1926.651(h): Water in Excavations
Employers must not let workers work in excavations with accumulated or accumulating water unless adequate precautions protect them, such as special support or shield systems, water removal or a safety harness and lifeline. A competent person must monitor any water removal equipment, surface water must be diverted when drainage is interrupted, and excavations subject to heavy rain runoff need a competent person inspection.
Key takeaways
- 1926.651(h) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart P).
- OSHA cited it 104 times in the last 3 years, in 100 inspections, with $450,523 in current penalties.
- 4 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (15), FL (11), MD (5).
- Related part: 1926.651(h)(1) (95 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.651(h) ("Protection from hazards associated with water accumulation") is one requirement inside 1926.651 Specific excavation requirements, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart P). It includes 3 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(h) Protection from hazards associated with water accumulation. 104 citations
(1) Employees shall not work in excavations in which there is accumulated water, or in excavations in which water is accumulating, unless adequate precautions have been taken to protect employees against the hazards posed by water accumulation. The precautions necessary to protect employees adequately vary with each situation, but could include special support or shield systems to protect from cave-ins, water removal to control the level of accumulating water, or use of a safety harness and lifeline. Open (h)(1) 95 citations
(2) If water is controlled or prevented from accumulating by the use of water removal equipment, the water removal equipment and operations shall be monitored by a competent person to ensure proper operation. 7 citations
(3) If excavation work interrupts the natural drainage of surface water (such as streams), diversion ditches, dikes, or other suitable means shall be used to prevent surface water from entering the excavation and to provide adequate drainage of the area adjacent to the excavation. Excavations subject to runoff from heavy rains will require an inspection by a competent person and compliance with paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) of this section. 2 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.651.
Injuries linked to this rule
4 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.651(h).
At 3:37 p.m. on October 31, 2024, three employees were installing a drainage system at a golf course development in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The work includedexcavating trenches to install 20-foot long by 12-inch diameter corrugated pipesand placing a tracer wire. Earlier rain had saturated the…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 41 |
| 2025 | 35 |
| 2026 | 19 |
Top states: TX (15), FL (11), MD (5), GU (5), NY (5)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ROSWELL, CITY OF, WATER DEPARTMENT | ROSWELL, NM | $25,907 |
| CONTINUUM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LTD. | LITTLE PLYMOUTH, VA | $24,545 |
| GRAYSON CARTER & SON CONTRACTING, INC. | HUNTSVILLE, AL | $16,550 |
| HURTADO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY | FULSHEAR, TX | $15,970 |
| 155150 - MASTEC UTILITY SERVICES, LLC | WAKE FOREST, NC | $14,062 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.651(h), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Construction standards addressing excavations. (1992-03-23)
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.651(h)(1) 95 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
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Frequently asked questions
Can workers work in a trench with water in it?
Only if adequate precautions have been taken to protect them from the hazards of water accumulation.
Who watches the pumps?
A competent person must monitor water removal equipment and operations.
What is needed after heavy rain runoff?
An inspection by a competent person and compliance with paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2).
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.651 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-19
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.