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

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.

There are certain techniques in the trenching industry that will help to keep your work-site and your employees safe.

In the construction industry, which is already fraught with hazards and dangers, trenching is one of the most hazardous environments that anyone can work in. Trenching is used to hold up the integrity of a job site or a building to give it stability. While rules are in place to deal with trenching sites and government agencies like OSHA are in charge of monitoring, accidents still occur. When regulations are not followed or there is not sufficient training provided, it can lead to severe work injuries.

There are some techniques in the trenching industry that will help to keep your work-site and your employees safer when working around trenching and shoring equipment and projects.

Dewatering Utilizing Well Points

One of the biggest hazards of any trenching site is water. When you excavate a site, the key is to minimize any standing water, which can eat away at the integrity of the trench. To eliminate standing water, digging well points to drain is an excellent way to maintain the trench. Once a hole is dug into the ground, insert a pipe and a submersible pump to remove water, especially in sandy soil. The best time to implement this type of water control is three to five days before the excavation even begins. Otherwise, surrounding groundwater will start leaking into your working site. Also, make sure that you place the well points effectively and have the right number of them to accommodate for any water that results from the excavation.

Improving Working and Walking Surfaces

One of the most common ways for someone to hurt themselves in a trenching accident is by slipping and falling. To improve working and walking surfaces, it is important that you make sure that the trench floor is perfectly level for workers. Any dips can lead to someone losing their balance. Another way to improve walking and working surfaces is to add or spread rocks. Not only will the rocks help with drainage, but they will also make surfaces less slick.

The Competent Person

A competent person is an individual who has the capacity to identify the predictable and existing dangers in the workplace. He can clearly perceive the working conditions which are hazardous or unsanitary and pose a risk to the workers. He has the ability to identify the types of soil and design suitable protective systems. He possesses the authority to implement corrective measures to get rid of the hazards.

Trenching is a dangerous practice in the construction industry. To ensure that your worksite is safe for your employees and to keep things running smoothly, an ounce of prevention is totally worth it. Make sure to factor in things like the skill level of the management you hire, the working surfaces, and how to accommodate for different soils to keep everything running on time and as planned.

St. Louis Trench Shoring Services

With more than 70 years of experience, trust Luby Shoring Services. We strive to provide reliable service, proven innovative shoring and shielding products, and an experienced staff to supply working solutions for your project’s specific needs. Call us today at (636) 660-7467 or fill out our online contact form.

Only someone who understands the complexity and hazards of cave-in accidents can help to keep everyone at the worksite safe!

Trenching is one of the most hazardous practices in the construction industry. When a structures’ integrity is compromised and needs to be repaired, or a building is being constructed and needs to have safety guards in check to keep the walls from collapsing, trenching is the practice that helps keep everyone safe. But trenching is only safe if done properly. Cave-ins are common in the construction industry. They can be highly destructive to the construction site and to the trench workers.

What are the common reasons that trenches cave in?

Soil is held up is by the force placed upon it by the soil next to it. This means that when trenches are dug, the soil that was holding up the surrounding walls of the trench can be compromised, and there is no force placed on it to hold it up. That leaves a vertical wall of soil with no opposing force to keep it upright or to lend it support. That is why some trenches fail to stand and can lead to cave-ins. 

Protective systems and methods for excavated soils

The Occupational Safety and Hazards Administration is the government agency tasked with protecting trenching workers. OSHA employees work at the state level, and their purpose is to protect workers from serious construction site injuries. OSHA’s rules state that a trench must be dug a minimum of five feet into the soil to prevent the risk of a cave-in.

They also require that employees be trained about the importance of the protective measures set in place by OSHA — not just to the job site, but to their safety. The safety systems that are commonly employed are:

• Benching or sloping of the soil – One of the simplest methods to protect trenching workers, benching is when the walls of the excavation are either sloped or benched, depending on the type of soil in place at the site. As the soil and its stability are reduced, so is the angle at which the trench is sloped. If conditions are not safe for benching or sloping due to the soil conditions, shoring or shielding must be used.
• Shoring – Shoring is a system that provides lateral support to oppose the force of the wall to prevent it from collapsing. It involves either timber or metal uprights through sheet piling or other accepted methods. As shoring is used to protect larger worksite areas, crews can typically work inside or next to the excavated site without fear of a cave-in accident.
• Shielding – Unlike shoring, shielding isn’t a system used to prevent a cave-in of trench walls, it is used to protect employees from having specific areas of the trenching site cave in on workers. Most commonly called “trench boxing,” it is designed specifically for workers’ protection and can be moved around the trenching site.

The type of system that is most effective to prevent cave-in accidents in any trenching worksite depends on many factors. Only someone who understands the complexity and hazards of cave-in accidents can help to keep everyone at the worksite safe and to keep your construction site working efficiently and safely for everyone.

Luby Shoring Services

When it comes to excavating projects, rely on Luby Shoring Services’ expertise. We will help you complete any job quickly, while meeting OSHA safety regulations. We have a wide range of options available for fast delivery, and our team will provide options for the correct equipment to use with your job.

Our team will pair your job with the right trench shields and shoring products. Call us today at (636) 660-7487 or fill out our online contact form.