Emergency Rescue Equipment

Emergency rescue equipment - such as a breathing apparatus, a safety harness and line, or a basket stretcher - must be readily available where hazardous atmospheric conditions exist or may be reasonably expected to develop during work in an excavation. This equipment must be attended when in use.

Employees entering bell-bottom pier holes (a type of shaft or footing excavation, the bottom of which is made larger than the cross-section above) or other similar deep and confined footing excavations must wear a harness with a life-line securely attached to it. The lifeline must be separate from any line used to handle materials and must be individually attended at all times while the employee wearing the lifeline is in the excavation.

To learn more about Trenching and Excavation visit our Trenching and Excavation Safety Online Training web page.