January 05, 2023
Trench-related deaths were on the rise in the first six months of 2022. Twenty-two workers died from trenching and excavation-related incidents in this time frame. In 2021, only 15 workers died the entire year.
From 2003 to 2017, 373 workers lost their lives to trench-related incidents, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Working in a trench presents many hazards for workers, including trench collapses. NIOSH sums up the dangers of trench collapses in two simple sentences: “A small amount of dirt may not seem dangerous, but one square yard can weigh more than 3,000 pounds—the weight of a compact car. This small amount of dirt is enough to fatally crush and suffocate workers.”
How can employers keep workers safe from these collapses? OSHA provides these recommendations.
- Workers