Trench Safety Stand Down Week Resources:
Visit the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) website for information and resources: Trench Safety Resources. During Trench Safety Stand Down Week, United Rentals will be generously hosting a series of webinars covering a range or important trench safety topics. NUCA highly endorses these events and encourages members to check them out via the link: United Rentals/NUCA TSSD Week Webinar Series.
Additional TSSD Resources
Trenching and Excavation – Overview | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)
- Excavations in Construction: Soil Classification. OSHA Prevention Video (vTools). Also available in Spanish. This OSHA video shows one of the steps, classifying soil, that employers must follow so that trenching work can be done safely. This video is not intended to be a complete educational tool, instead it is meant as an introduction for people who want to know more. Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace and required protective equipment. You’ll learn how having the right information about a construction site can help save lives.
- Excavations in Construction: Trenching. OSHA Prevention Video (vTools). Also available in Spanish. This OSHA video shows how quickly cave-ins lead to workers’ deaths. The video will also show what employers must do to assure that the work can be done more safely. Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace and required protective equipment. You’ll see that using the right type of protection saves lives.
- Trenching and Excavation Safety. OSHA Publication 2226, (2015). Highlights key elements of the standards and describes safe work practices that can protect workers from cave-ins and other hazards.
- Trenching and Excavation Safety. OSHA Fact Sheet (Publication 3476), (2011). Also available in Spanish.
- Working Safely in Trenches. OSHA QuickCard™ (Publication 3243), (2011). Also available in Spanish.
Best Practices Resources
- Excavation and Trenching Best Practices for Operators. OSHA and the American Pipeline Contractors Association (APCA) Alliance, (February 2008). Also available in Spanish. Addresses issues associated with excavation and trenching activities such as worksite preparation, personal protective equipment and collapse prevention.
- Excavation and Trenching Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel. OSHA and the American Pipeline Contractors Association (APCA) Alliance, (February 2008). Also available in Spanish. Addresses issues associated with supervision of workers who are engaged in excavation and trenching activities such as worksite preparation, personal protective equipment and collapse prevention.
- Excavator Operation Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel, Operators, and Workers. OSHA and the American Pipeline Contractors Association (APCA) Alliance, (February 2008). Addresses which issues associated with the operation of excavation equipment such as pre-and post-operation procedures, safe operation considerations, and supervisory recommendations.
- Horizontal Directional Drilling Best Practices for Operators. OSHA and the American Pipeline Contractors Association (APCA) Alliance, (February 2008). Also available in Spanish. Addresses issues associated with the operation of horizontal directional drilling equipment such as pre-and post-operation procedures and safe operation considerations.
- Horizontal Directional Drilling Best Practices for Supervisory Personnel. OSHA and the American Pipeline Contractors Association (APCA) Alliance, (February 2008). Also available in Spanish. Addresses issues associated with supervision of workers who are engaged in the operation of horizontal directional drilling equipment such as pre-and post-operation procedures and safe operation considerations.
Increasing Awareness of Factors that Influence Trench Safety
Moderator: Eileen Betit, CPWR’s Research to Practice (r2p) Director
Presenters:
Scott Ketcham, Director, OSHA Directorate of Construction
Joe Wise, Regional Customer Training Manager at United Rentals Trench Safety
Dr. Alan Echt, Sr. Industrial Hygienist, NIOSH Office of Construction Safety and Health
Thursday, May 28th, 2020 (Play Recording, Download Presentation, or link to You Tube recording here).
Trench Safety Resource Files:
OSHA3974 – 5 Things to know to be Safe