AGC has trained 1,000+ construction professionals in trenching and excavation awareness and best practices under the DOL/OSHA Susan Harwood training grant program.

On July 15, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced enhanced enforcement and oversight efforts focused on trenching and excavation operations. Due to an increase in fatalities over last year – twenty-two workers have been fatally injured in the first half of 2022 – OSHA will place additional emphasis on how agency officials evaluate penalties for trenching and excavation related incidents, including criminal referrals for federal or state prosecution. Under the current National Emphasis Program for trenching and excavation, OSHA compliance officers will perform more than 1,000 trench inspections nationwide during which they may stop and inspect any excavation site during their daily duties.  

In recognition of the dangers associated with trenching and excavation operations, AGC will have trained more than 1,000 construction professionals in trenching and excavation awareness and best practices under the DOL/OSHA Susan Harwood training grant program. AGC encourages all members involved in trenching and excavation activities to follow the key principles to protect workers: Slope it. Shore it. Shield it.

For more information, please contact Kevin Cannon at [email protected] or Nazia Shah at [email protected].