With construction projects, there are multiple risks on a construction site. Let’s take a look at two of the most dangerous jobs: trenching and digging.
In 2022, another 39 people died while performing excavation or trenching work in the United States, according to the Department of Labor. This figure is more than double that of 2021.
Following the alarming increase in the number of deaths, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) introduced a protective crusade around trenches and excavations. Working directly with employers and agencies, they have conducted on-site inspections and, in some states, helped pass legislation that expands fines for employers who fail to comply with protective protocols.
There are protective hazards at a trenching and excavation site, but cave-ins are the most serious hazard and the one most likely to cause fatalities, according to OSHA. A cubic meter of soil can weigh as much as a car. If workers are positioned in a trench just as it collapses, it can be simply catastrophic.
Regardless of the security issue, reducing the number of incidents depends on being proactive with security measures. A forward-thinking technique not only protects your workers, but also minimizes monetary and legal liabilities related to those incidents.
As an employer, it is your duty to take appropriate measures for the protection of your workers in a workplace. Here are 3 key tactics to lessen the threat of collapse and lessen the threat of worker injury or death.
Because of the excessive danger that presents itself in these task sites, it is advisable to start taking precautions even before a task begins. A large part of this process involves checking the condition of the soil in the workplace. If situations aren’t ideal, it’s probably not sending your workers into a trench.
There are 4 classifications of soils that vary in stability: wrought rock, A, B, and C.
A competent user (someone who is able and experienced in identifying hazards) assesses the soil for a day or two and when situations are replaced. Things on a job site can be replaced quickly, especially after rain, storms, vibrations, or other occasions that can affect construction. detect hazards. At a minimum, a visual check and a manual check are required. OSHA describes what the evaluator looks for in both checks.
Protection formulas are a key component to ensure the defense of your excavation site and trenches. They are necessary for trenches that are more than five feet deep or that are not completely excavated into solid rock. However, a competent user will still need to inspect spaces that do not meet this requirement if a coverage formula is necessary. If your personnel is in a trench 20 feet deep or more, you will need to have a coverage formula in place designed by a licensed professional engineer.
OSHA systems include:
The type of formula you use will likely depend on the type of soil.
In the event of a collapse, the staff has very little time to get to a safe place. That’s why it’s also vital to have correct exits at the excavation site. Ladders should each be placed with 25 feet of lateral movement. Not only do the available ladders allow for quick exit, but they also reduce the threat of personnel jumping into trenches or excavations and getting hurt.
As with soil situations, a competent user should inspect such cover systems daily and whenever situations change.
While it is your duty as an employer to ensure that proper precautions are taken at an excavation and trench site, it is imperative that workers are trained in precautionary protocols and signs. They will have to be attentive to the warning signs. and you will only need to enter a trench if:
If a worker is unsure whether a trench is safe, check with their manager to see if required testing has been performed.
You can reduce the threat of collapse by implementing physically powerful protective measures, conducting a thorough soil analysis, following proper training, and maintaining vigilant inspection routines. But those are just some of the key protective measures you should take. I inspire you to talk to your local experts and consult OSHA’s trenching and excavation resources for additional consideration.