Category: News

June 1, 2026September 19, 2024 by Luby Shoring

Jobsite safety with expert shoring solutions from Luby Shoring-OSHA-compliant equipment and on-site support can help protect your crew. Contact us today.

Whether you’re working on deep excavation, manhole installations, gas line repairs, or any other project requiring safe and efficient operations, Luby Shoring Services is here to help. Call us at (636) 660-7467 or fill out our online contact form to discuss how we can support your next project.

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Trust Our Expertise to Keep Your Jobsite Safe

At Luby Shoring Services, we are committed to providing the equipment and expertise needed to keep your team safe during every excavation project. Our high-quality shoring products and a deep understanding of OSHA regulations ensure your job is done efficiently and safely.

Safety and Compliance Solutions

When taking on a major excavation project, you have much to manage. From complying with OSHA’s strict safety regulations to securing the right equipment and ensuring your crew’s well-being, each aspect is critical. The risk of injury or fatalities is always present in construction, so safety is our top priority.

Our blog discusses these safety concerns regularly because staying informed can save lives. No shortcut on the job is worth risking the health and safety of your team. It truly matters to ensure everyone goes home safely to their loved ones.

Proven Shoring Products That Save Lives

Luby Shoring Services was founded to provide construction professionals with reliable, lifesaving equipment. Since 1995, we’ve partnered with Efficiency Production, a leader in manufacturing trench shields and shoring equipment. We are confident in the durability and effectiveness of our products, which have been instrumental in preventing accidents and saving lives.

On-Site Support and Equipment Expertise

Need help determining what equipment you need for your next project? Our team is here to guide you every step of the way. We offer expert advice to help you choose the right shoring equipment tailored to your project’s needs. Our rental options are flexible and convenient; we even offer delivery to make your job easier.

For more details on our full range of products, check out our digital brochure or contact our team directly.

Contact Luby Shoring Services Today

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June 1, 2026January 31, 2024 by Luby Shoring

Excavation work, while essential for various construction projects, poses significant risks, particularly concerning trench safety. Trench collapses can occur suddenly and with devastating consequences. Implementing proper shoring techniques is critical to ensure the safety of workers and prevent accidents. In this blog post, we’ll delve into essential shoring trench safety best practices to protect lives underground.

Conduct Site Assessments:

Before any excavation work, including trenching operations, it’s crucial to conduct thorough site assessments. This involves evaluating factors such as soil type, depth of excavation, and proximity to existing structures or utilities. Luby Shoring Services and Rental emphasizes the importance of these assessments to identify potential hazards and determine the appropriate shoring methods required for the project.

Select the Right Shoring System:

Choosing the correct shoring system is essential for ensuring safety and stability in trenching projects. Luby Shoring Services and Rental offers a range of shoring solutions, including trench shields, spreaders, manhole shields, slide rail systems, and bedding material containers, each tailored to specific trench conditions and soil characteristics. Our team assists in selecting the most suitable system to provide support and minimize risks during excavation.

Proper Installation and Maintenance:

Proper installation of shoring systems is essential to their effectiveness and the safety of workers. Luby Shoring Services and Rental ensures that all shoring equipment is installed correctly by trained professionals, adhering to manufacturer guidelines and industry standards. Regular inspections and maintenance checks are conducted to identify any signs of damage, ensuring the integrity of the shoring equipment throughout the project.

Implement Protective Measures:

In addition to shoring systems, implementing additional protective measures is crucial to enhance safety on the job site. Luby Shoring Services and Rental recommends using trench shields, barricades, warning signs, and other safety equipment to prevent unauthorized access and minimize the risk of accidents. Adequate ventilation and monitoring are also emphasized, particularly in confined spaces, to maintain a safe working environment.

Provide Ongoing Training and Supervision:

Equip workers with comprehensive training on trench safety protocols, including proper shoring techniques, emergency procedures, and hazard recognition. Supervisors should closely monitor excavation activities to ensure compliance with safety regulations and address any safety concerns promptly.

Maintain Clear Communication:

Establish clear communication channels among all personnel involved in the excavation project, including workers, supervisors, and subcontractors. Regular safety meetings and toolbox talks can help reinforce safety practices and address any issues or questions related to trench shoring and safety.

Respond to Changing Conditions:

Luby Shoring Services and Rental understands that excavation conditions can change unexpectedly. We see the importance of being prepared to adapt shoring methods and safety measures accordingly. Always be ready to respond to unforeseen changes in soil stability, weather conditions, or nearby activities, ensuring continued safety and effectiveness throughout the project.

