Materials or equipment that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling into excavations must be kept at least how many feet from the edge of excavations?

Materials or equipment that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling into excavations must be kept at least how many feet from the edge of excavations?

• A. 2 feet
• B. 4 feet
• C. 1 foot
• D. 3 feet

Answer: (A)

Keep anything that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling into an excavation a defined safe distance away from the edge. This buffer helps prevent objects from sliding, rolling, or tumbling into the trench if the soil is unstable, edges are undercut, or machinery or loads generate vibrations. Following this minimum distance makes the rule easy to apply on site and reduces the chance of a projectile entering the excavation and striking someone inside or nearby. The idea is to maintain that conservative gap as a standard practice; getting closer increases risk, while staying farther away is safe but not required by the rule.

Keep anything that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling into an excavation a defined safe distance away from the edge. This buffer helps prevent objects from sliding, rolling, or tumbling into the trench if the soil is unstable, edges are undercut, or machinery or loads generate vibrations. Following this minimum distance makes the rule easy to apply on site and reduces the chance of a projectile entering the excavation and striking someone inside or nearby. The idea is to maintain that conservative gap as a standard practice; getting closer increases risk, while staying farther away is safe but not required by the rule.