The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has updated the National Emphasis Program (NEP) on preventing trenching and excavation collapses in response to a recent spike in trenching fatalities.
OSHA's NEP will increase education and enforcement efforts while its inspectors record trenching and excavation inspections in a national reporting system. Additionally, each area OSHA office will develop outreach programs as part of the initiatives.
"Removing workers from, and helping workers identify, trenching hazards is critical," OSHA Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt says. "OSHA will concentrate the full force of enforcement and compliance assistance resources to help ensure that employers are addressing these serious hazards."
The emphasis program began Oct. 1, and will kick off a three-month period of education and prevention outreach. During this period, OSHA will continue to respond to complaints, referrals, hospitalizations and fatalities. Enforcement activities will begin after the outreach period and remain in effect until cancellation. OSHA-approved state plans are expected to have enforcement procedures that are at least as effective as those in this instruction.
OSHA has also developed a series of compliance assistance resources to help workers avoid trenching and excavation hazards. The trenching and excavation webpage on OSHA’s website provides information on trenching hazards and solutions that workers can use to stay safe on the job.