OSHA addresses ‘alarming rise’ in trench-related fatalities
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Twenty-two workers died in trenching accidents in the first half of this year, a 68% increase over all of 2021 that has prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to launch an enhanced enforcement initiative to better protect workers from cave-ins and other fatal accidents.
“To stress the dangers of disregarding federal workplace safety requirements for trenching and excavation work, OSHA enforcement staff will consider every available tool at the agency's disposal,” the agency announced Thursday. “These actions will place additional emphasis on how agency officials evaluate penalties for trenching and excavation-related incidents, including criminal referrals for federal or state prosecution to hold employers and others accountable when their actions or inactions kill workers or put their lives at risk.”
OSHA said its compliance officers will perform more than 1,000 trench inspections nationwide “where they may stop by, and inspect, any excavation site during their daily duties,” according to the announcement.
The agency highlighted a recent “preventable” incident in Jarrell, Texas, on June 28 in which two workers suffered fatal injuries when an unprotected trench more than 20 feet deep collapsed on them as they worked. Trench shields, as required by OSHA, sat unused beside the excavation, the agency said.
