Use of Trench Boxes for Worker Protection

Details

• Personal Author:
  Hinze J
• Description:
  Work in trenches can be very dangerous if workers are not provided with adequate protection against trench cave-ins. One method of providing for worker protection in trenches is with the use of trench boxes, widely used, engineered structures that permit workers to work safely in trenches. A study of the experiences of utility contractors with the use of trench boxes provided several notable findings that can help in implementing safe work practices in trenches. Most safety problems with the use of trench boxes are attributed to human error or judgment. For example, several respondents commented that workers were observed exiting from the trench boxes by walking up the backfill, a practice that exposes workers to the dangers of trench cave-ins. The importance of training was also evident in the results. Firms with better safety performance records conducted specialized training courses for their employees, and they provided more frequent training courses. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Construction Industry Environmental Exposure Mortality Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Staff Development Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Accidents Construction Industry Construction Workers Exposure Levels Fatalities Hazards Injuries Personal Protective Equipment PPE Protective Measures Risk Factors Training Traumatic Injuries Trenches Trenching Work Environment Workers Worker Safety

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• ISSN:
  0733-9364
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; Indiana ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  494-500
• Volume:
  131
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20063249
• Citation:
  J Constr Eng Manage 2005 Apr; 131(4):494-500
• Contact Point Address:
  Jimmie Hinze, Professor, M. E. Rinker Sr. School of Building Construction, College of Design, Construction and Planning, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-5701
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• Performing Organization:
  Purdue Research Foundation, West Lafayette, Indiana
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20010901
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
• End Date:
  20030831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:5098f68a62918d41e18380d8563d645bb360b15c6f82b940d5a9f4e72aced790f23f5bfea42e9855c068c7e426a7adb50201a09ed887fe2df745d4c9e71e1931
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/226344/cdc_226344_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 403.76 KB ]