When is shoring required during excavation?

Shoring is required during excavation when the depth of the excavation exceeds four feet below ground surface (bgs). At this depth, the risk of cave-ins significantly increases, and shoring systems are crucial to ensure the safety of workers by stabilizing the walls of the excavation. The purpose of shoring is to prevent soil collapse, which can pose serious hazards, including injury or loss of life.

Regulatory guidelines outline that when excavations reach this depth, appropriate protective systems must be implemented. This requirement is based on safety standards aimed at reducing the risk associated with deeper excavations where soil dynamics change, making the walls more susceptible to failure. Therefore, recognizing the four-foot threshold is critical for compliance and the protection of individuals working near or within excavated areas.