattle Regional Office

(AK*, ID, OR*, WA*)

300 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1280

Seattle, WA 98104

(206) 757-6700 (206) 757-6705 Fax
Trenching and Excavation Safety

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* These states and territories operate their own OSHA-approved 

job safety and health plans and cover state and local government 

employees as well as private sector employees. The Connecticut, 

Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, New York and Virgin Islands 

programs cover public employees only. (Private sector workers in 

these states are covered by Federal OSHA). States with approved 

programs must have standards that are identical to, or at least as 

effective as, the Federal OSHA standards.

Note: To get contact information for OSHA area offices, OSHAapproved state plans and OSHA consultation projects, please visit 

us online at www.osha.gov or call us at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).

How to Contact OSHA

For questions or to get information or advice, 

to report an emergency, fatality, inpatient 

hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye, or to 

file a confidential complaint, contact your nearest 

OSHA office, visit www.osha.gov or call OSHA at 

1-800-321-OSHA (6742), TTY 1-877-889-5627.

For assistance, contact us.

We are OSHA. We can help.
For more information:

Occupational 

Safety and Health

Administration

www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

U.S. Department of Labor