What is the purpose of trench shoring?
Trench shoring is material that is used to support a trench so that it doesn’t collapse, and it is very important to the safety of any workers that will be moving around in the trench.
What is trench shoring equipment?
Trench shoring uses aluminum walls and hydraulic or other support to prevent shifts in the surrounding soil or life-threatening cave-ins. Essentially, trench shoring is there to prevent a collapse.
What is a trench shoring box?
Trench shields (also called trench boxes or trench sheets) are steel or aluminum structures used for protecting utility workers while performing their duties within a trench and avoid cave-ins. They are customarily constructed with sidewalls of varying thicknesses held apart by steel or aluminum spreaders.
What is the deadliest excavation hazard?
Trench collapses, or cave-ins, pose the greatest risk to workers’ lives. When done safely, trenching operations can reduce worker exposure to other potential hazards include falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, and incidents involving mobile equipment.
Why is shoring required?
Why Shoring Matters So Much Enhanced safety — The construction of basements and foundations requires excavation. Protecting the workers in those temporary trenches and holes calls for shoring. By holding the earthen walls up and preventing collapses, it ensures a safer work site.
What is shielding and shoring?
Trench shoring is the process of bracing the walls of a trench to prevent collapse and cave-ins. Shoring is designed to prevent collapse, whilst shielding is only designed to protect workers should collapse occur. Most professionals agree that shoring is the safer approach of the two.
How deep can you trench before shoring?
Trenches 5 feet (1.5 meters) deep or greater require a protective system unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock. If less than 5 feet deep, a competent person may determine that a protective system is not required.
What are spoil piles?
Spoil piles are excavated materials consisting of topsoil or subsoils that have been removed and temporarily stored during the construction activity. This BMP addresses spoils which will be stored during most of the construction phases, as well as spoils which will be spread to blend into the natural topography.
