The dangers of soil cave-in while workers are working in trenches are well documented, however the number of injuries and fatalities that occurred in 2016 have reached disturbing levels in the construction industry. This past June an Ohio company was fined over $270,000 for just such a fatality.
One cubic yard of soil can up to 3,000 lbs, or as OSHA points out, the weight of a small automobile. “Trench deaths have more than doubled nationwide since last year – an alarming and unacceptable trend that must be halted,” said Dr. David Michaels, OSHA’s Assistant Secretary of Labor, “There is no excuse. These fatalities are completely preventable by complying with OSHA standards that every construction contractor should know.”
One of the most important safety practices that workers should abide by is to keep soil and other materials at least two feet from the edge of trench to prevent the spoils from falling back into the open trench.
Addition safe practices for working with excavation and trenches include:
- Sloping and benching the sides of the excavation;
- Supporting the sides of the excavation; this could include placing a shield between the side of the excavation and the work area.
- Know where underground utilities are located before digging.
- Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges.
- Test for atmospheric hazards such as low oxygen, hazardous fumes, and toxic gases when workers are more than 4 feet deep.
- Inspect trenches at the start of each shift.
- Inspect trenches after any occurrence that could have changed conditions in the trench, including rainstorms.
- Do not work under suspended or raised loads and materials.
- Ensure that personnel wear high-visibility or other suitable clothing when exposed to vehicular traffic.
As with any dangerous construction activity, failure to train workers on the ability to recognize trench hazards is the first line of defense.
For these any other construction safety concerns, contact our offices at Diversified Safety Services.
