Offering practical advice, the pocket-sized card explains that excavations or trenches five feet deep or greater require a protective system. The card also highlights the OSHA requirements that excavation or trench walls must meet.

The cards can be downloaded from OSHA's Web site on the publications page or can be ordered by calling OSHA's publications office at (202) 693-1888.

Additionally, OSHA recently revised construction excavation standards to make them easier to understand, to permit the use of performance criteria where possible, and to provide construction employers with options when classifying soil and selecting employee protection methods.