Protecting Lives in the Dirt: Why Trenching & Shoring Training Matters

Recent Cal/OSHA enforcement shows just how dangerous unprotected trenches can be and why comprehensive trenching and shoring training isn’t optional, it’s essential for saving lives:

• A California Company was cited $157,500 after a 17-foot trench collapsed in August 2024, killing a worker. Cal/OSHA determined the company had no Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), failed to conduct proper inspections, and did not implement a protective cave-in system.

Source: Cal/OSHA. (2025, April 3).

• A San Francisco Company was fined $371,000 after an 8-foot trench collapsed in San Francisco on September 28, 2023, resulting in the death of a worker. The company had no protective system in place, no safe means of egress, and failed to follow basic safety protocols.

Source: Cal/OSHA. (2024, October 19).

• A Plumbing Company were issued a combined fine of nearly $530,000 for 16 safety violations, including two willful violations, after a trench collapse injured a worker in San Mateo. Violations included the absence of daily competent-person inspections, no safe entry ladders in a 9-foot trench, lack of protective shoring or shielding, and no emergency response planning.

Source: Cal/OSHA. (2025, February 15).

Why These Violations Keep Happening

Unfortunately, employers sometimes skip these critical safety steps, whether it’s due to cost concerns, complacency, or lack of knowledge. Too often, it’s workers who pay the price, sometimes with their lives.

Under Cal/OSHA regulations, any trench 5 feet or deeper must be protected. Employers are required to:

• Provide protective systems such as trench boxes, sloping, benching, or shoring
• Ensure daily inspections by a qualified competent person
• Provide safe access and an escape, such as ladders placed every 25 feet in trenches
• Have an emergency plan in place for rescue and response.

Source: https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/trench_excavation_fs.pdf

Avoiding Cal/OSHA Fines & Fatalities

• Secure Your Permit
• Notify Cal/OSHA if you’ll be working in trenches 5′ or deeper secure any required permits before breaking ground.
  • Source: https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/trench_excavation_fs.pdf
• Hire a Competent Person
  • Have a trained expert inspect the trench daily (or when conditions change) to ensure safe soil conditions and functional protective.
• Use Proper Protective Systems
  • Choose the right combination of shoring, shielding, sloping, or benching depending on trench depth and soil type. Trenches over 20′ require an engineer-approved design.
• Provide Safe Access & Egress
  • Provide safe means of egress in trenches 4 feet deep or more, such as ladders, steps, or ramps, located within 25 feet of lateral travel.
• Train, Train, Train
  • Workers and supervisors need ongoing training to identify hazards, operate safely, and react in emergencies.

Training Isn’t Optional, It’s Essential

Our Trenching & Shoring Awareness (ANA) program, detailed at NATEC International Trenching and Shoring, was developed because these regulations matter and lives depend on it.

Trenching hazards are deadly. OSHA standards (29 CFR 1926.651/652 & Title 8) exist because past tragedies demanded stronger safety measures.

Source:
OSHA: 29 CFR §1926.651 – Specific Excavation Requirements
Website URL: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.651
OSHA: 29 CFR §1926.652 – Requirements for Protective Systems
Website URL: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.652
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 8, Subchapter 4, Article 6
Website URL: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1926/subpart-P

The right training goes beyond just meeting regulatory requirements, it equips your team with the knowledge to work safely, helps reduce risk, and supports a strong safety culture. With significant fines and more importantly, lives at stake, investing in a professional training program like ours is a smart and responsible step forward towards being protected.

Let’s Be Proactive and Take a Step Towards Safety

To ensure your team is trained, conduct daily trench inspections with the right tools. Don’t let complacency cost lives or business prosperity. The cost of proper defense is far less than the price of a Cal/OSHA citation or worse.

Ready to protect your crew and your company? At NATEC International, discover how our Trenching and Shoring Program help you meet Cal/OSHA compliance, avoid costly violations, and keep your team safe. Visit natecintl.com/courses/trenching-and-shoring-ana for details or contact us for scheduling.

Ensure your team is trained, protected, and compliant before small oversights lead to serious consequences.