Trench Excavation Inspection Checklist Template - Free PDF

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Trench excavation inspection checklist template

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Use this template with Lumiform

Customize this template or build your own
Fill out templates via mobile app
Get reports and analyse your data

Prices start from ░░░ per month

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Our trench excavation inspection checklist template helps you identify and mitigate hazards before workers enter trenches. Created specifically for construction safety managers and competent persons, this template ensures compliance with OSHA’s daily inspection requirements for trenches.

Every section addresses critical safety elements—from soil classification and protective systems to access/egress requirements and atmospheric testing. When a construction supervisor at a utility installation project uses this template, they can systematically verify all safety measures are in place, preventing the devastating consequences of trench collapses that account for dozens of preventable deaths annually.

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Created by

Inioluwa Ademuwagun

Preview of the template

Audit

Spoil Placement

Are spoils at least 24 inches back from the excavation?

If excavations can’t be placed safely at the excavation site, are they brought to another location?

Is the excavation designed in such way that rainwater and other drains are led away from the excavation?

Protection Systems

Is the protection system suited for the soil type?

Has a qualified person looked over the installation of the protection system?

Is the protection system examined every day by that qualified person?

Has a qualified person chosen the site’s protection system?

Safe Entry and Exit

Do all employees have a safe path to enter and exit if the excavation is 50 or more inches deep?

Is exit within 25 lateral feet away from workers?

All employees do not use metal ladders if there is electricity at the site?

Are access ramps built by a skilled person?

The ramps have a non-slip surface.

Do all employees walk upright on a straight ramp?

Are ladders safe?

Do ladders reach at least 36 inches over the landing?

Vehicle Safety

Is there a qualified flag person who coordinates traffic at the excavation site?

Do mobile tools/devices have a warning system?

Do all employees wear a warning vest marked with or made of reflectorized or raised visibility materials?

Are all workers instructed to use hand or mechanical signals to communicate?

Does the excavation site have a fence and barricaded at night?

Surface Crossing

Do walkways reach a minimum of 24 inches past the surface end of the trench?

Do walkways have a minimum clear width of 20 inches?

Are walkways suited with handrails?

If there is a vehicle crossing, is it created and installed under the surveillance of a certified professional engineer?

Water Management

Is the site thoughtfully inspected by a skilled person after each rain and before workers are permitted to re-enter?

Do all workers have and use safety gears or lifelines?

Does the site have water removal tools, such as pumps, and are they used and observed by a skilled person?

Are employees instructed to leave the site in case it rains?

Are surface waters turned away from the excavation?

If there is water, does the site have special assistance or shield systems accepted by a certified professional engineer?

Hazardous Atmosphere

Is the atmosphere examined for potential oxygen deficiency or build-up?

Is the oxygen content sustained at between 19.5% and 21%?

Is emergency reply equipment readily obtainable?

Is air-conditioning provided to prevent flammable gas build-up to 20% of the lower dangerous limit of the gas?

Inspections

Is the site examined every day and before the start of every shift?

Is the site examined after rainstorms?

Is the site examined when there is a variation in the size, location or placement of the spoil pile?

Is the site investigated after other events that could increase dangers such as snowstorms, windstorms, thaws or earthquakes?

Is the site examined when fissures, cracks, sloughing, undercutting, water seepage or swelling at the bottom occur?

Is the excavation site examined by a competent person?

Are site examinations reported?

Is the site examined when there is evidence of change or movement in adjacent structures?

General Safety Practices

Are all workers wearing hard safety hats at all times?

Do all workers avoid working or stepping under a suspended weight?

Do all employees avoid operating on faces of sloped or benched excavations above other workers?

Recommendation

Any comments or further observations?

Completion

Name and signature of Inspector:

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Frequently asked questions

What information should a competent person document on a trench inspection checklist?

A competent person should document soil classification, protective system details, trench measurements, access/egress provisions, atmospheric test results, surface encumbrances, water conditions, and any corrective actions taken. The checklist should also include weather conditions, inspection time/date, and the competent person’s signature to create a legally defensible record of daily inspections required by OSHA.

How often should trench inspections be performed using this checklist?

Trench inspections must be performed daily before worker entry, after rainstorms, and whenever conditions change that might affect trench stability. OSHA standards require a competent person to conduct these inspections to identify and address potential hazards like soil movement, water accumulation, or protective system failures. Your checklist provides the documentation framework for these mandatory, recurring inspections.

What protective systems should be present in a trench inspection checklist?

Your checklist should include verification of appropriate protective systems based on depth and soil conditions—sloping, benching, shoring, or trench boxes. For trenches over 5 feet deep, some form of protection is mandatory, while trenches exceeding 20 feet require systems designed by a professional engineer. The checklist should confirm proper installation and condition of these critical safety measures.

Inioluwa Ademuwagun

Inioluwa is a freelance content writer with a passion for words and everything marketing. She has worked closely with B2B SaaS and e-commerce brands creating product-led content. She loves to read fiction and would describe herself as an introverted nerd who desires to travel around the world. She currently doing that with her words till she can with her eyes

This template, developed by Lumiform employees, serves as a starting point for businesses using the Lumiform platform and is intended as a hypothetical example only. It does not replace professional advice. Companies should consult qualified professionals to assess the suitability and legality of using this template in their specific workplace or jurisdiction. Lumiform is not liable for any errors or omissions in this template or for any actions taken based on its content.