Concord, NH – In construction, the hazards of trenches are well-known, yet far too many workers continue to be injured or killed during excavation work. According to OSHA, trench collapses, or cave-ins, are more likely than other excavation-related incidents to result in worker fatalities. It only takes seconds to become buried in thousands of pounds of soil.

The Associated Builders and Contractors NH/VT Chapter, in partnership with the OSHA Training Institute Education Center, hosted a Trench Safety Summit in Concord, NH to address these risks and provide resources to help keep workers safe.  Galen Blanton, the US Department of Labor OSHA Regional Administrator, was in attendance to help raise awareness of this important issue, along with leadership from the ABC.

“Our training today is about empowering people with knowledge to be jobsite leaders in trench safety,” said Josh Reap, president and CEO of ABC NH/VT. “It’s incumbent upon everyone working in and around a trench to know the conditions to protect human life from even the slightest risk of cave-ins, which are avoidable with the right equipment and training. We are pleased to see so many employers and their employees are committed to fostering that mindset and it’s that commitment to safety and full human health which makes this one of the best industries to work in.”

ABC, OSHA, Concord Fire, Dig Safe, NH Dept. of Energy and more than 22 employers came together for the Trench Safety Summit to participate in classroom and live outdoor demonstrations. The knowledge gained by participants can be used at their own companies and to help raise awareness of general trench safety. Visit the OSHA website for more information about Trench Safety.