For an excavation that is 8' deep and 100' long, what is the minimum number of ladders required for emergency egress?

In order to determine the minimum number of ladders required for emergency egress from an excavation that is 8 feet deep and 100 feet long, it's essential to consider safety regulations related to excavations. According to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) guidelines, for a trench or excavation that exceeds 4 feet in depth, a means of egress must be provided.

For any excavation over 4 feet, ladders must be located such that they are no more than 25 feet apart measured along the horizontal plane. Given that the length of the excavation is 100 feet, this distance would require multiple ladders to ensure that workers have quick and safe access to exit the trench or excavation in case of an emergency.

When we assess the distance, placing ladders every 25 feet along the 100-foot length:

1. The first ladder can be placed at the start of the trench (0 feet).

2. The second ladder would then be placed at the 25-foot mark.

3. The third ladder would be at the 50-foot mark.

4. The fourth ladder would be positioned at the 75-foot mark.

In total, four ladders would be the minimum requirement to comply with safety standards and provide adequate means