At what minimum depth must an excavation be sloped or protected to guard against cave-ins?

In excavation work, the regulation concerning cave-in protection is crucial for ensuring safety. The standard stipulates that any excavation that is 5 feet deep or greater must be sloped or protected as a safety measure against cave-ins. This is due to the fact that the risk of cave-ins increases substantially at depths greater than 4 feet, making it imperative to implement proper safety protocols at this depth or more. Thus, ensuring that excavations of this depth are adequately sloped or shored up can help prevent potential accidents and injuries, providing a safer working environment for all personnel involved in excavation activities.