CHST Practice Test – Complete Exam Preparation

A surcharge load refers to any additional weight or pressure applied to a soil mass that can cause instability, potentially leading to a trench collapse or face-in. The options provided consist of scenarios that could either increase the risk of such incidents or not.

When considering workmen working inside the trench, they do not contribute to a surcharge load in the same manner as the other factors listed. The presence of workers within the trench itself does not add external pressure above the trench that would threaten its integrity, unlike equipment or materials positioned outside the trench, which can exert substantial additional stress.

Equipment parked near the trench, soil piled at the edge, and heavy materials stacked above introduce extra weight that can increase the pressure on the trench walls and destabilize the soil surrounding the trench. Therefore, while the activities of workers are crucial for trench work safety and effectiveness, they do not classify as a surcharge load in the context specified in the question.