Every year there are workers seriously injured or killed while working in trenches, even men who have only been buried waist deep have died due to the great pressure that the soil places on the body. Survivors of trench cave ins are often seriously injured. Workmen who toil in trenches are exposed to dangers that most people will never experience; material falling from the vertical sides of the trench or even falling into the excavation. Those companies that provide excavation services in Ottawa are well aware that inherent safety is not a component of any soil type.
The hazards found in trenches:
A trench is a reasonably narrow excavation, rarely more than 15 feet deep which is well below the frost line. Any trench can present hazards, amongst them are:
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Loose material which form the trench sides may fall into the excavation at any time, in a worst case scenario, the entire trench may cave in.
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There may be other structures which are in close proximity to the trench; these structures may have an effect on the stability of the trench in question.
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Moving machinery: A construction site is a busy place with many construction machines moving around. These machines can adversely affect the stability of the soil by placing weight onto an area which is not self supporting causing a trench cave-in.
As Earth Movers excavation services in Ottawa dig the trench they take into account the need for safety and they use a number of different methods to ensure it. The important factors in determining the protective measures that will be taken are the type of excavation, the work which is to be performed, the excavation location and the duration that the trench will remain open. In all cases the contractor makes sure that no equipment, material or spoils is located closer than two feet from the edge of the trench, as well as this important precaution, the following is also adhered to:
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Trench boxes are used as temporary support
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The sides of the trench are slopped rather than true vertical
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The trench is dug in cuts which create stepped grades
It is doubly important than every trench have a way that workers can get in to the trench safely and most importantly, out quickly; stairways, ladders and ramps are used for these purposes.
