The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines the process of excavating as “any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth’s surface formed by earth removal.” In simpler terms, excavation is moving rocks, earth, soil, or other materials with the use of machines, tools, or various forms of equipment and or explosives. This process can be used to create tunnels, wall shafts, and even trenches and is usually one of the first steps in construction.
Before excavating actually begins, there are usually two different drawings required: a gridline drawing and an excavation drawing. A gridline drawing is a representation of different grids that are marked with both numbers and letters. This drawing is used as a reference so the site can be marked with the measurements. An excavation drawing contains the actual length, width and depth measurements that needs to be excavated.
After the drawings are created, the crew evaluates how much soil is on site and what needs to be removed from the area. Then, the gridlines and excavation lines are laid down according to the drawings, usually with a powder. Benchmark measurements are also marked on the road or on a tree to make sure that the excavation is level.
Depending on the size of the project, excavation can either be done manually or with machines such as a backhoe loader, a bulldozer, or an excavator. The crew removes the necessary amount of soil, earth, or rocks and either disposes of it or reutilize it for things like gardening or landscaping. After that, quality checks are performed to make sure that everything was excavated and filled properly.
Here at North Jersey Excavation, we strive to make the excavation process as easy as possible for you. We like to make sure that you understand the process and are comfortable with the methods we use. If you live in Northern New Jersey and have any questions about excavations or any other services that we offer, give us a call!
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