Washington — OSHA has unveiled a new sticker intended to raise awareness of trenching safety by reminding workers to “slope it, shore it, shield it.”
According to the agency, 23 construction workers were killed in trench collapses in 2016, exceeding the combined total from 2014 and 2015.
“When done safely, trenching operations can limit worker exposure to cave-ins, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres and hazards from mobile equipment,” OSHA states. “The best way to prevent a trench collapse is to slope or bench trench walls, shore trench walls with supports, or shield trench walls with trench boxes.”
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The free stickers are available in English and Spanish. Go to OSHA’s Publications page to order them.
