Trench Box vs. Trench Shield: What’s the Difference?
Wondering about the difference between a trench box and a trench shield? This article sets the record straight and explains what you should know about them.
A Closer Look at Manufacturer’s Tabulated Data Can Save Lives
Trench accidents happen in protected trenches when contractors fail to understand and follow tabulated data. Here, experts reveal what you might be missing.
When Power and Telecom Enclosed Spaces Require Testing
Contractors working in enclosed spaces for power projects or in underground manholes or unvented vaults for telecommunications jobs are often operating under a potentially...
6 Misconceptions about Trench Protective Systems
As a customer training specialist for the Trench Safety group of United Rentals, I’ve noticed that many contractors share some misunderstandings about protective systems for...
Designing an Engineered Shoring Solution
Some excavations are relatively straightforward and simply require choosing the right excavation protective system for the job. Others — deep or complex trenches — require a custom...
Choosing a Competent Person
The “competent person” required by OSHA for certain types of work, such as trenching and excavation, performs a critical role on a jobsite and is instrumental in preventing...
7 Tips for Renting a Trench Box
Trench boxes, aka trench shields, are used to protect workers from the pressure and weight of soil in the event of a cave-in. When you are renting a trench box, follow these tips.
The 4 Key Roles in Permit-Required Confined Spaces
Every time your workers enter a permit-required confined space (PRCS), they’re trusting that your company and its managers and field supervisors have taken the necessary steps to...
Understanding OSHA’s Trench Box Requirements
For some contractors, confusion exists around OSHA’s trench box requirements. Understanding when it’s appropriate to use a trench box and how to use one according to regulation is...
Trench Safety By the Numbers
Trench work can be complicated. It’s also potentially dangerous, as evidenced by troubling fatality rates. In April 2019, the industry saw more trench fatalities than in any...
