camping in trenches

Technically camping in trenches is hardly a crime. after digging through terrain with picks and shovels it may be the only sensible thing to do. Sometimes, however, it's probably not a great idea. Especially when the bossman doesn't feel like running to Lowes to pick up some extra 6x6's for shoring.

Probably something I should have done a long time ago - figure out what the legal requirements for shoring are...

More on that later.... here from the trenches for your viewing pleasure - my favorite unshielded or poorly shielded trenches....


First up we have two pieces of shoring set up on an 8' long trench set 23' in the ground. This tunnel, as the ones to follow, were carved under steam tunnels.
But really, that's awesome compared to this pretty picture... absolutely no shielding whatsoever and a man in the tunnel... (yeah, folks - 20+ feet in the ground, no shielding, no safety, nothing....) And now thanks to the OSHA website and code 1926.800(o)(1) it is no doubt..... there's no shoring above the entrance (unless you count an existing water line) = violation #1.
And while we're at it...
1926.800(o)(4)(i)

Shafts and wells over 5 feet (1.53 m) in depth that employees must enter shall be supported by a steel casing, concrete pipe, timber, solid rock or other suitable material.....

And lastly, this is how it SHOULD look.... see all the pretty 6x6s in a row? See all the twox4's holding them in place? WTF - well the other guys probably saved an extra hundred or two hundred dollars on the lumber and perhaps an hour or two of work.... I'm still not certain whether it is sloth or incompetence that breeds these errors.... hard to say.... and here in Charlottesville no less on the Grounds of the University of Virginia...