When should shoring devices be used?

Shoring devices are crucial for ensuring safety during excavation projects, particularly in contexts where trenches and deep excavations are involved. The correct answer highlights that shoring is particularly necessary for stabilizing walls in trenches that exceed 60 inches in depth. This is due to the increased risk of cave-ins associated with deeper excavations. At these depths, the forces acting on the trench walls grow significantly, and without proper support, there is a substantial danger that the walls could collapse, posing severe risks to workers.

The use of shoring is not just a recommendation; it is often mandated by safety regulations when working with deep excavations. The aim of shoring is to create a safe working environment by providing necessary support to prevent soil failure or collapses. While shoring might be required in a variety of situations, especially when soil stability is questionable, its specific application for trenches deeper than 60 inches highlights a targeted safety protocol essential for protecting workers in high-risk scenarios.