The Importance of Trench Safety
Hannah Irvin, Construction Business Owner
As Trench Safety Month comes to an end, it's important to reflect on the 13 lives lost in trench accidents so far this year. Trench fatalities are preventable. Data shows some jobsites where workers were injured or killed had the proper protective equipment on-site, it just wasn’t being used. Consequences of poor safety practices include not only loss of life, but also hefty fines and lengthy legal proceedings for those not adhering to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.
Cave-ins can be caused by vibrations, stress loading the soil, excavated materials located too close to the trench and failure to inspect the trench before each shift and after weather events.
Site managers should ensure all trenches are inspected before workers enter. OSHA requires that all trenches are inspected at least daily by a “competent person.”