Trench Collapse Hazard 1934 Civilian Conservation Corps CCC

The danger of a worker being buried in a soil collapse has been known for many years. But in the US and around the world, workers continue to die and be seriously injured in trench collapses. From 2000 to 2006, 271 workers died in trenching or excavation cave-ins according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. Hazards associated with trench work and excavation are recognized and preventable, yet injuries and fatalities associated with these hazards continue to occur. The primary hazard of trenching and excavation is employee injury from collapse. Soil analysis is important in order to determine appropriate sloping, benching, and shoring. Additional hazards include working with heavy machinery; manual handling of materials; working in proximity to traffic; electrical hazards from overhead and underground power-lines; and underground utilities, such as natural gas. Regulations and consensus standards describe engineering controls, protective equipment, and safe work practices to minimize hazards for workers during trench work and excavations. For more information on trenching hazards and their control, go to the OSHA website at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/trenchingexcavation/index.html . This clip is from the 1934 film, Safety on the Job, a safety training film made for the US Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The entire film is available at the US National Archive in College Park Maryland.

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