Trenching and excavating are common construction activities and and if not performed safely, can result in serious injuries and even fatalities.  An excavation is any kind of  cut, cavity, trench or depression in the earth’s surface resulting from rock or soil removal.

A trench is a very specific type of excavation, specifically one that is:

• less than 3.7 metres [12ft] wide at the bottom;
• more than 1.2 metres [4ft] deep; and
• any length.

The most common types of hazards that cause fatalities during trenching and excavating are:

The risk of cave-in or coming into contact with an energized power line are not the only hazards when working in or near a trench. Many other injuries and deaths are also related to:

All of the above hazards can be controlled to either eliminate or minimize the risk to an acceptable level. Some of these control measures include:

Workers should receive instruction on the hazards associated with trenching and excavation, controls necessary and emergency response.  Participants in the COR® Program must ensure that those involved in trenching activities complete a formal trenching and excavation training course that has been reviewed and approved by the NLCSA.

To ensure the safety of workers in and around a trench or excavation, training appropriate to the hazard will be required. This might include certification in Traffic Control, Power Line Hazards, Confined Space Entry, WHMIS 2015 etc.

In addition to the legislative training, workers must receive training on the specific equipment that they may be required to use and task specific procedures.