FREE TOOL · Trench Safety Check
Trench Depth Safety Check
Enter a trench depth and see what the general excavation safety rules say about egress, protection and engineering, in plain language.
Four quick steps.
- 01
Enter the depth
Use feet.
- 02
Read the result
See which general rules apply.
- 03
Check the notes
Soil, water and nearby loads matter too.
- 04
Plan protection
Hire a contractor who does this every day.
About this tool.
Is this compliance advice?
No. It summarizes general OSHA excavation rules in plain language. Your site, soil and plan decide what applies.
Can homeowners dig deep trenches?
We strongly recommend not. Trench collapses can be fatal at depths well under 5 feet.
Related services.
B-02ExcavationTrenchingTrenching by trencher or excavator for water, sewer, electrical, communications, irrigation and drainage lines, with clean backfill and restoration.Shallow trench
B-01ExcavationExcavation ContractorFull-service excavation for building pads, basements, utilities, drainage and site work, planned around locates, soil and safe digging practice.Deep excavation
C-05TrenchlessVacuum ExcavationNon-destructive digging with air or water and a vacuum truck to expose buried utilities safely, confirm depth and prevent line strikes.Shallow trenchCall 811. Then call us.
Tell us what you are building, fixing or draining and we will suggest a site visit and a plan. The lines get located before the bucket moves.