Any excavation over ______ must have a ladder for the worker to get in and out of the trench?

Any excavation over ______ must have a ladder for the worker to get in and out of the trench?

• A. 25 feet long
• B. 4 feet deep
• C. 8 feet deep
• D. 3 feet wide

Answer: (B)

Opening up: Safely exiting from an excavation is required whenever the trench is deeper than four feet. At that depth, a ladder, stair, or ramp must be provided so workers can enter and exit without climbing the trench sides. This ensures a quick escape if conditions change or a hazard develops, reducing the risk of entrapment. The means of egress also has to be within reach—no more than 25 feet from where a worker is inside the trench. The trigger isn’t the trench’s length or width; it’s the depth. So the threshold is four feet deep.

Opening up: Safely exiting from an excavation is required whenever the trench is deeper than four feet. At that depth, a ladder, stair, or ramp must be provided so workers can enter and exit without climbing the trench sides. This ensures a quick escape if conditions change or a hazard develops, reducing the risk of entrapment. The means of egress also has to be within reach—no more than 25 feet from where a worker is inside the trench. The trigger isn’t the trench’s length or width; it’s the depth. So the threshold is four feet deep.