For an excavation deeper than 20 feet, protective systems (such as shoring or shielding) must be:
Explanation
Note 3 to Appendix B is explicit: sloping or benching for excavations greater than 20 feet deep shall be designed by a registered professional engineer, and section 1541.1(b)(4) requires that design to be stamped and signed. Options (a) and (b) are the other two lawful routes - Option 3 lets the employer work from tabulated data approved by an engineer, Option 2 from Appendices A and B - and both are genuinely available to a competent person, but only up to 20 feet. That is what makes them the right kind of wrong answer: they are correct rules read past their depth limit. A building department may review shoring as part of a permit in some cities, but it has no role under Title 8 (c).
Law Reference: 8 CCR §1541.1(b)(1)-(4); §1541.1 Appendix B note 3; 29 CFR 1926.652(b)This topic, taught in full in the CSLB Law & Business guide. CSLB Law & Business — Complete Study Guide (2026) — PDF + EPUB, $24.99 · 14-day refund →
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