R 408.40933 Excavation; obstructions; retaining materials; egress; guarding; heavy equipment.

Rule 933. (1) A tree, boulder, rock fragment, or other obstruction whose movement could cause injury to an employee shall be removed or supported. (2) An excavation that an employee is required to enter shall have excavated and other material stored and retained not less than 2 feet from the excavation edge. (3) When mobile equipment is utilized or permitted adjacent to an excavation where the operator’s vision is restricted, stop logs or barricades shall be utilized or a signal person shall be used. (4) An excavation 48 or more inches in depth and occupied by an employee shall be provided with either a ladder extending not less than 3 feet above the top as a means of access or with a ramp meeting the requirements of subrule (5) of this rule. Lateral travel along the wall of a trench to a ladder or other means of egress shall not exceed 25 feet. (5) An earth ramp may be used in place of a ladder if it meets all of the following requirements: (a) The ramp material shall be stable. (b) The sides of the excavation above the ramp shall be maintained to the angle of repose or sheeted or shored along the means of egress. (c) The degree of angle of the ramp shall not be more than 45 degrees. (d) Vertical height between the floor of the trench and the toe of the ramp shall not exceed 30 inches. (6) Structural ramps that are used solely by employees as a means of access or egress from excavations shall be designed by a competent person. Structural ramps used for access or egress of equipment shall be designed by a competent person qualified in structural design and shall be constructed in accordance with the design. (7) Ramps and runways constructed of 2 or more structural members shall have the structural members connected together to prevent displacement. (8) Structural members used for ramps and runways shall be of uniform thickness. (9) Cleats or other appropriate means used to connect runway structural members shall be attached to the bottom of the runway or shall be attached in a manner to prevent tripping. (10) Structural ramps used in lieu of steps shall be provided with cleats or other surface treatments on the top surface to prevent slipping.