Workers entering an unprotected trench are risking their
lives. Walls can collapse suddenly, leaving workers with no time to get out of
the way. According to the MSHA, 350 workers died in trenching or excavation
cave-ins from 2000 to 2009, and 64% of fatalities in trenches occurred at
depths of less than 10 ft. To help educate workers about these preventable
hazards, the agency has issued an accident prevention safety alert on
excavation/trench safety. Workers should not enter a trench that does not
have a protective system in place, MSHA says. The system must be designed and
installed by a competent person who can identify existing and predictable
hazards, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures. This and
other equipment, health and
safety hazard alerts are available on the MSHA website.
A Blog From the American Society of Safety Engineers
