HIOSH and OSHA is focusing on reducing trenching and excavation hazards. Trench collapses, or cave-ins, pose the greatest risk to workers’ lives. To prevent cave-ins:
- SLOPE or bench trench walls
- SHORE trench walls with supports, or
- SHIELD trench walls with trench boxes
Employers should also ensure there is a safe way to enter and exit the trench. Keep materials away from the edge of the trench. Look for standing water or atmospheric hazards. Never enter a trench unless it has been properly inspected.
29 CFR 1926.650, 29 CFR 1926.651, and 29 CFR 1926.652 are applicable OSHA standards (incorporated into HIOSH standards)
Listen to Hawaii Matters with Devon Nekoba (ft. Bronson Luis, HIOSH Safety Branch Manager)
Listen to HIOSH’s 2023 Trench and Excavation Radio Programming
