GCs and OSHA inspectors require a documented trenching and shoring plan before any excavation work begins. This template gives you a complete, OSHA-compliant plan in minutes — soil classification worksheet, protective system selection guide, daily inspection checklists, and emergency rescue procedures. OSHA 1926 Subpart P compliant.
OSHA 1926.652(a)(1) requires a protective system for any excavation 5 feet or deeper — sloping, shoring, or shielding. Unprotected trenches are the most common Subpart P violation and almost always classified serious or willful when a cave-in fatality occurs.
Guessing the soil type without performing required visual and manual tests (OSHA Appendix B) means your sloping ratios may be wrong. Type C soil sloped at a Type A ratio (3/4:1 instead of 1.5:1) is an unprotected trench waiting to collapse. Classification must be documented by your competent person every shift.
OSHA 1926.651(c)(2) requires a ladder, stairway, ramp, or other safe means of egress within 25 lateral feet of every worker in an excavation 4 feet or deeper. Missing or improperly placed ladders are one of the most commonly cited Subpart P violations — and easily preventable with a pre-shift checklist.
Excavated material placed within 2 feet of the trench edge creates a surcharge load that increases lateral pressure on trench walls and dramatically raises cave-in risk. OSHA 1926.651(j)(2) prohibits it — but it's one of the most frequently observed field violations because crews default to dumping dirt right next to the trench.
This template package covers soil classification through emergency procedures — everything your competent person needs for pre-bid, pre-job, and daily excavation compliance.
Visual and manual test documentation for Type A, B, and C classification per OSHA Appendix B. Penetrometer readings, plasticity tests, vibration assessment, and fissure observation fields — with required documentation for each shift.
Decision tree and tables for selecting sloping ratios (Type A/B/C), timber shoring (Appendix C), aluminum hydraulic shoring (Appendix D), or trench shield specifications. Includes tabulated data references for competent person sign-off.
Pre-shift and as-needed inspection checklist: protective system integrity, spoil pile location, egress ladders, water accumulation, atmospheric hazards, adjacent structures, and vehicular traffic controls. Documented per-shift as OSHA requires.
811 call documentation, utility company notification records, potholing verification fields, and as-built drawing review checklist. Meets 1926.651(b) requirements for identifying and protecting underground installations before excavation begins.
Cave-in rescue protocol, emergency contact list, nearest hospital route, rescue equipment checklist (no-entry rescue), confined space overlap procedures if atmospheric hazards are present, and incident notification chain for OSHA 300 Log entries.
Written designation of the qualified competent person, their Subpart P training credentials, soil classification authority, stop-work authority documentation, and contractor coordination requirements for multi-employer excavation sites.
Every field in this template maps to a specific regulatory requirement. When OSHA shows up after a cave-in or near-miss, your documentation is defensible because every line cites the standard that requires it.
Your competent person must classify the soil using at least one visual test and one manual test before selecting a protective system. Classification determines everything — use the wrong type and your sloping calculation is wrong.
Horizontal : Vertical sloping ratio for Type A soil. For every foot of depth, trench walls must be cut back 3/4 foot per side.
For every foot of depth, cut back 1 foot per side. Applies to soils that don't meet Type A criteria but aren't as loose as Type C.
For every foot of depth, cut back 1.5 feet per side. The most conservative ratio — required for the most unstable soil conditions.
Every Subpart P requirement your competent person must verify before and during excavation work on any Houston construction site.
| Requirement | Regulation | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competent Person Designated | 1926.650(b) | Competent person identified in writing with soil classification authority and stop-work authority | Required |
| Underground Utilities Located | 1926.651(b) | 811 notification, utility company contact, potholing verification within excavation zone before digging | Required |
| Surface Encumbrances Removed | 1926.651(a) | Trees, boulders, sidewalk sections braced or removed where they could pose a hazard | If Present |
| Soil Classification Performed | App. B | At least one visual test + one manual test (penetrometer or ribbon test). Documented before excavation and after every hazardous change | Required |
| Protective System Installed | 1926.652 | Sloping (Appendix B ratios), shoring (Appendix C/D), or shielding for all excavations 5+ feet deep | Required ≥5 ft |
| Spoil Pile ≥ 2 Feet From Edge | 1926.651(j)(2) | Excavated soil and other materials set back minimum 2 feet from edge to prevent surcharge loading and kickback | Required |
| Safe Egress Within 25 Feet | 1926.651(c) | Ladder, ramp, or stairway within 25 lateral feet of every worker in excavations 4+ feet deep | Required ≥4 ft |
| Vehicular Traffic Controls | 1926.651(d) | Warning vests for workers exposed to traffic; barricades, signs, or stop/slow paddle control | If Traffic |
| Water Accumulation Control | 1926.651(h) | No work in accumulated water unless protective system is used and competent person ensures safety. Pumping plan for groundwater | If Water |
| Atmospheric Testing | 1926.651(g) | Test for oxygen deficiency and hazardous atmospheres before entry into excavations over 4 feet where potential exists | If Hazard |
| Adjoining Structure Assessment | 1926.651(i) | Stability of adjacent buildings, walls, and sidewalks assessed before and during excavation | If Adjacent |
| Daily Inspection Log | 1926.651(k) | Competent person inspects before each shift, after rain/storm, after any cave-in or near-miss, and as conditions change. Log maintained on site | Required |
| Emergency Response Plan | 1926.651 | Cave-in rescue procedures, non-entry rescue protocol, emergency contacts, nearest hospital route posted at jobsite | Required |
Follow this sequence before breaking ground and during every day of excavation activity. Your competent person leads each step.
Call 811 at least 72 hours before digging (Texas law). Document the notification, wait for marking, then pothole to physically verify locations. Never assume utility maps are accurate in Houston's older neighborhoods and industrial corridors.
Your designated competent person must classify the soil using OSHA Appendix B methods before any excavation begins. This determines your protective system — getting this wrong makes everything downstream wrong.
Based on soil classification and trench dimensions, your competent person selects the appropriate protective system. Selection must reference OSHA tabulated data — guessing without the tables isn't acceptable.
The competent person must inspect the excavation before each shift begins and after any event that could have increased hazards — rain, frost, vibration, or adjacent work. Document every inspection even if no hazards are found.
If a cave-in occurs or is imminent, do not send rescuers into the excavation without mechanical means of rescue. Entering an unstable trench after a collapse is how single fatalities become double fatalities. Your plan must address non-entry rescue first.
Download the template your competent person can use on every excavation job — soil classification worksheet, inspection log, emergency procedures, and protective system selection guide. Free PDF delivered instantly.
Your free Trenching & Shoring Safety Plan template is on its way. While you wait, explore our Excavation Safety Plan template and JSA/JHA template — both pair directly with this document for complete excavation job coverage.
No subscription. No seat licenses. Buy once, use on every excavation job.
[LIKE THIS].
Stop building from scratch. Download professionally drafted, OSHA-aligned templates in minutes — ready to customize for your project.