Shallow excavations can be made if there is enough space is available to establish slopes at which the material can stand. As a general rule construction slopes can be made as steep as possible although a few small slides is generally not serious. But the steepness of slope depends on the type of soil or rock, climate and weather conditions, the depth of excavation and the time to which the excavation should stand.
The steepest slope that can be used in a particular location are decided based on the experience. However, in sandy soils, slopes of about 1 vertical to 
horizontal are usually considered. The maximum slope in a clayey soil depends on the depth of cut and the shearing resistance of the clay.
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