Why Are There So Many Trench Fatalities?

Why are there so many cave-in deaths this year? I think the answer is that too many people are running safety stop signs.

I was watching a baseball game recently and the runner on second base took off as soon as the ball was hit toward left field. The left fielder cleanly snagged it after a couple of bounces and threw toward home plate. The runner approached third base at full speed and looked at the third base coach – who had put up the stop sign.

The reason for the stop sign was that the ball was hit well and reached the fielder quickly, plus the fielder was known to have a great arm.

But the runner (who was very fast) made the split second decision to try to score and ran through the stop sign.

Unfortunately for the runner, the throw was on target and in time for the tag. OUT AT HOME! The runner was thrown out based on many factors. Simply put, the runner took an ill-advised chance when he ran the stop sign.

In the federal register on page 45927 it states:

“OSHA believes that there is a potential for a cave-in in virtually all excavations. However, experience has shown that the probability of a cave-in depends upon the combined effects of many factors. These factors include the depth of the excavation, the type of soil involved, the ability of the soil to resist stress imposed on the soil from the weight of the soil itself and from static and dynamic surcharge loads, and from changes in the stability of the soil to resist stress due to exposure to environmental conditions over a period of time.”

To me, the real question today is “Why aren’t there more cave-ins”. I ask this because there are so many employers and workers who do not believe that cave-ins will happen to them. They ignore factors such as:

The depth of the excavation

The type of soil involved

The weight of the soil itself

The static and dynamic surcharge loads

The changes in the stability of the soil to resist stress?

These people ignore the safety stop signs routinely and that is why the surprise to me is that there are not more trench fatalities.

Those who run the safety stop signs, and take a chance on staying “lucky” are doomed to suffer the consequences of being “unlucky”. I believe that anyone involved in excavation work needs to pay careful attention to all excavation hazards.

Here is a message to all who think they can continue to be “lucky”.

ALL VERTICAL WALLS OF SOIL WILL EVENTUALLY COLLAPSE. IF THE SOIL HITS SOMEONE, IT WILL BE BAD.

If you are involved in excavation work, this is for you:

Number One: Get your employees trained in excavation safety.

Number Two: Always use an adequate protective system. Protect your people, whether or not you believe the soil will collapse, because the downside is not acceptable.

Number Three: Get OSHA 10-hour and other safety training to make sure all hazards are identified and corrected.

Start working safely before someone else is killed! Stop running the stop signs!

For more information on the topic of excavation safety please go to www.trenchandexcavationsafety.com