A tragic trench failure claimed two lives on Long Island earlier this week.
According to the news, two men were working approximately 30 feet down replacing a septic tank and then the earth gave way. Our hearts and prayers are with the impacted families and we thank the first responders for doing everything possible to try and rescue the two hardworking men.
Trench safety is significant. It is highly risky to go into a hole in the ground without properly shoring the area. Workers are often confronted with bosses demanding they go down in the hole without regard for life safety. An unspoken truth is these laborers must choose between the threat of being laid off for refusing to obey dangerous orders or risk everything to work another day.
Site safety is not an option, it is a legal requirement.
Poor enforcement can lead to the temptation of cutting corners on safeguarding a job site, especially underground where it is hard to see. Bad judgment for a few extra bucks should not cause anyone to not invest in life safety.
The right way to design a construction job is to have safety at its foundation. If the work requires government sign-off, then the permit ought to spell-out the site-safety requirements. It is on the contractor to follow them and the municipality to enforce them. Job site workers are obligated to be trained and all occupational safety hazards must be addressed.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requires the following safety measures for trench and excavation work be observed:
- Trenches 5 feet (1.5 meters) deep or greater require a protective system unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock. If less than 5 feet deep, a competent person may determine that a protective system is not required.
- Trenches 20 feet (6.1 meters) deep or greater require that the protective system be designed by a registered professional engineer or be based on tabulated data prepared and/or approved by a registered professional engineer in accordance with 1926.652(b) and (c).
Trench work poses the greatest threat to a worker’s life. This is one of the main reasons why it is imperative protective systems are in place along with competent, trained professionals who are on-site to conduct all work in compliance with safety standards. For more trench and excavation safety facts, click here.
The New York City Department of Buildings is ramping up surprise inspections. In November 2019, they racked up $1,139,000 in penalties and fines for illegal building and construction conditions. As witnessed in Long Island, poor safeguards claim lives. Read our “Certified Safety Alert” for more details here.
There are too many examples of injury and agony for not prioritizing site safety.
Do not second guess safety. Be certain. Get Certified Site Safety to help you address any and all safety concerns.
Call us for Safety Training, Safety Logistics Plans, Health, and Safety Programs and Safety Audits.
We are in the Business of Saving Lives
914-437-5454 and visit our website at www.CSSWBE.com.
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