At what depth must a means of exit be provided for excavations?

A means of exit must be provided for excavations that are deeper than 4 feet to ensure the safety of workers. This regulation is in place to prevent accidents and provide a quick escape route in case of an emergency, such as a collapse or an injury. Excavations deeper than this depth pose a higher risk for cave-ins, making it critical to have a reliable means of exit that workers can easily access.

In many safety guidelines and regulations concerning excavation, including those from OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the specific requirement at 4 feet reflects the recognition of increased hazards associated with deeper trenches. While depths greater than 4 feet are where the risk becomes significant, thereby necessitating safety measures like exit strategies, excavations less than this depth might not require the same level of precautions, hence the focus remains on the 4-foot threshold.