The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined three companies a total of more than $169,000 in connection with incidents in which workers were not properly protected from trench collapses.
Two Colorado companies — K.R. Swerdfeger Construction and Pate Construction — were fined a total of $101,200 for failing to provide workers with cave-in protection at job sites. Swerdfeger also was cited for placing workers in a trench deeper than four feet without a safe exit.
In South Carolina, DS Utilities was fined $68,600 for exposing workers to trenching hazards while they were installing sewer lines. Workers were reportedly working in a nine and a half foot deep excavation without cave-in protection.
The company, which is based in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, also was cited for failing to provide a safe entrance and exit from the trench, allowing workers to operate an excavator too closely to the opening of the trench, and exposing workers to tripping and fall hazards from an open hole.
Rules for Trenching
OSHA trenching standards require all excavation deeper than 5 feet to be protected against collapse.
Soil is extremely heavy and can be fast moving if not supported. As single cubic foot of soil weighs about 114 pounds and a cubic yard weighs about 1.5 tons, or about the same as a Volkswagen Beetle.
A worker buried under only a few feet of soil can be crushed by so much pressure that the lungs can’t expand and suffocation can occur in as little a three minutes. Soil that is wetter and heavier can crush the body in just a few seconds.
Protective systems reduce the likelihood of soil cave-ins that can fall or roll into an excavation. They also are used to support nearby structures to prevent collapse caused by the excavation.
Rules for Trenching
OSHA trenching standards require all excavation deeper than 5 feet to be protected against collapse.
Soil is extremely heavy and can be fast moving if not supported. As single cubic foot of soil weighs about 114 pounds and a cubic yard weighs about 1.5 tons, or about the same as a Volkswagen Beetle.
A worker buried under only a few feet of soil can be crushed by so much pressure that the lungs can’t expand and suffocation can occur in as little a three minutes. Soil that is wetter and heavier can crush the body in just a few seconds.
Protective systems reduce the likelihood of soil cave-ins that can fall or roll into an excavation. They also are used to support nearby structures to prevent collapse caused by the excavation.