Did you know that one cubic yard (0.76 cubic meters) of dirt can weigh as much as a car? That’s one of the reasons why working safely around an open trench should be everyone’s top priority on the job. Trench cave-in poses a high risk and is more likely than other excavation-related incidents to result in a fatality. And, according to OSHA, excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction operations.
Starts with education
Educating contractors about proper trench safety procedures has been a longtime focus at Vermeer. Over the last several years, Vermeer and other manufacturers have helped the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) promote trench safety and develop safety materials for use throughout the industry. In addition, the training group at Vermeer regularly works with dealers and customers to make sure they understand OSHA’s guidelines on how to keep workers safe around open trenches.
According to Vermeer Product Safety Manager Darin Dux, no one wants to work unsafely, but sometimes workers don’t have all the knowledge they need to make good decisions. “Unforeseen risks like soil variability, the effect of previous excavations and moisture have to be made known,” he said. “Everyone on a crew must fully understand these potential hazards before entering even a shallow trench.”
Creating a safety-first culture
It is essential for contractors to have safety programs in place for their employees. “Commit to training your workers and make sure everyone on your crew reads OSHA’s ‘Trenching and Excavation Safety’,” said Dux. “AEM and many manufacturers have additional training and programs available.”
There is important safety information included in every Vermeer trencher’s operator’s manual. Dux says all equipment operators should read and understand the operator’s manual before they get behind the controls of a new machine.
Safety on the job
In addition to safety training, operators should learn proper trenching and excavation techniques. “Sloping and benching methods should be used to prepare trench excavation areas safely,” explained Dux. “Crews should use proper shoring and shielding systems for trench wall protection.”
Dux adds that safety protocol needs to be followed every time, even if a trench is shallow. “The weight and pressure of collapsed soil on legs alone can cut off circulation and create a fatal condition due to lack of circulation. And in deeper trenches, it can take several hours to extract someone from a collapse. A fatality in this situation is likely.”
For information on equipment safety, visit Vermeer.com.