(a)
Plans and specifications.
On construction projects in
which trench excavation will exceed a depth of five (5) feet, the
bid documents and contract must include detailed plans and specifications
for trench safety systems that meet Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) standards. The plans and specifications shall
include a pay item for these same safety measures.
(b)
OSHA standards.
The bid document and contract requirements
that are subject to this portion of the building code shall call for
a trench safety system which complies with said OSHA standards in
effect at the time of bidding. If this section is construed to be
invalid as an unlawful delegation of legislative power, or for any
other reason, then the OSHA standards in effect at the time of the
passage of this section shall be met.
(Ordinance 766 adopted 11/9/04; 2004 Code, secs. 3.501, 3.502)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to
excavate and cause to be used any trench which exceeds a depth of
five (5) feet except in compliance with this division.
(1987 Code, ch. 10, sec. 7A; 2004
Code, sec. 13.701)
Any person who excavates a trench which exceeds a depth of five
(5) feet within the city or within its extraterritorial jurisdiction
and requires a trench safety system under this division shall obtain
a trench excavation permit from the building official of this city.
A trench safety system shall be provided in any excavation which exceeds
a depth of five (5) feet if any person is required or allowed to enter
said excavation for any reason or may otherwise be exposed to cave-ins.
(1987 Code, ch. 10, sec. 7B; 2004
Code, sec. 13.702)
The maximum angle with the horizontal plane at which a mass
of soil material, as in a cut or embankment, will lie without sliding.
A registered professional engineer licensed to practice in
the State of Texas.
A man-made cavity in the earth’s surface formed by
earth removal, except an excavation regulated by V.T.C.A., Utilities
Code, chapter 121.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the
U.S. Department of Labor.
The requirements and specifications of subpart P, table P-2,
of the OSHA construction standards, as from time to time may be amended
and adopted by reference as if fully set out herein.
An excavation of fifteen (15) feet or less in width in which,
in general, the length is greater than the width, except a trench
regulated by V.T.C.A., Utilities Code, chapter 121.
Organized or established procedures and physical actions
planned and prepared by an engineer to facilitate the occupational
and worker safety of trench excavations. A trench safety system may
include shoring, bracing, sloping of trench sides, trench safety shields
or any procedure, policy or mechanical device to insure safety that
meets OSHA standards.
A shoring system composed of steel plates and braces rigidly
fastened together to support the walls of a trench and which can be
moved along the trench as work progresses.
(1987 Code, ch. 10, sec. 7C; 2004
Code, sec. 13.703)
(a)
To
obtain a trench excavation permit, the applicant shall furnish two
(2) copies of engineering plans and specifications prepared and sealed
by an engineer. Plans and specifications shall be of sufficient clarity
to indicate the scope, extent and details of all work proposed, including:
(1)
Description of all work to be performed, along with an accurate,
detailed schedule of construction;
(2)
Description of the land on which the work is to be performed, by
legal description, street address or similar description that shall
readily identify the project location;
(3)
Details of the route, width and depth of the trench, description
and analysis of types of soils and locations of adjacent structures
and installations both above and below ground;
(4)
Engineering details of the trench excavation including but not limited
to plan and profile sheets, soil analysis, design computations and
excavated material storage;
(5)
Details of the trench safety system, including methods and equipment
for excavation, construction, installation and worker safety;
(6)
For excavations having sloped trenched sides, soil testing laboratory
reports determining the maximum angle of response. For testing purposes,
core samples are required no less than each seven hundred (700) linear
feet of trench length; and
(7)
Any other OSHA standards pertinent to proper completion of said project.
(b)
Plans,
specifications and reports submitted for the permit shall bear the
name, seal and registration number of an engineer and contain the
following certificate:
I hereby certify that these plans and accompanying specifications
or these engineering works were prepared by me, or under my direct
supervision, in accordance with OSHA and the city’s trench excavation
and safety standards and requirements.
Signature and Registration Number
(d)
The
bid documents and the contract authorizing the work for which a trench
excavation permit is required shall include, in addition to the plans
and specifications for the trench safety system, a separate pay item
for the trench safety system.
(1987 Code, ch. 10, sec. 7D; 2004
Code, sec. 13.704)
(a)
Materials
used for sheeting, sheet piling, cribbing, bracing, shoring, and underpinning
shall be in good, serviceable condition and free of defects. Defective
materials or equipment may not be used and shall be immediately removed
from the job site.
(b)
Steel
trench shields shall be constructed of steel plate welded or bolted
to a rigid steel framework and include the following minimum protective
measures:
(1)
Trench shields shall be constructed in a manner that provides protection
at a minimum equal to sheeting or shoring required for trench safety
construction;
(2)
Adjustable jacks that meet or exceed the rigidity requirements of
OSHA standards and this article may be used;
(3)
An access ladder shall be provided at the midpoint or center of the
trench shield for ingress-egress;
(4)
Runners or wheels may be installed or incorporated under the trench
shield side walls for ease of movement;
(5)
Lifting eyes shall be welded to the trench shield to provide ease
of lifting;
(6)
When the side walls of a trench extend above the sides and top of
the trench shield, a reinforced steel roof with access doors or hatches
shall be installed; and
(7)
Continuous forced, fresh air ventilation shall be mandatory for fully
enclosed trench shields.
(1987 Code, ch. 10, sec. 7E; 2004
Code, sec. 13.705)
(a)
Construction
requiring trenching shall meet or exceed the minimum OSHA standards
and requirements of this division as may from time to time be amended
and which are incorporated by reference as if fully set out herein.
(b)
A
trench safety system shall be installed in a true or level horizontal
position, shall be bottomed in the trench, shall be properly spaced
vertically and shall be secured to prevent sliding, falling or kick-outs.
(c)
Any
evidence of a change in soil conditions shall be corrected immediately.
(d)
Water
shall not be allowed to accumulate within a trench and shall be diverted
prior to entry or removed immediately after entry.
(e)
Trench
excavations shall have an exit every twenty-five (25) linear feet,
at minimum, which is anchored in place to withstand the combination
weight of individuals working in the trench.
(f)
Excavated
soil material shall be removed not less than two (2) feet from the
edge or side walls of the trench.
(g)
A
trench excavated within or adjacent to previously disturbed soil shall
be classified as unstable and shall require special safety precautions
to be analyzed and established by the engineer. Said precautions shall
be included as part of the plans and specifications submitted for
the trench excavation permit.
(h)
Heavy
equipment shall not operate in the area between a new trench and adjacent
previously disturbed soil when individuals are in said trench or otherwise
exposed to cave-ins.
(1987 Code, ch. 10, sec. 7F; 2004
Code, sec. 13.706)
(a)
Compliance
with OSHA standards and requirements of this article shall be the
responsibility of the permit holder or contractor, or both, who shall:
(1)
Inspect and maintain for soundness and adequacy, on a regular basis,
the trench safety system and its associated materials, equipment and
environment;
(2)
Inspect the trench excavation on each working day for evidence of
changing soil condition or instability;
(3)
Document each inspection and maintenance procedure in writing with
said record kept for immediate review on the job site. Each recorded
entry shall include the date, time, person’s name performing
the task and results of said inspection or maintenance action performed.
(b)
The
city may require the permit holder or contractor, or both, to remove,
replace or repair any portion of the trench safety system which it
determines to be unsafe, but such requirement in no way relieves the
permit holder or contractor, or both, of responsibility for trench
safety.
(1987 Code, ch. 10, sec. 7G; 2004
Code, sec. 13.707)
Permit fees shall be as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(1987 Code, ch. 10, sec. 7H; 2004
Code, sec. 13.708; Ordinance adopting 2021 Code)
