OSHA urges employers to protect workers from trenching, excavation hazards

Following a series of trench collapses in the Midwest, OSHA is urging employers to take steps to protect workers from trenching and excavation hazards. These hazards are preventable when appropriate protections are used; employers must follow the regulations at 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P.

Workers should follow these safe work practices to protect themselves from hazards:

• Test the soil at every worksite before work begins;
• Never enter a trench unless it has been properly inspected by a competent person;
• Ensure there is a safe way to enter and exit a trench; and
• Keep materials away from the edge of a trench.

Additionally, trench collapses can be prevented by doing the following:

• SLOPE or bench trench walls at an angle;
• SHORE trench walls with supports, such as aluminum hydraulic, to prevent soil movement; and
• SHIELD trench walls with trench boxes.

Additional information about trenching and excavation hazards and solutions can be found on OSHA’s Trenching and Excavation webpage.