Construction workers are at risk of death or serious injury if they enter an unprotected trench and the walls collapse. A trench is defined as a narrow underground excavation that is deeper than it is wide, and is no wider than 15 feet or 4.5 meters [OSHA]. Hazards associated with trench work and excavation are well defined and preventable. From June 17-21, 2019, the National Utility Contractor Association (NUCA), the North American Excavation Shoring Association (NAXSA), the Trench Shoring and Shielding Association, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and the Safety Ambassadors Club (SAC) are sponsoring the 2019 Trench Safety Stand Down. The Stand Down is a safety campaign to raise awareness about the hazards of working in trenches and how to prevent associated injuries and fatalities.
From 2013-2017 there were 97 trenching fatalities in the construction industry – an average of 19 per year, from a low of 10 deaths in 2014 to a high of 33 in 2016 [BLS, 2019]. While the total number of 85 construction-trenching deaths in the previous five years, 2008-2012, was lower, the average of 17 construction-trenching deaths during that five-year period is not significantly different (p=.59) [BLS, 2019]. Furthermore, there was no trend in the number of deaths over the 10 year period 2008-2018 (p=.59).