In excavation & trenching, hydraulic shoring is a prefabricated strut and/or wale system manufactured of aluminum or steel. Hydraulic shoring provides a critical safety advantage over timber shoring because workers do not have to enter the trench to install or remove hydraulic shoring.
Other advantages of most hydraulic systems are that they:
- Are light enough to be installed by one worker;
- Are gauge-regulated to ensure even distribution of pressure along the trench line;
- Can have their trench faces “preloaded” to use the soil’s natural cohesion to prevent movement; and
- Can be adapted easily to various trench depths and widths.
All shoring should be installed from the top down and removed from the bottom up. Hydraulic shoring should be checked at least once per shift for leaking hoses and/or cylinders, broken connections, cracked nipples, bent bases, and any other damaged or defective parts.
For additional information, see OSHA Technical Manual (OTM) VI. Shoring Types.
At Ron Meyer & Associates Excavating, 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!
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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.