Excavation General Safety Talk

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 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]. Excavations are a common sight on construction sites all across the United States. This work can come with numerous hazards, but excavation work can be made safe by following basic safety guidelines.

THE MAIN HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH EXCAVATION WORK INCLUDE:

• Surface encumbrances.
• Excavation collapse. (cave-ins)
• Loose rock or soil.
• Contact with underground services and/or overhead […]

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