It’s Time to Train Now on Trenching & Excavation Safety to Proper OSHA Standards

The U.S. Department of Labor / OSHA recently issued a strong “wake-up” trade release urging employers to double down on trenching and excavation safety. With 11 trench-related fatalities already reported in 2025 and a cluster of recent collapses in the Midwest, the agency is warning that these are not freak accidents. These are preventable when the right protection is in place. OSHA Trade Release

This is a reminder to all Companies whether in the Trenching & Excavation Industry or not, that workers deserve more than a false sense in hope of security, they always deserve the best training and the right safety systems.

Why Your Team Needs Our Training

The Consequences Are Real and Severe

• Soil is deceptively dangerous. One cubic yard can weigh as much as a car. Under stress (rain, surcharge loads, vibration), unstable earth can fail in an instant. OSHA emphasizes this in their OSHA Soil Classification | Transcript, “One cubic yard of soil can weigh as much as a car, 3,000 pounds, and comes in many varieties.”

Regulatory Risks

Regulators know and understand these risks, and they enforce them aggressively. At the federal level, OSHA standard 29 CFR 1926.651 & OSHA standard 29 CFR 1926.652 require:

• Safe means of egress (ladder, ramp, stairway) in trenches 4 ft or deeper, with no more than 25 ft of lateral travel.
  • Protective systems (sloping, benching, shoring, shielding) whenever trench depth is 5 ft or more (unless stable rock). OSHA Fact Sheet Trenching and Excavation Safety
  • Daily inspections by a competent person (especially after rain events or changes). OSHA Trenching and Excavation Safety PDF
  • Testing for hazardous atmospheres when trenches exceed 4 ft (oxygen deficiency, gas buildup).
  • Protection from water accumulation, adjacent structure stability, and falling loads. OSHA Fact Sheet Trenching and Excavation Safety

In California, Cal/OSHA’s rules build on (and sometimes exceed) federal standards. The relevant standards are primarily sections like:

• Title 8, CCR, Section 1504, Sections 1539–1543, Section 1539, Section 1540, Section 1541, Section 1541.1, Section 1542 & Section 1543. All these sections address general excavation safety, protective systems and design requirements.

Examples Under California Department of Industrial Relations:

• §1504. Definitions states that there must be a Controlled Access Zone (CAZ). This area is an area in which certain work may take place without the use or need of any guardrails, personal fall arrest systems or safety nets.
• Under §1540. Excavations, it mandates that employees must have safe means of access and egress in excavations, and that materials that could fall into the excavation must be kept at least two feet from the edge.
• Sloping, benching, or other protective systems must be designed per §1541.1. Requirements for Protective Systems, Appendix B

Being noncompliant isn’t just a fine, it’s an exposure to civil litigation, reputational damage for both the company and employees (past and present) and the most moral cost being preventable injuries or death that are on the line.

Options and Versatility Is a Necessity

• NATEC International sets itself apart by offering unmatched flexibility and quality in trenching, shoring and excavation instruction, whether your employees prefer online or in person, we offer more than 35 years of real-world experience behind our programs and training. We understand that different job sites demand unique approaches that fit their needs. Our online toolbox modules give remote employees or office-based teams instant access to critical theory and regulatory insights. Our in-person hands-on courses provides tactile and practical instruction that they will need to apply safe techniques under proper regulations.

• Here at NATEC International, we value and uphold all these regulation standards so when you train with us you, your team and your company are prepared, enlightened and ready to prosper under proper regulations. We constantly update our programs based on the evolving CAL OSHA Guidelines and California Department of Industrial Relations Regulations.

Sign up for our programs today, NATEC Intl. Trenching and Excavation Programs