Safety, Tools, and Jobsite Practices
Jobsite questions reward the person who thinks about what kills you first: trench collapses, falls, and confined spaces.
Trenches: any excavation 5 ft deep or more needs cave-in protection, meaning sloping, benching, shoring, or a trench box. Soil type sets the slope, and 1-1/2:1 is a common starting point. Provide a ladder within 25 ft of every worker, keep spoil piles and equipment at least 2 ft back from the edge, and locate utilities before the first shovel. Never step into an unprotected 6 ft trench to check it.
Falls and ladders: fall protection is required above 6 ft in construction. Ladders are set at a 4:1 angle (1 ft out for every 4 ft of height), extend 3 ft above the landing, and are tied off. That 4:1 rule appears constantly.
Tools and energy: GFCI protection on temporary power, lockout/tagout before working on a circuit or valve, respect for press tools that pinch, augers that bite, and the need for eye and hearing protection. Hot work such as soldering, brazing, or cutting needs a permit, a fire watch, and a cleared area. Gas cylinders stay upright and capped; solvent cements and primers get ventilation and SDS access. On any repair, protect the potable system with clean tools, washed hands, and a backflow device on temporary connections.
Worked example: a ladder reaches a 20 ft eave and must extend 3 ft above it, so the working length is 23 ft. Set the base 23 divided by 4, about 5.75 ft, from the wall.