Summary Statement
Report on a case where a contractor working with a trench called OSHA for help. OSHA made recommendations that resulted in a much safer situation for workers.
Soring 2001
Construction Contractor
A contractor constructing a rapid rail transit system was involved in trenching, excavating, and tunneling. He asked specifically for a consultation to help identify ways to protect workers in the trenching operations.
Unsloped, Unshored
Trench Unsafe
The consultant arrived at the site the day after a heavy rain and found 12 to 18 inches of water in the 12-foot-deep trench. The trench walls were neither shored nor sloped in the 30-foot long trench. In addition, excavated material was piled within a foot of the edge of the 5-foot-wide trench. The consultant noted several cracks in the ground around the trench opening. Several employees already were working in the trench under these clearly hazardous conditions.
Workers Exit,
Trench Collapses
The consultant immediately
advised the job foreman and the company safety supervisor of the 
imminent
danger posed by the unsafe trench. He asked that the employees evacuate
the trench right away. Following his recommendations, the employer promptly
ordered all the workers out of the trench. Ten minutes later the sides
of the trench gave way. Had any workers remained in the trench, they would
have been buried by the heavy wet soil.
Recommendations
To protect workers involved in trenching operations, the consultant recommended the following measures: (1) shoring or sloping the sides of trenches, (2) providing a means of exit from the trench such as a ladder, (3) storing excavated and other materials at least 2 feet from the trench edge, (4) preventing the accumulation of water in a trench, (5) inspecting the trench daily for signs of potential collapse, and (6) training employees to work safely in a trench.
Results
The prompt response
of the company to the consultant’s advice probably saved several
workers’ lives. The company followed the consultant’s other
recommendations as well, including sloping the trench. This consultation
resulted in greater awareness of trenching safety through a clear-cut
demonstration of its importance.
