What system must protect employees working in excavations from cave-ins?

The systems designed to protect employees working in excavations from cave-ins are referred to as protective systems. These systems are crucial for ensuring the safety of workers operating in environments where the risk of soil collapse is present.

Protective systems can include methods such as trench boxes, shoring, and sloping, all of which are designed to prevent cave-ins and provide a safe working environment. These measures must comply with safety regulations that specify how deep excavations can be and the type of protective measures required based on the soil type and depth.

While temporary fencing systems, safety nets, and environmental safety systems have their own purposes in workplace safety, they do not specifically address the particular hazards associated with excavations and cave-ins. Hence, a protective system is the appropriate solution for safeguarding the workforce in these scenarios.