Scope and application. This appendix contains specifications for sloping and benching when used as methods of protecting employees working in excavations from cave-ins. The requirements of this ...

An unsupported cut with free slopes in soft cohesive soils are limited to very shallow depths (max. 3 m). Independent from the depth, however, unsupported excavations require protection using ...

Contractors can follow the sloping and benching guidelines provided in the OSHA standards for excavations up to 20 feet deep. Anything over that, they have to have site-specific designs.