Let Luby Shoring Services and Rental help keep your workers safe! Call us at (636) 660-7467.

June 1, 2026July 18, 2019 by Luby Shoring

Whenever weather conditions change in the slightest, the CP should be inspecting the soil for changes.

trenching and shoring protection for your crew

Summer rains can create several challenges when it comes to building a trench and then maintaining trench safety. A cave-in can happen in a matter of seconds, seriously injuring, even killing, a worker. Therefore, it is critical to know how to handle the extra moisture in order to keep your crew safe this summer.

Understanding the Dangers of Trenching and Excavation

OSHA states that trenching and excavation are among the most hazardous construction operations. Cave-ins pose the greatest risk as they result in more worker fatalities than any other type of excavation-related accident. Dozens of workers die each year as a result of cave-ins.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that there were 36 excavation or trenching cave-in deaths in the U.S. in 2016. The majority of these injuries occurred in the construction industry. It’s important for workers to understand that any excavation has the potential to cause serious injury or fatality. Systems must be in place to prevent accidents such a cave-ins. Once in place, these precautions must be carried out consistently.

The Job of the Competent Person

Wet weather can quickly change what’s safe and what is not. When it rains, the water can make the sides of the trench less stable. OSHA requires that trenches must be inspected daily and as conditions change by a CP (competent person). This person is one who is capable of identifying existing problems and also predicting potential problems.

The CP will ensure that the crew is using their protective systems and that they are set up correctly. They will make sure that workers aren’t taking chances, that the ladders are set up properly, and that everything else that goes along with keeping the trench safe is in place before a worker enters it.

According to OSHA 1926.651(h)(1), employees are not allowed to work in excavations in which there is accumulated water, or in excavations in which water is accumulating, until the CP inspects the excavation and stabilizes the trench somehow. Using a trench box is the quickest and easiest way to support a trench wall. Also, the CP needs to take action to remove the water, such as using a pump. If a pump is used, the CP has to make sure it is working properly.

Finally, Inspect! Inspect! Inspect! Whenever weather conditions change in the slightest, the CP should be inspecting the soil for changes. It could alter the protective system that is used, such as if a contractor is using hydraulic shores and water makes the trench walls unstable, shores cannot be used. If a contractor is sloping a trench, as soon as water gets into the trench, the angle of the slope needs to be flattened.

Additional Safety Tips

Other general trenching and excavation rules stated by OSHA include:

Keep heavy equipment away from the edges of the trench
Do not work under raised loads
Determine where underground utilities are located
Keep surcharge loads at least 2 feet away from the edges of the trench
Test the area for hazardous fumes, toxic gases, and low oxygen
Inspect trenches at the start of each shift
Inspect the trench after heavy rainfall

St. Louis Trenching and Excavation

At Luby Shoring Services, we are experts in trench shoring and excavation projects. We have the expertise to work with you on site specific engineering services. We can quickly complete any job while meeting OSHA safety regulations.

In addition, we provide a wide selection of standard and custom trench shielding and shoring options. Our equipment is cost effective, safe and versatile, relied upon by underground utility professionals, municipalities and private contractors. All products are Professional Engineer certified to help you meet OSHA’s excavation and trench safety standards.

Let Luby Shoring Services help keep your workers safe this summer! Call us at (636) 660-7467.

June 1, 2026January 31, 2019 by Luby Shoring

Build-A-Box™ is a modular aluminum trench shield system that is hand assembled and easily transportable.

Every job and jobsite are different. However, two things that are always a priority, no matter the situation, are safety and cost. First, you must protect your workers, their safety is of the upmost importance. Second, the job needs to be cost-effective.

Build-A-Box™ modular aluminum trench shielding system may be the right fit for your jobsite, ensuring both the safety of your crew and the cost-effectiveness of your job.

Build-A-Box™ Uses and Features

Build-A-Box™ has a number of uses and features that make it suitable for many jobs. Not only is the system easily transportable but it is also easily assembled. In addition, it is compatible with XLAP aluminum shields. Build-A-Box’s flexibility makes it an indispensable tool for small cable and utility projects, municipal maintenance, manhole installation or for troubleshooting applications.

Some additional features of Build-A-Box™ include:

Narrow sidewalls
Tongue and groove design
Exclusive corner end posts
Foam filled
Ultra-light double wall aluminum
Stackable with XLAP
Professional engineer design and depth certification
Heavy duty adjustable strut
Fast and easy hand assembly
Pick-Up truck transportable
Lightweight

It can be assembled into 2, 3, or 4-sided shielding configurations. If more complex configurations are required, Build-A-Box™ can be designed for special use projects. Also, it is designed to be used with adjustable arch spreaders. Finally, changes can be made on the spot to adjust to any job with light to extreme conditions.

