Trenching is dangerous, and supports should be used for deeper trenches. Trenchers make digging easier, but detail work may require a shovel. Trenches should be blocked and not left open for long periods.
The most important consideration when digging trenches is safety, as building such a hole is one of the most dangerous practices in construction. The risk of a cave-in is quite high when trenching, so for deeper trenches, supports should be used to reduce this likelihood. Smaller trenches around the house can often be built using a shovel, but if the trench is to be long or deep, a walk-behind trenching machine should be used. The best methods for digging trenches depend on how deep and wide the trench needs to be and for what purposes it is being built.
Trenchers come in a variety of sizes and make digging trenches exponentially easier than the shovel method. On construction sites, trenching is usually done with heavy machinery that requires an expert to operate. Such trenches are usually quite deep and long, so the risk of a collapse is extremely high. If possible, steel wall supports should be used in this application and the time spent inside the trench should be limited, especially if no steel or other supports are used.
Smaller trenching projects can be done by hand or with a walking excavator. The latter is much easier, since the time spent on digging the hole will be significantly shorter. The trencher also requires much less energy to operate; using a shovel can be time consuming, and the person digging will expend a significant amount of energy. Shovel digging should be reserved for only the smallest trenches, or trenches that require precise digging around corners or through other obstacles. A motorized walk-behind trencher may be faster, but it can’t do the detail work like a person with a shovel can.
For detail work, a combined trencher and shovel may be the best option. The ditcher can cut the long parts of the trench that don’t run close to obstacles, while a person with a shovel can dig around obstacles or around corners. Even for larger construction jobs, you may need to shovel by hand. If the trench will be open and unattended for any length of time, it should be sufficiently blocked and signs should be posted to prevent passers-by from falling. A trench should not be left open longer than necessary, as it is a safety hazard and flooding is possible during inclement weather.
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