SOILS ANALYSIS CHECKLIST

This checklist must be completed when soil analysis is made to determine the soil type(s) present in the excavation. A separate analysis must be performed if the excavation (trench) is stretched over a distance where soil type changes.

Site Location:
Date:	Time:	Competent Person:
Location where sample was taken:
Type of protective system used:

VISUAL TEST
Particle Type:	Fine grained(cohesive)	Granular(sand/sift or gravel)
Water Conditions:	Wet	Dry
	Seeping Water	Surface water present
	Submerged
Previously disturbed soils:	Yes	No
Underground utilities:	Yes	No
If Yes, what type:
Layered soils?(Note:The less stable layer controls soil type.)	Yes	No
Layered soils dipping into excavation:	Yes	No
Excavation exposed to vibration:	Yes	No
If Yes, from what?
Crack-like openings or spalling observed:	Yes	No
Conditions that may create a hazardous atmosphere:	Yes	No
If Yes, identify condition and source:
Surface encumbrances:	Yes	No
	If Yes, what type?
Work to be performed near public vehicular traffic:	Yes	No
Possible confined space exposure:	Yes	No

MANUAL TEST
Plasticity:	Cohesive	Noncohesive
Dry Strength:	Granular (crumbles easily)	Cohesive (broken with difficulty)
Wet Shake:	Water comes to surface (granular material)	Surface remains dry (clay material)
Note: The following unconfined compressive strength tests should be performed on undisturbed soils. Thumb Test used to estimate unconfined compressive strength of cohesive soil.
Test performed:	Yes	No
Type A-soil indented by thumb with very great effort.
Type B-soil indented by thumb with some effort.
Type C-soil easily penetrated several inches by thumb with little or no effort.(If soil is submerged, seeping water, subjected to surface water, runoff, exposed to wetting.)
Penetrometer or Shearvane used to estimate unconfined compressive strength of cohesive soils.
Test performed:	Yes	No
Type A-soil unconfined compressive strength of 1.5 tsf or greater.
Type B-soil with unconfined compressive strength greater than 0.5 tsf and less than 1.5 tsf.
Type C-soil with unconfined compressive strength of 0.5 tsf or less.(If soil is submerged, seeping water, subjected to surface water, runoff, exposed to wetting.)
Note: Type A-no soil is type A if soil is fissured, subject to vibration, previously disturbed, layered, dipping into excavation on a slope of 4H:1V.
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Stable Rock	Type A	Type B	Type C
SELECTION OF PROTECTIVE SYSTEM(Appendix F)
Protective System:	Sloping(Appendix B)Specify angle:
	Timber shoring(Appendix C)
	Aluminum hydraulic shoring(Appendix D)
	Trench shield-maximum depth in this soil
Note: Although OSHA will accept the above tests in most cases, some states will not. Check your state safety requirements for trenching regulations

Note: Although OSHA will accept the above tests in most cases, some states will not. Check your state safety
requirements for trenching regulations.