What is the maximum allowable depth for an excavation in Type A soil before sloping, shoring, or other protective systems are required?
Correct Answer
C) 5 feet
OSHA requires protective systems for excavations 5 feet or deeper, regardless of soil type. Even in the most stable Type A soil, excavations deeper than 5 feet require sloping, shoring, or other protective measures.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
CORRECT_ANSWER - OSHA 29 CFR 1926.652 establishes that protective systems are required for all excavations 5 feet or deeper, regardless of soil classification. This is a universal safety threshold that applies even to the most stable Type A soil conditions. The 5-foot rule is absolute and non-negotiable under federal safety regulations.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 6 feet
3 feet is too shallow and would be overly restrictive, creating unnecessary compliance burdens for minor excavations that pose minimal cave-in risk.
Option D: 4 feet
4 feet falls short of the actual OSHA requirement and would leave workers exposed to potential cave-in hazards in deeper excavations without proper protection.
Memory Technique
Think 'High Five for Safety' - 5 feet is when you need protection to keep workers safe and give safety a high five.
Reference Hint
OSHA Construction Standards 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P - Excavations, specifically section 1926.652 Requirements for protective systems
More Project Mgmt Questions
What is the minimum R-value required for wall insulation in Florida Climate Zone 2?
A subcontractor brings a new chemical product to your jobsite. Under the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), what information must be immediately available to workers?
A construction site has a trench that is 8 feet deep in Type B soil. What is the maximum allowable slope ratio for the trench walls without protective systems?
What is the maximum recommended spacing between drywall screws when attaching to wood studs?
Your crew discovers suspected asbestos-containing materials during a renovation project. What is the first action you should take?
A scaffold platform is 12 feet long and 5 feet wide. If the maximum load capacity is 25 pounds per square foot, what is the total weight capacity of this platform?
Which CSI MasterFormat Division would contain specifications for fire-stopping and firesafing materials?
In tilt-up concrete construction, what is the primary advantage of this method over conventional cast-in-place construction?
Which OSHA standard specifically addresses construction industry safety and health regulations?
A structural drawing shows a beam labeled 'W12x26'. What does the '26' represent?
People Also Study
Business & Financial Management
120 questions · 70% to pass
Contract Administration
60 questions · 70% to pass
Related Study Resources
Previous Question
When operating a excavator near overhead power lines, what is the minimum safe distance required in Florida?
Next Question
A scaffold platform is 8 feet above the ground and has a 2-foot gap between the platform edge and the building face. What fall protection is required for workers on this scaffold?