Trenching involves many risks. In fact, it is one of the hazardous things to do in the constructions area. So safety measures should be observed at all times because if proper precautions are disregarded the workers can be seriously injured as they will be more exposed to the possibility of cave-ins, caught-ins, slipping, and falling.
In the following entry, we are going to tackle how to keep construction workers safe during trench shoring.
Trench Shoring Defined
Shoring is a construction term that pertains to the process of fortifying the walls of a trench to prevent it from collapsing. It can also be used to specify the materials being used in the process.
The equipment used during the shoring process will depend upon the size of the trench, but the most common methods of bracing the trench walls are:
- Hydraulic Shoring – Shoring up the trench by making use of heavy plywood or steel plates combined with hydraulic pistons. The plates or plywood are positioned into the walls of the trench and then the pistons are placed as braces to press against the walls.
- Soldier Boarding – It is a shoring method similar to hydraulic shoring, although wooden planks are used instead of hydraulic pistons.
- Beam and Plate – In this method, steel beams are inserted into the ground, followed by the insertion of steel plates between the steel beams and the trench walls to shore them up.
As what is commonly mentioned in other online articles, trench shoring and trench shielding are not the same because trench shoring is the process of bracing the trench walls to keep it from collapsing while trench shielding is a precautionary measure to protect workers from cave-ins as they perform trenching excavation.
Consider These Important Elements Before And During Shoring Operations To Keep The Workers Safe
Make Sure A Competent Person Is Present to Inspect The Jobsite – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) specifically indicates that a competent person should be there at the job site to inspect on the working conditions before performing the shoring operations. This person is responsible for ensuring the workers’ safety by checking on the many factors that may compromise the safety of the working environment.
A competent person must have a certification from OSHA to prove that he is capable of implementing the safety standards during excavation which includes in-depth training in soil classification, identification of potential risk factors that might affect the worker’s safety, and the implementation of the site’s safety regulations according to excavation standards.
Moreover, this person must have enough skills and experience in underground construction so he will be able to perform his responsibilities accordingly and make decisions that will benefit the workers in terms of safety and security.
Soil Types Must Be Checked – According to OSHA, any kind of excavation on the ground with a depth of 5 feet or more must have a protective system installed. However, it is strongly recommended to install a protective system for trenches with depths of 5 feet or less if there is a high possibility of collapse.
In relation to this standard, the soil type should be in accordance with OSHA’s regulations which will be analyzed by the competent person upon inspection prior to the excavation as well as conducting a daily inspection to maintain safety standards. Likewise, soil type analysis should also be done after each rainstorm and/or any situations that might increase the occurrence of cave-ins.
Installation Of A Protective System – And lastly, a protective system like a trench box should be used to maximize safety during trench shoring. There are several types of trench shields to choose from in varying lengths, heights, and widths. And the type of protective system to be installed will also depend on the width, length, the depth of the trench, and the maximum lifting capacity of the onsite equipment. You can try Iron Lot’s aluminum trench boxes if you’re seeking for a high quality trench box.