Trench Safety Isn’t Optional—Here’s What You Actually Need
Digging a trench is the easy part. Keeping the walls from caving in on your crew? That’s the real job. You don’t need a ten-page manual—you just need the right gear, a little know-how, and zero shortcuts. Because dirt doesn’t care how long you’ve been doing this. One shift in the soil and it’ll crush a person before they can shout for help.
What Counts as a Trench?
If it’s deeper than it is wide and your guy can’t step out without a boost—it’s a trench. Doesn’t matter if it’s 3 feet or 13 feet deep. OSHA starts paying attention at 5 feet, but you should be checking it way before that.
- Under 5 feet? Still needs inspection and basic safety measures
- 5 feet or more? Requires a protective system—shoring, shielding, or sloping
And yes, if it’s just for utilities, it still counts. No exceptions just because the job’s “quick.”
Signs That Your Trench Is Sketchy
- Soil looks cracked, caving, or wet
- You’re near roadways, heavy equipment, or water lines
- The spoil pile (dug-out dirt) is right next to the edge
- No ladder in sight—or worse, one that’s too short
If any of that sounds familiar, pause the job and fix it. Fast.
Gear That Keeps the Crew Alive
This is what you should already have on site before the first scoop:
- Trench covers: Heavy-duty, non-slip, and built to handle traffic. Don’t throw plywood over a hole and call it safe.
- Aluminum trench shields: Strong enough to stop a collapse from crushing your guys. Fast to drop in. Fits most cuts.
- Shoring systems: Good for deeper digs or unstable soil. Takes more time to set but does the job right.
- Ladders (extend at least 3 feet above the edge): If you can’t climb out in under five seconds, that’s a problem.
- Trench signs and cones: You don’t want someone backing a truck into a trench they didn’t see coming.
Don't Forget the Daily Check
You’re supposed to inspect that trench every day—and after any rain, vibration, or equipment running nearby. That’s not a “nice to do.” That’s a basic rule.
If nobody’s checking the cut before the crew hops in, you’re rolling the dice. Assign someone who knows what to look for and have them do a quick once-over every morning.
Common Screwups That Kill Time (Or Worse)
- Stacking material or gear right at the trench edge
- No safe access—ladders too short, blocked, or missing
- Leaving the trench open overnight without covers or barriers
- Letting untrained guys jump in and start working
Every one of these gets sites flagged or shut down. Worse, someone could get hurt—or worse—for something that takes five minutes to fix.
PowerPak's Got You Covered
We stock trench covers, signs, ladders, cones, and all the gear you need to do it right. None of that wait-a-week garbage. You order, we move. Simple as that. And if you’re in our truck zone, we’ll drop it off direct to your jobsite. Next-day.
One Last Thing...
Don’t leave your guys standing in a trench hoping the dirt holds. Get the gear. Use your head. And get the job done safely.
Need covers, signs, or shields? We’ve got ’em ready to go.