Elevated Work Platforms (EWP) Licensing Practice Exam

What is a significant danger of setting up an EWP next to an open trench?

1. Soil Erosion

2. Trench Collapsing

3. Electrical Hazards

4. Fire Risks

The correct answer is: Trench Collapsing

Setting up an Elevated Work Platform (EWP) next to an open trench poses a significant danger of trench collapsing due to the instability and potential for the soil surrounding the trench to give way. When heavy equipment like an EWP is positioned close to a trench, the weight and vibration from the platform can destabilize the trench walls, increasing the risk of a collapse. This can not only endanger the personnel working in or near the trench but also create unsafe working conditions for those operating the EWP. The other options, while they may present risks in different contexts, do not directly relate to this specific situation. Soil erosion can occur in various settings, but it is less of an immediate concern when compared to the direct structural integrity risks posed by a trench. Electrical hazards can arise around construction sites, particularly if utility lines are present, but they are not inherently linked to the presence of an open trench next to an EWP. Fire risks are generally associated with specific materials or conditions present on a site, rather than the proximity of a trench to an EWP. Therefore, the concern for trench collapsing stands out as the most pressing danger in this scenario.