1926.652(e): Installing and Removing Excavation Supports
Employers must securely connect support system members, install and remove them so workers are protected from cave-ins, collapse or being struck, and not overload members. Removal must start at the bottom, release members slowly, and go along with backfilling. In trenches, digging up to 2 feet below the bottom of supports is allowed only under listed conditions, and installation must be closely coordinated with digging.
Key takeaways
- 1926.652(e) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart P).
- OSHA cited it 23 times in the last 3 years, in 23 inspections, with $109,609 in current penalties.
- Most citations: IL (3), IA (3), TX (2).
- Related part: 1926.652(e)(1) General (14 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.652(e) ("Installation and removal of support") is one requirement inside 1926.652 Requirements for protective systems, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart P). It includes 10 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
(e) Installation and removal of support — 23 citations
(1) General. Open (e)(1) 14 citations
(i) Members of support systems shall be securely connected together to prevent sliding, falling, kickouts, or other predictable failure. 6 citations
(ii) Support systems shall be installed and removed in a manner that protects employees from cave-ins, structural collapses, or from being struck by members of the support system. 7 citations
(iii) Individual members of support systems shall not be subjected to loads exceeding those which those members were designed to withstand. 1 citations
(iv) Before temporary removal of individual members begins, additional precautions shall be taken to ensure the safety of employees, such as installing other structural members to carry the loads imposed on the support system.
(v) Removal shall begin at, and progress from, the bottom of the excavation. Members shall be released slowly so as to note any indication of possible failure of the remaining members of the structure or possible cave-in of the sides of the excavation.
(vi) Backfilling shall progress together with the removal of support systems from excavations.
(2) Additional requirements for support systems for trench excavations. 9 citations
(i) Excavation of material to a level no greater than 2 feet (.61 m) below the bottom of the members of a support system shall be permitted, but only if the system is designed to resist the forces calculated for the full depth of the trench, and there are no indications while the trench is open of a possible loss of soil from behind or below the bottom of the support system. 8 citations
(ii) Installation of a support system shall be closely coordinated with the excavation of trenches. 1 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.652.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: IL (3), IA (3), TX (2), WI (2), PA (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| REVOLI CONSTRUCTION CO., INC | SOUTH YARMOUTH, MA | $16,550 |
| STEVENS ENGINEERS & CONSTRUCTORS, INC | MIDDLETOWN, OH | $16,131 |
| THE DRILLER, LLC | COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA | $9,375 |
| BPC, L.P. | HOUSTON, TX | $7,904 |
| BRIDGEMAN CIVIL, INC. | NORFOLK, VA | $7,570 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.652(e), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.652(e).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.652(e)(1) General 14 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
Where does removal of support systems begin?
At the bottom of the excavation, with members released slowly.
Can a trench be dug below the bottom of the supports?
Up to 2 feet (.61 m) below, only if the system is designed for the full trench depth and there are no signs of soil loss from behind or below the system.
When must backfilling happen?
Backfilling shall progress together with removal of support systems.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.652 (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.