Last week, OSHA acknowledged that there were 11 trench-related fatalities in the US, with the latest happening in Kansas City. OSHA recently released a Trade Release highlighting the dangers of trenches and listing links to safety sources.
US Department of Labor Urges Safe Practices During Trench and Excavation Work
Key Safety Measures to Consider
As this is an important safety discussion for contractors we wanted to re-issue our own Excavation and Trenches–A Safety Talk from June 13, 2024.
Excavations & Trenches
June is National Safety month. Excavation and trench projects will become more commonplace over the next few months. Did you know that thirty-nine people died doing trench or excavation work in the U.S. in 2022 – four in Illinois and two others in Ohio? In fact, the number of worker fatalities more than doubled since 2021, continuing a troubling trend cited by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that found 166 workers died in trench cave-ins from 2011-2018, an average of 21 each year.
Excavations are defined as any man made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth’s surface formed by the removal of earth.
Trenches are narrow underground excavations that are deeper than they are wide, and they are not wider than 15 ft.
For site contractors, they present similar exposures; and the hazards to workers should never be underestimated. These hazards include:
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Cave- ins
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Falls / Falling loads
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Engulfment
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Entrapment
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Suffocation
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Explosion
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Struck by equipment
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Hazardous atmospheres
Hazard Controls
ASIC & OSHA require that before any work can begin, these hazards must be addressed by a competent person.
The competent person is responsible for observing site conditions, testing soil conditions, selecting the proper trench protection, and identifying the necessary PPE for workers.
ASIC & OSHA require that this person be on site during trenching or excavating operations.
This competent person must have the knowledge to recognize the hazard and the authority to correct it.
Basic Trench Safety Guidelines
There are several basic requirements for all contractors who are conducting excavating or trenching operations.
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All existing subsurface utilities must be identified and protected using the “One Call” system, prior to digging.
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All site and soil conditions must be examined by a competent person to determine the proper safety procedures to be followed.
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Any trench 5 ft or deeper must be adequately supported by an approved protection system. (e.g.) sloping, benching, shoring or shielding.
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Any trench 4 ft or deeper must have a ladder or ramp at 25 ft intervals for emergency exit.
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Any trench over 20 ft in depth must be designed by a certified professional engineer licensed in the state where the work is being performed.
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Excavated material must be kept back a minimum of 2 ft from the edge of the trench regardless of trench depth.
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No person is allowed beneath loads being handled by digging or lifting equipment.
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Workers must be provided the proper PPE as determined by the competent person.
If you have questions about safety at your site, remember that Rue Insurance clients have access to Brian Livesey, our Safety & Loss Control Consultant. Rue Insurance does offer a 4-hour Competent Person training should your business or job site need the education.
Here are additional links to important OSHA documents on the subject:
