Trenchers
OSHA urges safe trench practices following string of recent collapses, fatalities
Following a recent series of trench collapses in the Midwest, including 11 fatalities so far in 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is urging workplaces to take the necessary steps to safeguard workers from well-known industry hazards that can be prevented when the required protections are used.
Worker killed in Goodyear, Ariz., trench collapse during construction rescue effort
A 44-year-old worker died after being trapped for hours in a trench collapse at a Goodyear, Arizona, construction site. Officials say the rescue was hampered by unstable conditions and remains under investigation.
Worker killed in Baltimore trench collapse
One construction worker was killed Tuesday after a trench he was working in partially collapsed in Baltimore County, Md., according to fire and police officials. According to CBS News, 50-year-old Luis Medrano was working in the trench when it began to fill with water, causing a partial collapse.
Two workers rescued from trench collapse in Sunbury, Ohio
Two Ohio construction workers were rescued after a trench they were working in collapsed, 10 WBNS News reported. According to officials, the workers at the site were installing storm drains and wastewater treatment plant piping about 30 feet underground when the collapse occurred, burying one worker up to his neck.
Two workers hospitalized after trench collapse in Anderson, S.C.
Two construction workers were rescued and rushed to the hospital after a trench collapsed on them in Anderson County, South Carolina. Fire officials responded to an emergency rescue call at the site on Tuesday, FOX Carolina News reported.
Two workers injured in Wash. trench collapse; stop-work order issued
Two workers were rescued following a trench collapse at a housing construction site in Prosser on Sunday morning, as reported by West Benton Fire Rescue and the Tri-City Herald. As a result, the city issued a stop-work order to the contractors responsible, citing OSHA violations.
Worker airlifted after injury in 15-foot trench in Woodland, Wash.
A construction worker was seriously injured in a 15-foot trench in Woodland, Washington, after being struck by equipment. Crews from multiple agencies conducted a complex rescue before the worker was airlifted to a hospital.
Canadian plumbing company faces 11 charges over fatal 2023 trench collapse
Calgary-based Mr. Mike’s Plumbing is facing 11 charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act following a June 2023 trench collapse that killed one employee. The charges include failing to ensure worker safety, failing to stabilize an excavation site by shoring and failing to ensure a worker is protected from cave-ins at an excavation site, CBC News reported.
Body retrieved day after fatal trench collapse at Bakersfield, Calif., job site
A construction worker died after falling into a 20-foot trench at a site in west Bakersfield, Calif. Rescue teams recovered the body overnight, and an investigation is ongoing.
Understanding HDD pullback options: Conventional, direct and non-threaded methods explained
Explore HDD pullback options, including conventional setups, direct pullback, and non-threaded systems. Learn how each method impacts efficiency, flexibility, and jobsite performance.
Vandalia Rental launches specialized onsite services (SOS) for trench shoring equipment
Vandalia Rental has launched its Specialized Onsite Services (SOS) focused on Trench Shoring equipment. This significant expansion underscores the company’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the construction industry while prioritizing safety and efficiency on job sites.
Authorities investigating trench collapse that killed worker in Ashburn, Va.
The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and OSHA are investigating a trench collapse that resulted in the death of one worker. According to a local news report, on the morning of Thursday, April 10, a trench collapsed in Ashburn, Virginia, trapping a worker underground. The man later died from his injuries.
Cal/OSHA cites contractor after deadly 17-foot trench collapse
Cal/OSHA has cited a California contractor following a fatal trench collapse that killed a worker inside a 17-foot excavation. Investigators found the trench lacked required cave-in protections and safety protocols.
National Trench Safety partners with MGF to enhance its U.S. market expansion
National Trench Safety (NTS) has announced a strategic distribution partnership with MGF, a leading UK-based manufacturer of specialist shoring products. This partnership marks a significant milestone as NTS enhances its product offerings to the American market.
Connecticut contractor, worker plead guilty in fatal trench collapse case
A contractor and one of his employees have pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter charges after a trench collapse at a Connecticut jobsite led to the death of a worker in 2022.
