The National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) has declared June 2021 as “Trench Safety Month”. This is the second year of Trench Safety Month which NUCA devoted to getting the message out about the importance of employee safety when working underground or in and around trenches.
The designation of Trench Safety Month further highlights NUCA’s “Trench Safety Stand Down” week, which is being held June 14 – 18 in 2021. This is NUCA’s fifth year holding Trench Safety Stand Down (TSSD) Week in June.
What is a Safety Stand Down?
A Safety Stand Down presents the opportunity for employers to talk directly to employees and others about safety. These Stand Downs will focus on trench & excavation hazards and reinforce the importance of using trench protective systems and protecting workers from trenching hazards.
How to Conduct a Trench Safety Stand Down
Companies will conduct a Trench Safety Stand Down by taking a break to have a toolbox talk or another safety activity to draw attention to the specific hazards related to working in and around trenches/excavations.
Trench Safety Stand Down Week Goals
TSSD was first held in 2016 by NUCA, with OSHA joining as a partner a year later. The goal of the event is to reach out to the many workers who work in and around trenches and excavations to provide them with information about current excavation requirements and safety procedures for working in trenches.
Who Can Participate?
Anyone who wants to prevent trenching and excavation hazards in the workplace can participate in the Stand Down. NUCA encourages participation from:
- Utility construction
- Residential construction
- Highway construction
- Plumbers
- Military
- Unions
- Associations
- Educational institutes
- Safety equipment manufacturers
Additional Trench Safety Stand Down Resources:
- TSSD 2021 Flyer
- United Rentals/NUCA TSSD Week Webinar Series Flyer
- Trench Safety Toolbox Talk
- Excavation Trench Safety Presentation
- OSHA Fact Sheet – Trenching and Excavation Safety
- Trench Safety Handout
- TRENCH SAFETY MONTH (NUCA)
- TRENCH SAFETY STAND DOWN (NUCA)
At Ron Meyer & Associate Excavating, Inc, we’ve been providing underground and commercial construction to private and commercial businesses for 40+ years. As the general contractor or subcontractor, our experienced foremen, equipment operators, pipe layers, truck drivers and well-maintained equipment fleet make us an undeniable choice for your excavating services. Let’s talk about your project!
As 45 years of experience as an underground/site contactor and a third generation contractor, Ron takes time to go through each individual project with the supervisor and is responsible for all scheduling and equipment logistics. He’s also involved in all troubleshooting for projects.