Monday, October 3, 2011

New Guidance on Trenching Safely

Since 2003, OSHA reports that more than 200 workers have died in trench cave-ins, and hundreds more have been seriously injured. Unprotected trenches are among the deadliest hazards in the construction industry, and citations for violations of OSHA’s excavation standards (29 CFR 1926.650, 29 CFR 1926.651, 29 CFR 1926.652) remain all too common. OSHA has issued some new educational materials to help employers and employees better recognize and control the hazards:

All three cover shoring and sloping; evaluations by competent persons; means of access/egress; atmospheric hazard testing; and protective systems.