Only six months into the year, 2022 has seen a 68% increase from 2021’s trench-related fatalities. In response to this increase, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released new enforcement initiatives to prevent incidents.
Penalties for trenching- and excavation-related incidents will be evaluated and, in some cases, include criminal referrals for federal and state prosecutions to increase accountability when workers’ lives are put at risk. An increase in trench inspections will also occur this year, with more than 1,000 inspections taking place nationwide.
It is imperative that your company ensures protections are in place when working near or in a trench. In addition to costly fines, every fatality could have been prevented with compliance to OSHA standards.
Circle Safety provides many services to ensure that your company is in compliance with OSHA/VOSH and other regulatory bodies. We offer in-depth site safety audits, safety staffing, safety training, customized safety manuals and programs, and more. With the rise in trenching and excavation fatalities, now is the time to make sure your company avoids incidents that endanger your workers.
For information on OSHA’s News Release, please visit: https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/national/07142022.
To learn more about our safety services and how we can help your company prevent trenching and excavation incidents, please contact Bob Thompson at 804-399-8653.
