Resumen de Worker education for safety in excavation and trenching operations
Sen Priyadarshini, E. Cochran Hameen, S. Singh
Excavation and trenching operations are among the most hazardous construction activities and are a leading cause of worker injury and fatality in the sector. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 1008 deaths in construction in 2018 of which 55 (5.5%) were categorized as caught in/between. The most common cause of accidents in earthwork are cave-ins and sidewall collapse and are known to often result in fatalities. Other hazards include falls, falling materials, dangerous atmospheres, heavy equipment and existing utilities. It is reported that the fatality rate for excavation is 112% higher than that of general construction (OSHA, 2002 as referenced in Arboleda & Abraham, 2004).Earthwork operations, including excavation and trenching, are typically undertaken by specialty trades. Such specialty contractors tend to be smaller firms, often restricted to specific geographic regions. Typically, they have fewer resources dedicated for worker health and safety, including lack of expertise in hazard recognition and management. Researchers suggest that, traditionally they have also been underserved by OSH initiatives and exempt from regulatory requirements devised to protect employees.Experts contend that the engineering solutions for worker safety in excavation and trenching are comprehensive and robust. These are, namely, sloping and benching soil, and/or using shoring and shielding systems for soil support. The challenge is adoption of these strategies and systems.
