If an excavation is over how many feet deep, might shoring be required?

Shoring is typically required for excavations that are deeper than five feet to prevent collapses and ensure the safety of workers. This requirement is based on the potential risk associated with the unconfined nature of deeper excavations. The deeper the excavation, the higher the likelihood of soil movement and wall collapse due to gravity and pressure exerted on the sides.

At depths of five feet or more, the regulations emphasize the necessity for proper protective systems, like shoring, benching, or sloping, to mitigate the hazards of cave-ins. Maintaining safety standards is crucial in excavation work to protect workers, which is why the specific depth of five feet has been established as a threshold for requiring shoring.