Shoring is required for excavations with a minimum depth of:

Shoring is required for excavations with a minimum depth of:

• A. 4'
• B. 5'
• C. 6'
• D. 7'

Answer: (B)

Protective systems are required once an excavation reaches five feet in depth. This threshold exists to prevent cave-ins and protect workers; the system can be shoring, trench shields, or sloping, chosen based on soil conditions and the trench’s size. If the trench is shallower than five feet and conditions are stable, protection may not be required, but at five feet or more, a protective system is mandatory. Four feet is below the trigger, while deeper trenches would also require protection, and the question asks for the minimum depth that triggers the rule.

Protective systems are required once an excavation reaches five feet in depth. This threshold exists to prevent cave-ins and protect workers; the system can be shoring, trench shields, or sloping, chosen based on soil conditions and the trench’s size. If the trench is shallower than five feet and conditions are stable, protection may not be required, but at five feet or more, a protective system is mandatory. Four feet is below the trigger, while deeper trenches would also require protection, and the question asks for the minimum depth that triggers the rule.