General Contractor Practice Exam

In Type C soil, which is categorized as the least stable type of soil under the OSHA excavation standards, the width of the trench must accommodate the necessary safety measures. For a trench that is 11 feet deep, the required width at the top must be calculated based on the dimensions at the bottom and the specified angle of repose for Type C soil. According to OSHA regulations, for Type C soil, the standard angle of repose is approximately 1:1 (or 45 degrees). This means that for every foot of depth, the trench should be 1 foot wider on each side. Therefore, if the trench is 11 feet deep, it should extend an additional 11 feet on each side of the base width. Starting with a base width of 3 feet, the top width is determined as follows: 1. Base width of the trench: 3 feet 2. Width added on each side: 11 feet (left side) + 11 feet (right side) = 22 feet 3. Total top width: 3 feet + 22 feet = 25 feet If we consider safety and potential inaccuracies in measurement, it is often rounded to accommodate any additional requirements or safety concerns. In this case, the