Check the open trench at Sewer-line excavation site, Des Moines IA from the surface for cave-in risk (2026-08-04)

An open trench at Sewer-line excavation site, Des Moines IA can bury a worker in seconds if its walls are not protected. From the surface only, check depth, the protective system, the spoil-pile setback, and the way out, and route any unprotected deep trench to the competent person. Standard: OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P (Excavations §§1926.650–652 + Appendices A–F) Proof: photo per checklist section from the surface + GPS + Subpart P checklist + depth/setback/egress measurements + tiered findings routed to the competent person Reference method for the trenching_excavation_safety standard (OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P (Excavations §§1926.650–652 + Appendices A–F) competent-person pre-entry trench safety survey, surface observation only, ~45-90 min): 1. Check in with the site's competent person; confirm scope, don site PPE, and confirm you observe-and-document from the surface only, you never enter the excavation, never classify soil for the excavation, and never authorize entry (Subpart P reserves these for the competent person). 2. Measure and photograph the excavation depth and the protective-system method in use, sloping/benching, or a shoring system / trench shield (box), and record whether a protective system is present for any excavation 5 ft or deeper that is not entirely in stable rock (§1926.652). 3. Document soil-classification evidence: confirm a competent-person soil classification (Type A/B/C) exists to justify the protective system chosen; photograph and measure the spoil-pile setback from the edge (must be ≥2 ft) (Appendix A / §1926.651(j)). 4. Check access/egress: a ladder, ramp, or stair within 25 ft of lateral travel for any trench 4 ft or deeper; photograph and measure the travel distance (§1926.651(c)). 5. Screen surface hazards: adjacent equipment/traffic loads near the edge, exposed underground utilities, standing water in the excavation, undermined adjacent structures, and any atmospheric-hazard trigger (>4 ft in a possible hazardous atmosphere); record whether the competent person's atmospheric test log is present (§1926.651(g)). 6. For each finding, mark the condition against the Subpart P checklist item, assign a tier (stop-work / correct-before-proceed / monitor), and name the responsible competent person. 7. Enter photos, GPS/address, the checklist, surface measurements, and the tiered findings list; sign. Route stop-work items to the competent person with a timestamp, never enter or authorize entry. Equipment: hard hat + safety glasses + hi-vis vest + steel-toe boots (site PPE), tablet/clipboard with the OSHA 1926 Subpart P pre-entry checklist, camera, tape measure / measuring wheel (surface measurements of depth, setback, egress distance), flashlight, cordoning / stand-back reference (traffic cones or existing barricade to keep clear of the edge) Done when: Photos from the surface of excavation depth, the protective-system method (sloping/benching/shoring/shield), spoil-pile setback, and access/egress; GPS / address confirm; OSHA Subpart P checklist with measured depth, spoil-pile setback (≥2 ft), and egress distance (≤25 ft for trenches 4 ft or deeper); Presence/absence of a competent-person soil classification (Type A/B/C) and, where triggered, the atmospheric test log; Tiered findings list (stop-work / correct-before-proceed / monitor) with the competent person named + timestamp of stop-work items routed

Where

Sewer-line excavation site, Des Moines IA

Pay

$540 proposed

This packet is not funded yet, so this figure is a proposed price and not money waiting in escrow. If a buyer funds it, approved proof settles that price onchain. If nobody funds it, approved proof earns provable credit toward the work instead of cash. You see which before you claim, never after.

Proof

photo per checklist section from the surface + GPS + Subpart P checklist + depth/setback/egress measurements + tiered findings routed to the competent person

This is exactly what gets it approved. Nothing settles without it.

Level

advanced

Open until

2026-08-11

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 45–90 minutes. Method of record: OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P (Excavations §§1926.650–652 + Appendices A–F) competent-person pre-entry trench safety survey, surface observation only

Bring

• hard hat + safety glasses + hi-vis vest + steel-toe boots (site PPE)
• tablet/clipboard with the OSHA 1926 Subpart P pre-entry checklist
• camera
• tape measure / measuring wheel (surface measurements of depth, setback, egress distance)
• flashlight
• cordoning / stand-back reference (traffic cones or existing barricade to keep clear of the edge)

Steps

1. 1. Check in with the site's competent person; confirm scope, don site PPE, and confirm you observe-and-document from the surface only, you never enter the excavation, never classify soil for the excavation, and never authorize entry (Subpart P reserves these for the competent person).
2. 2. Measure and photograph the excavation depth and the protective-system method in use, sloping/benching, or a shoring system / trench shield (box), and record whether a protective system is present for any excavation 5 ft or deeper that is not entirely in stable rock (§1926.652).
3. 3. Document soil-classification evidence: confirm a competent-person soil classification (Type A/B/C) exists to justify the protective system chosen; photograph and measure the spoil-pile setback from the edge (must be ≥2 ft) (Appendix A / §1926.651(j)).
4. 4. Check access/egress: a ladder, ramp, or stair within 25 ft of lateral travel for any trench 4 ft or deeper; photograph and measure the travel distance (§1926.651(c)).
5. 5. Screen surface hazards: adjacent equipment/traffic loads near the edge, exposed underground utilities, standing water in the excavation, undermined adjacent structures, and any atmospheric-hazard trigger (>4 ft in a possible hazardous atmosphere); record whether the competent person's atmospheric test log is present (§1926.651(g)).
6. 6. For each finding, mark the condition against the Subpart P checklist item, assign a tier (stop-work / correct-before-proceed / monitor), and name the responsible competent person.
7. 7. Enter photos, GPS/address, the checklist, surface measurements, and the tiered findings list; sign. Route stop-work items to the competent person with a timestamp, never enter or authorize entry.

If it does not match the plan

• Excavation 5 ft or deeper with no protective system (sloping/benching/shoring/shield) and not entirely in stable rock -> STOP-WORK: document, keep all persons clear of the excavation and its edge, route to the competent person; never enter.
• Spoil pile, equipment, or traffic load within 2 ft of the edge, or no ladder/ramp/stair within 25 ft for a trench 4 ft or deeper -> flag correct-before-proceed to the competent person.
• Standing water, a damaged/deformed trench shield, an undermined adjacent structure, or a suspected hazardous atmosphere (>4 ft with no atmospheric test log) -> STOP-WORK; route to the competent person / a licensed engineer; never enter to test or measure.
• Any entry, soil classification, shoring/shield installation, or atmospheric testing inside the excavation -> observe-and-document only; the competent person performs and approves these. Approval and correction stay human.

What counts as done

• Photos from the surface of excavation depth, the protective-system method (sloping/benching/shoring/shield), spoil-pile setback, and access/egress
• GPS / address confirm
• OSHA Subpart P checklist with measured depth, spoil-pile setback (≥2 ft), and egress distance (≤25 ft for trenches 4 ft or deeper)
• Presence/absence of a competent-person soil classification (Type A/B/C) and, where triggered, the atmospheric test log
• Tiered findings list (stop-work / correct-before-proceed / monitor) with the competent person named + timestamp of stop-work items routed

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.