Fast and Easy Hand Assembly

Another feature is its ease of assembly. Most of the panels can be handled by one person. The complete unit stacks flat, which minimizes storage and transportation issues. Each panel is pinned to corner posts and they are stacked to a desired height. Its versatility allows for T-connections and the optional barrier posts increase safety for your crew.

Luby Shoring Services in St. Louis

At Luby Shoring, we provide a wide selection of standard and custom trench shielding and shoring options. Our equipment is cost effective, safe and versatile, relied upon by underground utility professionals, municipalities and private contractors. All products are Professional Engineer certified to help you meet OSHA’s excavation and trench safety standards.

We can help you decide if the Build-A-Box™ modular aluminum trench shielding system is right for your job. Call us today at (636) 660-7467 or fill out our online contact form.

June 1, 2026November 28, 2018 by Luby Shoring

Working on manhole projects can be an aggravating. However, using a manhole shield can help solve many of the problems that come up when working on this type of trench project.

For instance, when a sewer pipe needs to be installed, a manhole will need to be dug, and the pipe needs to be able to pass through it easily. For it to correctly installed, any type of trench shielding needs to be wider than a standard pipe. As a result, there tends to be a lot of exposed trench at the end of the “trench box.”

This is where a Manhole Shield is perfect for certain applications, such as pipe taps, point repairs, point inspections, and junction box installations.

The Benefits of Manhole Shields

Simply put, manhole shields help maintain a safe working environment for workers. It provides safety in a number of ways. For instance, it is specifically designed to offer protection on the third and fourth sides of a trench or excavation.

Another way in which manhole shields are beneficial is that they protect the worker while he is working on the project. Working in any kind of trench is accompanied by the risk of injury, as a dangerous situation can easily come up. Pipework can be a dangerous task, but fitting a manhole shield around the work area is an easy way to avoid accidents and injuries.

Uses of Manhole Shields

Manhole shields are designed to be used in two, three, or four sided configurations with an independent spreader system. They are specially designed for tie-ins, manhole installations, and repair work. In addition, they are available in 4′, 6′, and 8′ heights and either come with solid sides or cut outs at the bottom. For unique applications, they can be stacked in combination with Flex-Shield boxes.

Custom Trench Shielding and Shoring Equipment

At Luby Shoring, we provide a wide selection of standard and custom trench shielding and shoring options. Our equipment is cost effective, safe and versatile, relied upon by underground utility professionals, municipalities and private contractors. All of our products are Professional Engineer certified to help you meet OSHA’s excavation and trench safety standards.

Call us today at (636) 660-7467 or fill out our contact form for further information.

June 1, 2026September 5, 2018 by Luby Shoring

Slide Rail Systems are a cost-effective solution for keeping your crew and excavation site safe.

Each year in the U.S. as many as 400 workers are killed in trenches and excavations. Thousands more are seriously injured. It is no wonder then that working in trenches is one of the most hazardous types of work.

It is very important to keep your crew and site safe during excavation, especially when there are poor soil conditions. Slide Rail Systems are an excellent and cost-effective way to ensure worker safety!

Understanding Slide Rail Systems

Slide Rail Systems are an alternative to traditional sheeting methods. They are made up of vertical steel posts and steel panels – like those of a trench box. A four-sided pit system is created by the panels sliding into the posts. Then, the posts and panels are gradually pushed into the pit as the site is being excavated. As the site is dug deeper, the deeper the Slide Rail System is pushed. Because it is installed gradually, it prevents trench wall loss. They are boasted as one of the most versatile shoring systems in the industry because they can be used is a variety of situations.

Types of Slide Rail Systems

There are several different types of Slide Rail Systems to solve any shoring challenges and to ensure that your site and crew are safe at all times:

● ClearSpan™
● Multi-Bay
● 4-Sided Pit
● Shore-Trak™

ClearSpan™ is Efficiency Production’s exclusive Slide Rail System. It creates an extra-large shored working area. The site is never blocked by cross members at any point in either the installation or removal of the system. Rather, ClearSpan™ employs I-beams as walers. These are secured in brackets that connect and support the system on the outside at the top and on the inside. The entire waler structure always remains near the bottom of the excavation site because the inside brackets have rollers.

