Importance of Safety in Trench Excavation
Trenching and excavation activities are executed million of times around the world. Excavation is one of the most risky kinds of jobs in the construction industry and it becomes more dangerous while trench excavation is performed.
Some of the major construction contractors involved in Trenching and excavation are:
- General contractors
- Highway and street construction contractors
- Bridge and tunnel contractors
- Water, sewer, pipeline contractors
- Communication and power line contractors
- Concrete worker and well drilling contractors
The use of a simple shovel and settings about digging small trenches is satisfactory, but for deep and narrow trenches often required for sanitary sewer installation systems or other similar projects, extraordinary cautionary measures should be taken. There are lots of risks associated with the trench excavation and usually most disasters occur in 5-15 feet deep trenches. Some of the commonly occurred mishaps due to trench excavation are Cave-ins, Underground utilities, Materials/equipment falling into underworked trenches, Struck-by accidents, Asphyxiation, deep falling and Drowning. There is hardly any warning before the occurrence of any stated accident while workers are working on trenches.
There are thousands of construction workers who lost their lives each year while working on trench excavation particularly while digging to lay pipe or place manholes, conduit runs, or footings. It raises the question how to save the life of workers involved in trench excavation and what would be the most suitable level for safety.
There are a lot of steps that should be taken as a security for trench excavation that could lead to the safe and successful trench excavation. The importance of safety increases when workers work on narrow and deep trenches, and may workers die when trying to rescue the lives of their co-workers. Some of the important safety steps and guidelines for a trench excavation are; Employees training; the on job trench excavation should be trained with techniques that how they can protect themselves. It helps them to quickly take a safe way to come out of the trench.
The construction contractor supervising the trenching work should be registered and competent. He should be able to identify possible risks and have the authority to stop the work right way when any accident occurs. They should follow the trench excavation rules imposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Some important steps should be carried out before and after each shift to observe anything that can increase the risks, such as rain, Vibration (for example, from nearby heavy equipment or a passing train), trench wall moves, causing cracking, scaling, or bulging of the trench.
To put more safety into trench excavation, the trenching equipments should be in good working condition. The supervisor must call the utilities providing companies to block supply electricity, gas, and water pipes. Many accidents occur due to the current shots or due to the release of gases that reduce the oxygen or may even cause fire.
The soil where trench is going to be digged should be inspected and that soil should be stable. Try to carry out excavation in wet trenches as most of the cave-ins happen due to clay. You also have to use sloping, benching, shoring, or a trench box to avoid injuries or deaths. Do pile up the construction material or any heavy equipment on the close edges of the trench as they may fall in any time and block the trench. The walls of the trench should be safely sloped and secured by bracing.
It’s the moment of tragedy when any incident happens and workers try to help their colleagues but try to help them from outside. Never enter into trenches that are caving-in or have bad air supply.
The life of every worker should be equally important for the recruiter and they should take into account every possible measure that reduces the risk and increases the safety level on a trench excavation site.
Want more information on Trench Excavation? Speak to Groundforce…
Groundforce are one of the UK’s and Ireland’s leading supplier to the construction industry. They are specialists in Formwork, Shoring, pressure testing, pipe stoppers, piling equipment, and pump hire. Groundforce have been operating for over 20 years with a wealth of experience within the construction field and pride themselves on their enviable portfolio of products and services. Groundforce also offer a comprehensive technical support service for all their variety of equipment. To find out more about the full range of products and services offered by Groundforce, call on 0800 000 345 or email on groundforce@vpplc.com.