WASHINGTON, DC –
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) has updated the National Emphasis Program (NEP) on preventing trenching
and excavation collapses in response to a recent spike in trenching fatalities.
OSHA’s NEP
will increase education and enforcement efforts while its inspectors will
record trenching and excavation inspections in a national reporting system, and
each area OSHA office will develop outreach programs.
“Removing workers from and helping workers identify trenching
hazards is critical,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational
Safety and Health Loren Sweatt. “OSHA will concentrate the full force of enforcement
and compliance assistance resources to help ensure that employers are
addressing these serious hazards.”
The emphasis program
began October 1, 2018, with a three-month period of education and prevention
outreach. During this period, OSHA will continue to respond to complaints,
referrals, hospitalizations, and fatalities. Enforcement activities will begin
after the outreach period and remain in effect until canceled. OSHA-approved
State Plans are expected to have enforcement procedures that are at least as
effective as those in this instruction.
OSHA has developed a
series of compliance
assistance resources to help keep workers safe from trenching and
excavation hazards. The trenching and excavation webpage
provides information on trenching hazards and solutions.
Under the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for
providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role
is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by
setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and
assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
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