OSHA Trench Safety Standards

Trench excavation requires preparation and attention to safety while working. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, outlines standards to help employers provide a safe working environment. Equipment, people and work areas must be set up and prepared according to these guidelines.

Preparation

• Before a trench can be excavated, underground lines have to be identified.

  Any underground lines and pipes must be located and marked to avoid damaging them. These can include sewer, water, power and electric lines that could also pose a hazard to workers. At sites with traffic, trench workers must be provided with reflective protective gear, and barricades and warning signs must be set up to warn drivers.

Employee Safeguards

• Ramps, ladders or other means of safe entrance and exit from the trench must be provided if the trench is 4 feet or deeper. OSHA states that workers should not have to climb or descend more than 25 feet. If ramps are used, they need a non-slip tread to prevent slips and falls.

Other Considerations

• Loose material must be cleared away to prevent debris from injuring workers.

  OSHA requires that water should be kept from building up during trench work. Trenches should also have supports and bracing to prevent cave-ins and weakening of building walls near a trench. Loose rock and other materials need to be kept cleared off from the area so that falling debris will not injure workers.