photo by Andy Rogers, CC BY-SA 2.0
Even though the means to prevent trench collapses is pretty simple, dozens of construction workers continue to be killed by them every year. A few weeks ago, The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) held a webinar on trenching and excavation hazards, the reduction of which is has been OSHA’s priority goal since 2018.
Read morephoto by Andy Rogers, CC BY-SA 2.0
Trenching and excavation hazards are one of the most simple issues to eliminate on the construction job site, yet, every year, dozens of workers are buried alive or badly injured by collapses. Why? Mostly laziness or pure ignorance.
Read morephoto by Andy Rogers, CC BY-SA 2.0
The spring of 2019 saw 3 trench collapse deaths in a span of 10 days. One at a home construction site in Colorado, another during a culvert install in Marysville, Ohio, and a third at a residential site in Sugarcreek Township, Ohio. The latter has recently received a hefty fine and penalty from OSHA.
Read moreEarlier this year, it was announced that reducing injuries and deaths caused by trenching and excavation collapses would be a priority goal for OSHA in 2018. The administration planned to achieve this through increased inspection rates, public service announcements (PSA), updating online resources, and creating a better public-private partnership. Recently, OSHA made good on their promise to issue PSAs and update their online resources.
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