Safety News

Trenching and Excavation

The primary hazard of trenching and excavation work is employee injury from a cave-in.

• Before workers enter a trench, a soil analysis should generally be conducted to determine the appropriate employee protection methods such as sloping, benching, shoring or shielding.

• Employers should also consider potential struckby hazards associated with heavy equipment, falling loads, and public vehicular traffic in close proximity to the excavation operations.

• Also consider potential hazards from undermining sidewalks and buildings.

• Other unsafe conditions that may be encountered include hazardous atmospheres and electrical hazards from overhead and underground power lines.

• These key trench safety tips will help keep workers safe:

• Ensure that there’s a safe way to enter and exit

What are the hazards?

To prevent injuries during normal entry and exit of a trench or excavation at a job site, employers must provide ladders, stairways, ramps, or other safe means of egress. In some circumstances, when conditions in a trench or excavation become hazardous, survival may depend on how quickly workers can climb out.

To manage the hazards:

• Provide stairways, ladders, ramps, or other safe means of egress in all trenches that are 4 feet deep or more. • Position the means of egress within 25 lateral feet of workers.

• Ensure means of entering and exiting the trench is within the protective system.

• Structural ramps that are used for access or egress from excavations must be designed by a competent person.

• When two or more components form a ramp or runway, they must be connected to prevent displacement, and be of uniform thickness.

• Cleats or other means of connecting runway components must be attached in a way that would not cause tripping (e.g., attached to the bottom of the structure).

• Structural ramps used in place of steps must have a non-slip surface.

• Use earthen ramps as a means of egress only if a worker can walk them in an upright position, and only if they have been evaluated by a competent person.

More Information:

• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P, Excavations. OSHA Standard.

• 1926.651 Specific excavation requirements

• 1926.651(c) Access and Egress

Thankful

R. Hamilton

It only takes a minute to offer up your thanks; God provided 1,440 of them, in our daily banks. Jobs and family, sports and fun, they demand so much attention; It’s no wonder in our lives; the days are filled with tension.

On this day we pause and reflect, on our many blessings; For at times our gratitude and thanks, we have a hard time expressing. Please watch over our loved ones and protect us as we go; And may happiness always find us, as your love you bestow.

Perhaps we convenience ourselves because we work so hard; Appreciation is implied, for at times acknowledgment goes without regard. We have become a society of instant gratification; So in this moment we now pause; to offer thanks, for all of your creations.

Please bless the soldiers and their kin; And forgive us all Lord, when we sin. Comfort the sick and those with needs; And make us more mindful of our deeds.

We acknowledge there is but one creator; Graciously you gave your son and no gift could be greater. Bless this meal and those who helped prepare; Thankful for your greatness, as we all now share.

We offer up these thoughts, as we cherish our many blessings; For it is our heartfelt thanks, that we come to you professing. We pray for forgiveness, in all the ways we failed; For without your grace, we surely would not prevail.

Amen

© Russell Hamilton - 2010