Trench shoring is necessary for construction projects involving excavation to prevent trench collapse and protect workers. Different shoring methods are used depending on the size and soil type of the trench. Trench shoring has reduced fatalities, but safety rules must still be followed. Other dangers, such as fumes from equipment, must also be considered.
Many construction projects involve digging trenches and depressions using earth-clearing machinery. Trench shoring is the reinforcement of these trenches by the use of a metal or wooden shoring system that prevents the sides of the trench from collapsing. This is done not only to maintain the shape and utility of the trenches, but to protect the lives of the workers working within them.
In construction, excavation is required in nearly every project. A trench is generally deeper than it is wide, and most are 15 feet (4.57 m) wide or less. Excavating is considered by many to be the most dangerous part of a construction job, so it’s important that workers on site can be safe while working in a trench.
There are several types of trench shoring commonly used, depending on the size of the trench and the type of soil it is being dug into. For narrow trenches, small aluminum tail lifts are placed between the sides of the trench. These banks look like small ladders and can be easily handled by a worker and installed as quickly as the trench is dug. Slightly different banks for narrow and deep excavations consist of corrugated aluminum panels separated by adjustable bars. These banks can weigh hundreds of pounds less than other devices used to shore up deep trenches.
Flat steel plates are often used for trench shoring when the trench is wide. These plates are held in place by steel screw jacks, which press outward against the sides, in the same way a shower curtain rod works. Sometimes, a trench will need to be reinforced with trench boxes. These are usually made from plywood, with metal reinforcement at the corners. Trench boxes cover not only the sides but also the bottom of the trench and are most useful where maintaining the integrity of all sides of the trench is important.
Trench shoring is essential for any construction site due to the danger that would exist without it. One cubic foot of soil can weigh up to 3,000 pounds. (1,360 kg), enough to instantly kill a worker trapped in a cave-in. The increase in the use of trench shoring has led to a decrease in these types of fatalities, but awareness and compliance with safety rules are still critical.
Even in a properly shored up trench, there are dangers. For example, a trench worker needs to be aware of what equipment is being used nearby. Fumes from construction equipment can easily settle in trenches, as they pose just as great a danger as a collapse.
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