Ezel / Labor Guidance / US
Back to Federal guidance

Trench depth and sheeting under Table P-2

Summary An Arizona safety official asked how Table P-2 applied to a 20-foot trench. OSHA said the full depth called for closed sheeting rather than the shallower-depth criteria, but sloping or benching the upper five feet would make the relevant depth 15 feet for the table. OSHA archives this interpretation.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1984-10-02
Date issued
October 2, 1984
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Excavation Trenching Shoring
Source
View the official document

Apply this to your situation

This page explains the general guidance. Ask about your specific situation and see what current federal labor law says, with citations.

The current status of this document is unclear
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

October 2, 1984

Mr. Larry Etchechury
Director
Division of Occupational Safety and Health
State of Arizona
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Etchechury:

Gordon Jones called on September 27, 1984, about an interpretation of 1926.652, Table P-2. In the table, the depth of the trench controls the condition to be adhered to. If the trench is 20 feet deep, the 5 to 10 feet and the 10 to 15 feet requirements are negated, therefore, closed sheeting is required.

The only time the criteria would change is if the trench was sloped or benched. If the first 5 feet was sloped in a 20 foot trench, then the trench would be considered 15 feet deep and the 10-15 requirements would prevail.

Sincerely,

JAMES R. GUENTHER
Regional Safety Engineer

Related guidance

Permanently labeled locks for electrical lockout Opinion Letter · August 17, 2026 Helmet selection for lateral head-impact hazards Opinion Letter · August 17, 2026 Asbestos precautions when restoring drywall after flood damage Opinion Letter · May 7, 2026 Enforcement policy for recording and reporting COVID-19 cases Guidance · March 31, 2026

What does federal law require in your situation?

Ezel checks current federal labor law against your facts and answers with citations.

Opens in Ezel Pro.

  • Checks the law as it stands today, not only this page
  • Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
  • Chat, drafting and research in one workspace