Trenching and excavation work exposes workers to extremely dangerous hazards.

According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) data, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 130 fatalities recorded in trenching and excavation operations between 2011 and 2016. The private construction industry accounted for 80%, or 104, of those fatalities. An alarming 49% of those construction fatalities occurred between 2015 and 2016. In summary, of the104 fatalities in this industry:

1. 40 (38%) were at industrial places and premises;
2. 39 (38%) were at private residences; and
3. 21 (20%) occurred at streets or highways.

State Plan Impact – Notice of Intent and Adoption Required.

1. This instruction describes a federal program change which updates

OSHA’s NEP covering trenching and excavation operations. States with OSHA-approved State Plans are expected to have enforcement policies and procedures in place for their trenching and excavation inspections which are at least as effective as those in this instruction.

1. OSHA-approved State Plans are required to notify OSHA within 60 days whether they intend to adopt policies and procedures identical to those in this instruction or adopt or maintain different policies and procedures.
2. If a State Plan adopts or maintains policies and procedures that differ from federal policies and procedures, the State Plan must identify the differences and may either post its policy on its website and provide the link to OSHA or submit an electronic copy to OSHA with information on how the public may obtain a copy.

If the State Plan adopts policies and procedures that are identical to federal policies and procedures, the State Plan must provide the date of adoption to OSHA. State Plan adoption must be accomplished within 6 months, with posting or submission of documentation within 60 days of adoption. OSHA will provide summary information on the State Plan responses to this instruction on its website at: www.osha.gov/dcsp/osp/index.html

State Plans are OSHA-approved workplace safety and health programs operated by individual states or U.S. territories. There are currently 22 State Plans covering both private sector and state and local government workers, and there are six State Plans covering only state and local government workers. State Plans are monitored by OSHA and must be at least as effective as OSHA in protecting workers and in preventing work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths.