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Trenching and Excavation: Failure to
Inspect Trench and Protective System |
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BACK |
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Am I In Danger?
If trenches and excavations at your site are not inspected daily for
evidence of possible cave-ins, hazardous atmospheres, failure of
protective systems, or other unsafe conditions, you are in danger.
How Do I Avoid Hazards?
Inspect excavations:
 | Before construction begins. |
| Daily before each shift. |
| As needed throughout the shift. |
| Following rainstorms or other hazard-increasing events (such as a
vehicle or other equipment approaching the edge of an excavation). |
Inspections must be conducted by a competent person who:
| Has training in soil analysis. |
| Has training in the use of protective systems.
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| Is knowledgeable about the OSHA requirements.
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| Has authority to immediately eliminate hazards. |
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This excavation was properly inspected before the
workers were allowed to work.
Construction
Worker Dies |
| To help evaluate different protection systems and identify the
warning signs of excavation failure, see the
Guide
for Daily Inspection of Trenches and Excavations. |
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Deaths Due to No Trench and Protective
System Inspection
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Case Reports
The following Case Reports of trenching accidents investigated by OSHA
illustrate how seemingly innocent workplace activities can have deadly
consequences.
| An employee was in a trench installing forms for concrete footers when it
caved-in, causing fatal injuries. The trench, which was 7½ feet deep,
was in loose, sandy (Type C) soil, and no inspection was conducted prior to
the start of the shift. |
| In a trench 6 feet deep x 32 inches wide, an employee was applying a
waterproofing primer containing methyl chloroform and 1,4-dioxane to the
foundation of a house. The employee was overcome by the fumes, and
later died of trichloroethane intoxication. No one had tested the
atmosphere in the trench, the employees were not provided with respiratory
protection, and mechanical ventilation was not used. |
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