OTOntario Trade Registry

Safety Log Seed Record

Excavation and trenching

Before workers enter an excavation or trench and whenever site, soil, water, weather, support-system, or adjacent-structure conditions change.

Excavation and trenching

Fast-Fact Summary

  • Governing agency: Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
  • Form, bylaw, or regulation: O. Reg. 213/91, Part III Excavations, ss. 222-242, including entry restrictions, soil classification, protective systems, adjacent-structure protection, water control, barriers, and support systems.
  • Effective/current anchor: Before workers enter an excavation or trench and whenever site, soil, water, weather, support-system, or adjacent-structure conditions change.
  • Direct portal or source: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/910213

Mandatory Scope

This safety-log record applies to constructors, employers, supervisors, and competent workers responsible for Excavation and trenching. The log is intended to prove that the relevant hazard, equipment, or site condition was checked before exposure continued.

Deadlines & Administrative Windows

  • Required Timing: Before workers enter an excavation or trench and whenever site, soil, water, weather, support-system, or adjacent-structure conditions change.
  • Supervisor Review: Assign a competent person or supervisor to review the entry before the next shift or before the controlled work resumes.
  • Change Trigger: Re-open the log when weather, equipment, excavation, access, crew, or work-method conditions change.

Financial & Legal Liability

Missing safety records can increase OHSA order, stop-work, prosecution, and project backcharge exposure. The record should be kept with the project safety file and be available when requested by the constructor, employer, client, or inspector.

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Step-by-Step Filing Instructions

  • Identify the Controlled Work: Record the site, date, crew, equipment, area, and trade activity.
  • Check the Hazard Controls: Confirm guards, access, PPE, training, permits, isolation, or inspection evidence required for the task.
  • Sign the Entry: Competent person / supervisor acknowledgement recommended for each inspection entry.
  • Store the Record: Retain trench and excavation inspection records with the project safety file according to constructor, employer, and contract recordkeeping requirements.

2026 Inspection Notes

For 2026 construction compliance context, pay close attention to working-at-heights training records, trenching and excavation controls, and training/competency documentation. Do not call this a named official blitz unless the supplied record or source says so.

Official Sources

Raw Fields

  • Regulation ReferenceO. Reg. 213/91, Part III Excavations, ss. 222-242, including entry restrictions, soil classification, protective systems, adjacent-structure protection, water control, barriers, and support systems.
  • Signature RequirementsCompetent person / supervisor acknowledgement recommended for each inspection entry.
  • Retention PeriodRetain trench and excavation inspection records with the project safety file according to constructor, employer, and contract recordkeeping requirements.

Generation Status

O. Reg. 213/91 Part III contains the excavation and trenching requirements. The record should cite the specific duty being discussed and frame the log as evidence that the constructor checked entry, soil, water, support, and adjacent-structure conditions.