Tips on Digging a Trench in Cold Weather

Trenching -- a form of excavation -- is one of the most hazardous forms of construction, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. As such, OSHA designs safety regulations for workers who dig trenches to follow in order to avoid hazards. Weather plays an integral role in the safety of trenchers, too. Digging a trench in cold weather requires workers to pay close attention to the environment and condition of the earth.

Avoiding Ice

• Depending on the geographical location, cold weather can bring all sorts of climate hazards for trenching excavations, such as slippery ice. Workers on a trenching job must make sure that the area around and inside of the trench are free from ice so that they do not slip and injure themselves. Slipping on ice can cause workers to slide into a deep trench or have difficulty maneuvering safely around the trench with their machines and equipment. Prior to the day's job, the project manager should inspect the area for obvious ice or black ice, and tape those areas off until the ice melts.

Rock And Soil Conditions

• If cold weather causes rocks and soil in the earth to freeze, the rock and soil may no longer meet OSHA's safety classifications for being stable. Stable rock means that the rock can be cut into and chipped away, but will remain intact in its new shape and form. As you dig a trench, rock and earth is carved into vertically. Cold climate conditions can cause the rock and soil around the trench to lose their stability, which means they will not stand up to the sloping elements required in trenching.

Depth

• The deeper you dig the trench, the safer the pipes and other materials being buried are from cold or freezing climates. If your trenching excavation is being performed to install underground pipes in cold locations, you can keep the pipes better insulated by digging the trench deeper than you normally would in a warmer climate. If safety precautions allow, create deeper trenches for better results.

Proper Equipment

• Having the proper excavation equipment makes it easier to get through frozen earth and cold soil. When you dig a trench in cold weather you may not get very far when using a handheld shovel, simply because your strength is going up against the firmness of the earth. One tip is to use a trenching machine to help your endeavors. Trenching machines, such as back hoes, can break through rocky or solid soil in the cold to hasten the process.