Sec. 2166.303.  UNIFORM TRENCH SAFETY CONDITIONS.  (a)  The uniform general conditions for a construction project in which trench excavation will exceed a depth of five feet must require that the bid documents provided to all bidders and the contract include:
(1)  a reference to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration's standards for trench safety that will be in effect during the construction of the project;
(2)  a copy of the state's special shoring requirements, if any, with a separate pay item for the special shoring requirements;
(3)  a copy of geotechnical information obtained by the owner for use by the contractor in the design of the trench safety system;  and
(4)  a separate pay item for trench excavation safety protection.
(b)  The separate pay item for trench safety is determined by the linear feet of trench excavated.  The separate pay item for the state's special shoring requirements, if any, is determined by the square feet of shoring used.
(c)  In this section, "trench" has the meaning assigned by the standards adopted by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 41, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.