## 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.**