The safety measures required to prevent trench walls from collapsing on workers.
Trench safety refers to the protective systems and procedures required by OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P to prevent cave-in fatalities and injuries in trenches, which are excavations where the depth exceeds the width at the bottom. Protection methods include sloping to a safe angle, benching, shoring with timber or hydraulic shores, or using a trench box (pre-manufactured shielding system). Trenches must be inspected by a competent person daily and after any rainfall.
The competent person inspected the 8-foot water main trench every morning and after heavy rain to verify the trench box was properly set before workers descended.
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