29 Aug 08/29/2021
When most people hear the word trench, they most likely think of a trench coat. However, the term goes, literally, much deeper than that of clothing. Trenches are a vital component of civil engineering and are often a significant part of construction projects. One critical industry requiring trenches is the underground utility industry, as they use trenches to install underground infrastructure in the form of gas mains, water mains, communication cables, and pipelines.
Excavator Digging a Trench
What is a trench? The term “trench,” as it is used in construction and engineering, refers to a long narrow ditch or hole dug into the ground. Different types of trenches are used across construction: some are bell-shaped, others sloped, and many simply straight.
You will often hear the words “excavation” and “trench” used interchangeably; however, there is a difference. Excavations are any manufactured cut, cavity, trench, or depression into the Earth's surface that is formed by earth removal. Trenches are a specific narrow excavation and are deeper than they are wide. And, like all excavations, they are also dangerous, as someone can quickly become trapped in a trench.
This article will explore the world of trench construction and the safety measures and safety gear required when digging. It will also answer some of the common how-to questions related to digging.
Trenching is a standard excavation method used across most construction projects. In construction, there are numerous reasons to dig a trench. Laying and getting access to services is one of the primary reasons for digging a trench. Trenches can also be used for constructing foundations and building heavy-duty drains, retaining walls, and dams.
As we highlight in our Guide to Construction Equipment article, excavators are the machines often used in the trenching process to remove dirt, rock, and Earth to create a hole in the ground that is usually deeper than it is wide.
Here are some other trench tools needed for digging into the Earth:
These tools are all used to construct trenches, which feature multiple parts. The image below shows the different parts of a trench formed with the help of these tools.
Trenches are considered a relatively simple construction method, yet they account for OSHA's highest fines. That's because trenching, when done incorrectly, involved numerous hazards and can be a significant safety risk.
Digging trenches is one of the most hazardous parts of any construction process, primarily because they collapse without warning. Once the dirt is removed from any location, the surrounding soil becomes unstable. That's when gravity does its part and may cause the surrounding soil to collapse. Having a trench collapse on workers and trap them is the number one concern for anyone operating near a trench. Improper sloping and flooding are two other primary reasons trenches collapse.
From 2013-2017, 97 trenching deaths occurred in the construction industry, equating to an average of 19 per year. In addition, there are risks for slips, falling objects, and unsafe weather.
Being aware of the hazards associated with trenching is essential! Whether you are working independently on your at-home project or managing a trenching project on a construction site, certain steps must be taken to protect everyone working in, on, or around a trench.
Some of the additional hazards of trenching include:
Before any trenching can begin, it is essential to mitigate as many safety hazards as possible, whether the trench is being dug as part of a company’s construction plan or is being dug by a weekend warrior homeowner working in the yard. Awareness of safety hazards means understanding the soil type, recognizing potential water hazards, and determining current buried lines.
The OSHA trench safety soil classification PDF can be accessed by clicking the above image.
Lastly, each construction site must have someone classified as a competent person responsible for identifying all existing hazards present and considering potential future hazards that might occur. Since trench conditions are constantly changing, these workers pay close attention to whether walls begin to sag or crack, where existing underground power lines are located, and if water begins seeping into the trench. When any of these hazards are present, this person has the authority to stop all operations.
Competent persons also visually analyze soil, test hazardous atmospheres, and assess weather changes. They regularly inspect protective systems, which are highlighted more in our next section.
In the U.S., OSHA oversees and develops trench safety guidelines. OSHA's 1926.652 standard highlights all the requirements necessary for protecting employees during excavations and trenching. There is good reason for OSHA overseeing trench safety, as the rate of fatalities caused by trenching is 112% higher than fatality rates for all other types of construction work performed.
One of OSHA's measures with trenches requires companies to employ a protective system to guard workers against cave-ins. The system chosen will depend on the soil conditions, depth and width of the trench, and space needed. Any system that is 20 feet deep or more must be built by a professional engineering firm.
Shoring systems, such as bracing and wall plates, are temporary structures used to assist in avoiding cave-ins. However, OSHA trench box requirements, often referred to as shields, are necessary whenever the digging depth reaches 5 feet or more. The primary aim of a trench box isn't to prevent a cave-in but to alleviate the pressure of the soil on a worker in the event the walls do collapse.
Trench Safety Box
OSHA provides extensive resources for construction site trenching projects. Here are some safety resources you should consider reviewing:
Outside of OSHA, the PDF by OSHAcademy covers all the core components of trench safety, from soil conditions to methods that keep workers safe. It's definitely a trench safety manual you'll want to check out!
Lastly, visit the National Trench Safety website for a plethora of resources related to trenching. They are the go-to experts for training around trenching Safety and all the products necessary while trenching.
As always, training is key to understanding safety, and you can never have too much training. YouTube is another excellent resource for anyone interested in learning, especially around the topic of trenching projects! If you learn best from watching people conduct excavation projects, then YouTube is the place for you. Here are some videos to consider watching:
Safety is such an essential part of any construction project, and SafetyVideos.com provides yet another overview of the safety guidelines for trenching.
When you're working in the trenches, it helps when you have personal protection equipment (PPE) designed to keep you safe on the job. Here are some PPE styles you’ll want to consider having for trench work:
The Easy Digging website provides a free trenching guide to help individuals understand how to dig a trench. Many homeowners perform trenching manually rather than renting a trencher. That's because most at-home projects simply don't justify the expense of a rental trencher.
Many companies will rent trenching equipment from places like United Rentals. And, users at home will also rent trenching equipment, most likely from local hardware stores such as Lowes and Home Depot. Besides the most common practice of purchasing or renting a trenching machine, there are four critical tools used for trenching: drainage spades, trenching shovels, clean-out scoops, and trenching hoes. One of the biggest challenges in digging a trench is effectively cleaning out the bottom of any debris and Earth that falls from the sides.
If you need to dig a deep trench, one popular and effective strategy is to dig one shallow but wide trench, and then dig a secondary trench at the bottom of the first. The secondary trench will be deeper but narrower. As with any trench, you should follow the same safety guidelines.
Installing drainage is a common reason for trench-digging, as drains assist in removing water that tends to pool in places like driveways and loading docks. Having a trench drain detail, which provides the framework for installation, is vital before any digging begins.
In short, you dig the trench, place underlying material at the base of the trench, install the drain pipe, cover the pipe, and then cover the trench itself. However, to help guide those who need more details, these two guides provide clear instructions for how to dig drainage trenching: How to Dig a Trench and How to Dig a Trench for Drainage [10 Ridiculously Simple Steps].
Here are some critical takeaways from these guides:
Excavating and trenching are necessary components of any construction site. Unfortunately, hazards are plentiful when excavating, and trenching and safety measures are key whenever construction begins. One of the most foundational safety measures is PPE. We hope the above article has helped further your understanding of safety measures needed during trenching and the gear you need to protect your body.
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