When digging on slopes, where should the spoils be placed?

When digging on slopes, it is crucial to place the spoils on the uphill side. This practice helps maintain stability and reduces the risk of landslides or erosion. By positioning the spoils uphill, you prevent additional weight from being added to the lower portions of the slope, which could destabilize it. Placing the material in this manner also helps ensure that water drainage is directed away from the excavation site, minimizing the likelihood of washouts or further erosion during rainfall.

On the other hand, placing spoils on the lowest point or downhill could lead to increased pressure on that area, potentially prompting a slide as the newly added weight disturbs the natural balance of the slope. Similarly, putting spoils in designated areas may not account for the specific challenges presented by slope dynamics, and might still lead to instability in that region. Therefore, positioning the spoils on the uphill side is the safest and most effective choice when working on sloped terrain.