Trench Safety By the Numbers
Trench work can be complicated. It’s also potentially dangerous, as evidenced by troubling fatality rates. In April 2019, the industry saw more trench fatalities than in any...
The United Rentals Guide to Trench Safety
Trench and excavation safety can be a life or death matter. Working in trenches and other excavations is one of construction’s most dangerous activities, but there are safety...
Employers Remain Confused about Which Confined Space Standard to Follow
Working in a confined space poses inherent dangers, and OSHA regulations are designed to ensure that employers take effective steps to mitigate or eliminate them. OSHA introduced...
What Is a ‘Competent Person’?
Many OSHA standards, such as 1926 subpart P for trenching and excavation, require a competent person to be onsite and perform certain activities. For example, during trench...
Understanding OSHA's Confined Space Construction Standard
There are five key differences between the general industry and construction standards. With the introduction of Confined Spaces in Construction standard ( 1926 Subpart AA) in 2015...
When Is a Trench a Confined Space?
OSHA requires employers to follow set procedures whenever their employees are working inside a confined space. But what exactly is a confined space, and does a trench qualify? A...
The Benefits of Load Pins in Trenches and Other Excavations
Many contractors today are using hydraulic bracing systems — a combination of modular struts and walers — to shore up the vertical faces of an excavation and prevent soil movement...
Tips for Inspecting Trench Shoring and Shielding Equipment
When your crew is working in trenches 5, 10 or 20 feet below ground, you want to know the shoring and shielding equipment you’ve installed to protect them is doing its job. Pre-use...
When Do You Need an Engineer for Your Trench Shoring Design?
Deeper trenches and large surcharges require professional input. Contractors can often develop their own shoring designs for trench excavations. But there are times when they need...
How to Choose the Right Trench Protective System
OSHA requires that contractors install protective systems whenever they’re excavating at a depth of 5 feet or more. With four types of viable, OSHA-approved protective solutions...