Ditch Witch West sells first Bulldog trencher to speed up undergrounding work along West Coast
Ditch Witch West has sold its first Bulldog trencher, designed by UK manufacturer Mastenbroek, to Cox and Cox Construction, a full-service underground utility contractor licensed in California and Nevada. Mastenbroek designed the Bulldog for underground utility installation, particularly in areas where overhead electrical cables could cause or be destroyed by forest fires.
Dresser Utility Solutions acquires pipe-pulling tech firm Kobus
Dresser Utility Solutions has acquired Kobus, a U.S.- and U.K.-based provider of gas and water pipe pulling technology, in a move aimed at expanding Dresser’s infrastructure repair capabilities for utility customers.
Arcosa Shoring Products launches new system to improve trench safety
Arcosa Shoring Products recently unveiled their patent-pending Convert-A-Shore system that makes changing a hydraulic vertical shore from a multi-cylinder shore to a single shore (and vice-versa) quick and easy.
Worm-like robot burrows underground to cut power line installation costs
The innovation, known as a "peristaltic conduit," mimics the segmented movement of earthworms to propel itself through the soil with minimal disruption to existing infrastructure.
Cross Country Infrastructure, Tesmec partner to advance trenching solutions in U.S.
Cross Country Infrastructure Services has announced a partnership with Tesmec USA to introduce advanced trenchers to the U.S. marketplace. This new alliance combines Cross Country's extensive construction expertise with Tesmec's innovative equipment to offer improved trenching solutions for major infrastructure projects.
Two workers killed in Maryland trench collapse during home renovation
Two construction workers were killed on Feb. 28 after a trench collapsed while they were working on a home renovation project in Catonsville, Maryland, fire officials confirmed.
Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
According to CBS News, two construction workers in Wyandotte, Mich., were rescued Tuesday evening after being trapped for nearly four hours in a collapsed trench. Wyandotte Fire Chief Jeremy Moline told authorities the men were excavating a hole about 15 feet deep when the trench collapsed.
Ditch Witch launches compact W8 Hydrovac for urban, residential jobs
Ditch Witch has introduced the W8 hydrovac truck to provide contractors with a compact and agile solution for potholing, slot trenching and cleanup tasks in urban and residential environments. The W8 is the latest addition to the Warlock series of truck vacs following the release of the larger W12 in 2023.
Construction worker killed in trench collapse near Prosperity, S.C.
A construction worker was killed when a trench collapsed while he was installing a water line, according to Newberry County authorities.
Smelly Mel’s, Sewer Rat Plumbing fined nearly $530,000 after San Mateo, Calif., trench collapse
California workplace safety regulators have fined Smelly Mel’s Plumbing and Sewer Rat Plumbing a combined $529,640 for safety violations linked to a trench collapse that seriously injured a construction worker in San Mateo on Aug. 1, 2024.
Trench collapse kills one construction worker in Houston, Texas
A construction worker was killed Wednesday, Feb. 5 after an eight-foot-deep trench he was working in collapsed in southwest Houston, according to ABC13 Eyewitness News and the Houston Fire Department (HFD).
National OnDemand expands in Texas with J. Tucker Construction acquisition
National OnDemand, a communication and utility infrastructure services provider, has acquired J. Tucker Construction, a Greenville, Texas-based company specializing in telecom and utility infrastructure.
OSHA cites Glenburn, Maine contractor in fatal trench collapse at Brownville worksite
While installing storm drainage pipes at a Brownville worksite, a retaining wall collapsed, killing one worker and injuring another. OSHA cited Patriot Paving Group LLC for multiple safety violations, including failing to brace the wall and remove workers from the hazardous trench.
Texas contractor penalized by OSHA for repeated trench safety violations
A U.S. Department of Labor workplace safety investigation has found a Frisco, Texas, contractor repeatedly exposed workers to serious hazards by sending them into unprotected trenches without providing a means of escape.
OSHA cites Florida contractors for trench safety violations at sewer and excavation sites
OSHA has cited two Florida contractors for trench safety violations at sewer and excavation sites in Jacksonville and Daytona Beach. Inspectors found workers exposed to cave-in hazards without proper protections, prompting citations for willful and serious violations.
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