CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training Most trenches are dug to lay pipe or place manholes, conduit runs, or footings. It is easy to try to work fast in a trench and get out without taking the correct safety steps. Don’t. Each year, more than 30 construction workers are killed in trenches. The Hazards
A trench is a confined space with many special problems. Most deaths in trenches are from
cave-ins. Other risks are falls, electrocution, being struck by falling objects (or a backhoe), and
bad air. Bad air can hurt your breathing, help cause a fire, or poison you. Many workers die
trying to rescue other workers in trenches.
Protect Yourself OSHA says your employer (the contractor) must train you about the hazards and how to
protect yourself.
A competent person must inspect a trench:
BEFORE YOU WORK IN A TRENCH: Get a competent person to OK it. Make sure all equipment is in good condition. This includes water pumps and ventilators.
A competent person must check the soil. This check helps the competent person choose the right worker-protection system.
WHEN YOU WORK: You will need to use sloping, benching, shoring, or a trench box to prevent injuries or deaths. IF A TRENCH CAVES
IN: For more information, call your local union, CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) (301-578-8500 or www.cpwr.com ), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (1-800-35-NIOSH or 1-800-356-4674 or www.cdc.gov/niosh ), or OSHA (1-800-321-OSHA or www.osha.gov). Or check the website www.elcosh.org.
*The OSHA trench standard is in the Code of Federal Regulations: 29 CFR 1926.650, 651, and 652. The confined space standard is 29 CFR 1910.146 This document appears in the eLCOSH website with the permission of the author and/or copyright holder and may not be reproduced without their consent. eLCOSH is an information clearinghouse. eLCOSH and its sponsors are not responsible for the accuracy of information provided on this web site, nor for its use or misuse. © 2005, CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training. All rights reserved. CPWR is a research, development, and training arm of the Building and Construction Trades Dept., AFL-CIO: CPWR, Suite 1000, 8484 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. (Edward C. Sullivan is president of the Building and Construction Trades Dept. and of CPWR and Joseph Maloney is secretary treasurer.) Production of this card was supported by grants CCU317202 and 1 U54 OH008307 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and grants U45-ES09764 and U45-ES06185 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH or NIEHS. eLCOSH | CDC | NIOSH | Site Map | Search | Links | Help | Contact Us | Privacy Policy |