The Muti-Bay Slide Rail System uses unique parallel beams which roll up and down the slot on the inside face of the linear posts. These parallel beams have spreader collars that pin standard trench box spreaders. There are 2 kinds of Multi-Bay Systems: the 4-Sided Multi-Bay System and the LINEAR Multi-Bay System.

The 4-Sided Pit Slide Rail System are individual slide rail components which give the option of using lighter equipment during the installation of the system. A big advantage of using this type of system is that installation and excavation are completed at the same time, which of course saves time and reduces costs.

A Slide Rail System can be integrated to shield around existing utilities by using the Slide Rail/Shore-Trak™ combination. There are two types of Shore-Trak™: Sheeting Guide Frames and the Panel Guide.

Luby Shoring Services

We are experts in trench shoring and excavation projects. We will help you complete any job while meeting OSHA safety regulations so that your crew and site remain safe at all times. Call us today at (636) 660-7467 and ask us about the Slide Rail Systems.

June 1, 2026July 24, 2018 by Luby Shoring

Aluminum shields are ideal for smaller jobs in place of steel trench boxes.

If you own a construction business, you are likely very familiar with the dangers associated with trench cave-ins. A worker can easily suffer a permanent injury or even die as a result of a trench cave-in. Even relatively shallow trenches still pose a threat.

Employers not only need to keep their employees safe but must also consider how to protect their company. Using quality equipment like aluminum shields can accomplish both.

At Luby Shoring, we offer a full line of high-quality aluminum double-wall trench shields that are light enough to be used with rubber-tired backhoes, yet strong enough to still protect your workers from injuries or cave-ins. Our equipment is compliant with OSHA safety standards and will ensure the safety of your project!

Benefits of Aluminum Trench Boxes

Also known as trench boxes, aluminum trench shields are engineered to offer security and protection for excavation sites that steel trench boxes provide, yet are less than half the weight. They are ideal for smaller jobs that can take the place of steel trench boxes. They are easy to transport and assemble. Another advantage is that they are stackable with Build-A-Box™.

Ease of Installation

In addition to safety, one of the primary benefits of aluminum shields is the ease of installation. Trench cages can be quite large and therefore require heavy machinery to maneuver. Installation of these heavier materials typically requires more workers and can take a large portion of the work day. The lighter, smaller nature of aluminum shoring materials means less workers and only requires a small piece of equipment for installation.

The use of aluminum trench boxes is cost effective and yet still provides the same measure of protection for your crew.

St. Louis Custom Trench Shoring

At Luby Shoring Services, we provide a wide selection of standard and custom trench shielding and shoring options. Our equipment is cost effective, safe and versatile, relied upon by underground utility professionals, municipalities and private contractors. All products are Professional Engineer certified to help you meet OSHA’s excavation and trench safety standards.

Call us today at (636) 660-7467 or fill out our online contact form.

June 1, 2026July 9, 2018 by Luby Shoring

A Slide Rail system is designed to keep workers safe while also saving contractors time and money.

There are many types of shoring systems available. It can seem perplexing to try and figure out which system is right for your particular project.

What is a Slide Rail Shoring System?

A Slide Rail shoring system is meant to replace the conventional application of steel or wood sheeting. It is a vertical sheeting and trench support system. By using this type of system, the excavation can be shored from ground level to sub-grade level without any soil movement.

This system is designed with the contractor in mind as the components of our Slide Rail system allow for the use of lighter, more general machines during installation and removal than would otherwise be required for tight sheeting or trench shields.

The Slide Rail system is a very effective system in areas that have distressed ground conditions or where where the existing infrastructure would make it difficult to support a trench. In addition, it is designed to keep workers safe while also saving contractors time and money.

Where Can a Slide Rail System Be Used?

Because the Slide Rail shoring system is flexible and modular, it is versatile enough to be used on a wide variety of jobs sites. Some of these inlcude:

Installation near existing utilities
Pump stations
Tank Installations
Bore pits
Vibration sensitive areas
Areas with poor soil conditions
Linear pipeline runs
Soil remediation
And many others…

Advantages of a Slide Rail

There are a number of advantages of using the Slide Rail shoring system for your project. Some of these include:

Safety for workers
Vibration free
Tight sheeting without soil movement
Saves money – Less material costs
Meets OSHA’s standards

St. Louis Shoring Equipment Rental

Luby Shoring provides a wide selection of standard and custom trench shielding and shoring options. Our equipment is cost effective, safe and versatile, relied upon by underground utility professionals, municipalities and private contractors. All products are Professional Engineer certified to help you meet OSHA’s excavation and trench safety standards.