Job hazard analysis: installing a trench shield or shoring
Place a trench box or shoring in an open trench.
- 5 steps
- 5 PPE items
- Editable in Reldro
The job hazard analysis
PPE required: Hard hat, Safety glasses, Gloves, Safety boots, High-visibility vest
1. Check the trench and the soil
What could go wrong
Unstable walls; water; spoil near the edge
How we control it
Have a competent person assess the soil and conditions. Keep spoil and equipment back from the edge.
2. Lower the shield
What could go wrong
Crushing; struck by the load or the excavator
How we control it
Use the right lifting points and rated equipment. Keep everyone out of the trench and out of the swing while you lift.
3. Set and secure
What could go wrong
Shield out of place; gaps behind it
How we control it
Place the shield so the walls are covered to the level required, and fill voids as the maker or engineer directs.
4. Provide safe access
What could go wrong
Falls and being trapped
How we control it
Fit a ladder or ramp within easy reach of everyone in the trench.
5. Move or remove
What could go wrong
Collapse while the shield is moved
How we control it
Move only when the trench is empty. Remove in the reverse order, backfilling as you go if the plan says to.
- In the US, OSHA requires a protective system for trenches 5 feet (1.5 m) or deeper, unless the excavation is in stable rock.
When to use it
Use it each time you install, move, or remove trench protection. A competent person should be present.
Review it with the crew before the work starts, change anything that doesn't match how you'll do the job, and update it when the method, the equipment, or the site changes.
Use this JHA in Reldro
- It arrives ready to edit, and your crew uses it on their phone, even without signal.
- Failed items become corrective actions with an owner and a due date.
- Every completed one is kept with the site, the date and who did it.
