Fuzzy you stair step the walls of the ditch. Safe way to do it is say the hole is 20' to the bottom of the ditch times that by 1.5 and you'll get the safe distance you should lay your banks back. Stair step it all the way down bout 2ft wide steps no more tha 4t tall. I prefer 2ft so one can walk out the ditch safely 4ft is max osha allows anything more it will cave off. At least thats how i was taught out here on the pipeline.
