Almost every month somewhere in the news you can read about a worker being injured or killed when a trench they working in collapses. These injuries and fatalities are preventable with planning a proper execution of safety precautions.
Trench collapses can occur without warning , regardless of the depths. The vast majority of trenching fatalities occur in trenches 5-15feet deep. These depths invite taking chances and often times it is the good, safe looking material that turns out to be the unsuspecting killer. The following information can help you avoid potential deadly accidents.

Make sure you know and follow the following requirements:

• Before beginning excavation, establish the location of underground and overhead utility and services.
• Contact utility companies and advise them prior to start of excavation.
• Remove or support all surface encumbrances as necessary to safeguard employees.
• Employees working in trenches 4 feet deep or more should have an adequate and safe means of exit such as ladders, steps or ramps available at no more than 25feet of lateral travel.
• Employees exposed to public vehicular traffic must wear suitable garments marked or made of reflectorized or high visibility material.
• Employees are not permitted to go underneath the loads of digging or lifting equipment.
• When hazardous atmospheric conditions exist or you can reasonably expect them to exist, test and control the atmosphere to prevent exposure to harmful levels.
• Removable-type steel casings and individually manned lifelines and harnesses are needed to protect employees in
• Bell-bottom pier holes. Follow confined spaces entry procedures.
• Employees must not work in excavations in which there is accumulated water unless they follow necessary safety precautions.
• Additional underpinning, shoring or bracing may be required when adjoining utility lines, foundations, walks and footings are endangered.
• Store spoils, equipment and other materials that can pose a hazard at least 2 feet away, or use effective retaining devices.
• Superimpose loads, such as mobile equipment working close to excavation edges, require extra sheet oiling, shoring or bracing. The use of mobile equipment near excavations also requires substantial barricades or stop logs.
• Have a competent person onsite who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards and has the authority to take prompt corrective actions.
• A competent person should be able to identify soil classifications and the protective systems to use in accordance with the OSHA Excavation Standards.
• A competent person must make ongoing daily inspections or excavations, adjacent areas and protective systems, including after every rainfall or other hazard-producing occurrences.
• Walkways or bridges are needed for crossing over excavations, if excavation is deeper than 4 feet standard guardrails are required.
• Erect standard guard railing or solid sheeting no less than 42 inches above ground level around all tunnel shafts and bore pits.Barricades or cover all wells, pits or shafts.
• Back fill excavations upon completion.

*The information in this policy does not take precedence over applicable government legislation with which all employees should be familiar