What are the Keys to Trench Safety?

There are two keys to trench safety: appropriate building techniques and continuous monitoring of soil conditions. A trench is an opening in the ground that is deeper than it is wide. Trenches are used for many reasons, ranging from the installation of underground pipes to environmental studies. Soil mechanics and the laws of physics state that all trenches will eventually cave in. It is simply a question of when and if there are any people at risk. Trench safety lies in the careful preparation of the work site and soil condition results. Planning ahead and using modern technology increases trench safety. There are two approved methods of building trenches: shoring and sloping. Shoring is the process of installing wood or metal panels against the soil walls inside the trench and securing them in place with bars and vises. The installation of the shoring panels must be done correctly, as they need to maintain sufficient resistance to hold the soil back while work is occurring. Proper ...  more