Arlington, VA — Miners should avoid entering trenches with unsupported walls, the Mine Safety and Health Administration advises in a recent fatality alert.
The agency issued the alert in response to a Jan. 3 incident in which a miner was killed while trying to replace a 12-inch discharge line in an excavated trench. The trench wall collapsed, engulfing him.
MSHA best practices include:
- Stay clear of potentially unstable areas.
- Establish and discuss safe work procedures before starting work.
- Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and the methods to properly protect workers.
- Follow OSHA guidelines for trenching and excavation safety.
OSHA’s standard on trenching and excavation (1926.650, Subpart P) requires protective systems such as sloping, shoring and shielding for trenches that are 5 feet or deeper, unless the excavation occurs in stable rock.
“Trench collapses, or cave-ins, pose the greatest risk to workers’ lives,” OSHA says. “When done safely, trenching operations can reduce worker exposure to other potential hazards – including falls, falling loads and hazardous atmospheres – and incidents involving mobile equipment.”
The 10th annual Trench Safety Stand-Down is set to take place June 16-20.
