(a)
Any person who excavates a trench which exceeds a depth of five feet (5') within the city and requires a trench safety system under this article shall obtain a trench excavation permit from the building official. Failure to obtain a permit or to comply with the trench safety requirements of this article shall constitute an offense punishable by a fine in accordance with the general penalty provision found in section 1.01.009 of this code.
(b)
A
trench safety system shall be provided in any excavation which exceeds
a depth of five feet (5') if any person is required or allowed to
enter said excavation for any reason or may be otherwise exposed to
cave-ins. A trench safety system shall also be required in an excavation
of less than five feet (5') if soil instability or a danger of ground
movement exists.
(Ordinance 87-20 adopted 12/1/87)
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.
A manmade cavity in the earth’s surface formed by earth
removal, except an excavation regulated by V.T.C.A., Utilities Code,
chapter 121.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the United
States Department of Labor.
The requirements and specifications of subpart P, Excavations,
of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration construction
standards, 29 CFR 1926/1910, as from time to time may be amended,
revised, and adopted by reference as if fully set out herein.
An excavation of fifteen feet (15') or less in width in which,
in general, the length is greater than the width, except a trench
regulated 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 evacuations. A trench safety system may
include shoring, bracing, sloping of trench sides, trench safety shields
or any procedure, policy or mechanical device to ensure 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
removed along the trench as work progresses.
(Ordinance 87-20 adopted 12/1/87)
(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 repose. 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 permit shall bear the name,
seal and registration number of an engineer and contain the following
certificate:
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“I hereby certify that these plans and accompanying specifications
or these engineering works were prepared by me, or under the direct
supervision, in accordance with OSHA and City of Tulia trench excavation
and construction safety standards and requirements.”
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___________________________________
Signature and Registration Number
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(c)
Fees
for each trench excavation permit as hereinafter set out shall be
paid prior to the initiation of work.
(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.
(Ordinance 87-20 adopted 12/1/87)
(a)
Materials
used for sheeting, sheet piling, cribbing, bracing, shoring, and underpinning
shall be in good, serviceable condition and free of defect. 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 sidewalls for ease of movement;
(5)
Lifting eyes shall be welded to the trench shield to provide ease
of lifting;
(6)
When the sidewalls 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.
(Ordinance 87-20 adopted 12/1/87)
(a)
Construction
requiring trenching shall meet or exceed the minimum OSHA standards
and requirements of this article 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, failing 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 combined weight
of individuals working in the trench;
(f)
Excavated
soil material shall be removed not less than two feet (2') from the
edge or sidewalls 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 an engineer. Said precautions shall
be included as part of the plans and specifications submitted for
the trench excavation permit; and
(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.
(Ordinance 87-20 adopted 12/1/87)
(a)
Compliance
with OSHA standards and requirements of this article shall be the
responsibility of the permit holder or contractor, or both. As part
of said compliance, the permit holder or contractor, or both, 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)
Have daily inspections of excavations made by a competent person
and if evidence of possible cave-ins, slides, or changing soil conditions
or instability is apparent; all work in the excavation shall cease
until the necessary precautions have been taken to safeguard the employees
and the public;
(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.
(Ordinance 87-20 adopted 12/1/87)
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Trench Length
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Inside City
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250 linear feet or less
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$50.00
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251 to 1,000 linear feet
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$100.00
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(Ordinance 87-20 adopted 12/1/87)
Violation of any of the provisions of this article shall constitute an offense punishable in accordance with the general penalty provision found in section 1.01.009 of this code. Each day any violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ordinance 87-20 adopted 12/1/87)
