Excavation Checklist for Obtaining SOE Permit

Support of Excavation (SOE) is a provisional earth retaining system planned to control the ground for enabling a safe and effective space for the construction. In certain cases, the SOE System can act as permanent structural support. Now, let’s take a look at the Excavation Checklist that supports obtaining SOE Permit.

To get your SOE permit approval, you must pay heed to the excavation checklist that includes General Jobsite Inspection, Utilities, Access & Egress, Wet Conditions, Hazardous Atmosphere, and Support System.

General Jobsite Inspection for SOE Permit Approval:

·        Excavations, adjacent areas, & protective systems inspected by a capable person every day before the onset of work

·        A competent person who can decide to remove employees from excavation instantly

·        Removal/Support of Surface Impediments

·        Employees threatened from loose rock or soil, posing a menace by falling or rolling into the excavation

·        Hard hats are worn by employees

·        Materials & equipment set back within 2 feet from the verge of the excavation

·        Obstacles provided at remotely located excavations, wells, shafts & pits

·        Walkways & bridges over excavations, which are 4 feet or more in-depth are fortified with typical guardrails & toe boards

·        Warning vests or highly visible clothing provided & worn by employees exposed to public vehicular traffic

·        Employees need to maintain distance from vehicles being loaded or unloaded

·        Warning system established & utilized while mobile equipment is functioning close to the verge of the excavation

·        Employees proscribed from going under suspended loads & prohibited from working on the facets of inclined or benched excavations above other employees

Utilities for SOE Permit:

·        Utility companies communicated and the location of utilities

·        The specific location of the marked utilities

·        Underground installations that are protected, supported, or removed while excavation is open

Access & Egress:

·        Lateral travel to means of egress not more than 25 feet in excavations & 4 feet in depth

·        Structural ramps used by employees designed by a competent person

·        Structural ramps used for equipment designed by a registered professional engineer

·        Employees shied from collapses while entering or departing the excavation

Site Location:

·        Date, Time & the Persons Managing the Site

·        Soil Classification with the Depth & Width of Excavation

·        Kind of Protective System Used

Wet Conditions:

·        Precautions for protecting employees from water accumulation

·        Water removal equipment monitored by a competent person

·        Surface water/runoff diverted or controlled to prevent accumulation in the excavation

·        Inspections made after every rainstorm or other hazard increasing occurrence

Checking the Hazardous Atmosphere for SOE Permit:

·        Testing the Atmosphere within the excavation where there is a probability of an oxygen shortage, inflammable or other detrimental contaminant revealing employees to a hazard

·        Adequate precautions for protecting employees from exposure to an atmosphere encompassing less than 19.5% oxygen and to other hazardous atmospheres

·        Providing ventilation to prevent employees’ exposure to an atmosphere containing flammable gas over 10% of the lower explosive limit of the gas

·        Testing conducted to ensure the safety of the atmosphere

·        Emergency equipment, like breathing apparatus, safety harness & lifeline, and basket stretcher where hazardous atmospheres exist

·        Training employees to use personal protective & other rescue equipment

·        Using safety harness & lifeline while entering deep confined excavations

Support Systems for Acquiring SOE Permit

·        Materials & equipment for support systems based on soil analysis, trench depth & expected loads

·        Inspecting materials & equipment used for protective systems to see whether they are in good condition

·        Removing materials & equipment if they are not in good conditions

·        Damaged materials & equipment used for protective systems to be inspected by a registered professional engineer after repairs & before placing back into service

·        Installation of protective systems without uncovering staffs to the dangers of collapses, or risk of getting obstructed by materials/equipment

·        Members of support system securely attached to prevent failure

·        Ensure that the support systems provide stability to the nearby structures, road, & walls

·        Checking the backfilling progress with removal of the support system

·        Material excavation to a level not more than 2 feet beneath the bottom of the support system and only if the system is intended to support the loads calculated for the full depth

·        Placing the shield system to prevent lateral movement

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