You may not realize this, but a deep, straight-sided trench is one of the most dangerous work environments in all of construction. Every month brings news of another trench collapse on an American worksite—often, tragically, with fatal results.
The risk is greatest when the trench is dug in unstable soil. That’s why OSHA has produced this informative video to guide responsible individuals in how to assess the soil where a trench is being dug.
Just to drive the point home: A simple Google News search turns up this example of an October trench collapse at a residential worksite, reported by the Billings, Montana, Gazette (see: “Man rescued after trench collapse buries him in far West End backyard in Billings,” by Larry Mayer). This example is from Montana, but it could have been from anywhere—and only good luck keeps this case from being another example of death in a trench.
