New OSHA poster encourages trench construction safety

June 8, 2005—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is offering a new Trench Safety Poster (.pdf file) in English and Spanish that provides quick tips to ensure construction employees are working in protected trenches.

The publication advises workers to slope or bench trench walls, or shore trench walls with supports, or shield trench walls with trench boxes. It also recommends keeping heavy equipment away from trench edges, knowing where underground utilities are prior to digging, and keeping excavated or other materials at least two feet back from the edge of trench.