The focus of this three day course is the OSHA Excavation standard and safety and health aspects of excavation and trenching. There will be an overview of practical soil mechanics and its relationship to the stability of shored and unshored slopes and walls of excavations. Knowledge will be gained of various types of shoring. Wood timbers and hydraulics are covered. Hands-on testing methods are demonstrated and a one-day field exercise is conducted, allowing students to use instruments such as penetrometers, torvane shears, andengineering rods.

Topics covered include Excavations; Soil Classification; Sloping and Benching; Timber Shoring for Trenches; Aluminum Hydraulic Shoring for Trenches; Alternatives to Timber Shoring; and Selection of Protective System