Characteristic analysis and prevention strategy of trench collapse accidents in the U.S., 1995-2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7764/RDLC.20.3.617Keywords:
construction industry, accident investigation, excavation, trench collapse, cave-inAbstract
Statistics show that many workers have lost their lives because of trench collapse although the dangers of trenching are well known and defined. Thus, the question of “why” should be asked again. The most comprehensive data set in the literature has been created to determine the reason for the recurrence of accidents even though the risks are known. A total of 723 accidents caused by trench collapse in the last 25 years were selected from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s database. Variables were created using accident summaries, and the frequency distribution of the categories was interpreted. Results showed that these accidents have a high frequency and a high severity level (58.1% fatalities). The main reason for a half of the accidents was the lack of protective systems (49.7%). A total of 2596 violations including four main categories were detected for 723 accident reports. Employers paid approximately 23 million in penalties. The investigated accidents showed that trench collapse accidents are rarely survivable but can be completely prevented if necessary precautions are taken.
Downloads
References
ASH- Advanced Safety and Health. (2020). Most Frequently Cited OSHA Citations in Trench and Excavation Work – Revisited. https://advancedsafetyhealth.com/blog/frequently-cited-osha-citations-trench-excavation/ Accessed 1 November 2020.
Arboleda, C.A., & Abraham, D.M. (2004). Fatalities in trenching operations-Analysis using models of accident causation. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 130, 273-280.
BLS. (2010). Census of fatal occupational injuries (2000-2009). Washington, D.C. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
BLS. (2019). Census of fatal occupational injuries (CFOI) – Current and revised data. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm Accessed 16 May 2020.
Boom, J. (1999). Trenching is a dangerous and dirty business!. Job Safety & Health Quarterly, 22-29.
CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety). (2016). Trenching and Excavation. https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/trenching_excavation.html Accessed 5 November 2020.
CPWR (Center for Construction Research and Training). (2018). The construction chart book (Sixth Edition).
Culver, C., Florczack, G., Castell, R., Connolly, C., & Pelton, G. (1990). Analysis of construction fatalities-The OSHA database 1985–1989. Rep. Prepared for U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C.
Deatherage, J.H., Furches, L.K., Radcliffe, M., Schriver, W.R., & Wagner, J.P. (2004). Neglecting safety precautions may lead to trenching fatalities. American Journal of Industrial Medicine 45(6), 522-527.
Elcosh. (2020). Trench Collapse Hazard. http://elcosh.org/video/3790/a000088/trench-collapse-hazard.html Accessed: 16 October 2020.
Fenn, P., & Ashby, S. (2004). Workplace risk, establishment size and union density. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 42 (3), 461-480.
Flynn, M.A., & Sampson, J.M. (2012). Trench safety–Using a Qualitative approach to understand barriers and develop strategies to improve trenching practices. International Journal of Construction Education and Research, 8:63–79.
Forteza, F.J., Carretero-Gomez, J.M., & Sese, A. (2020). Safety in the construction industry: accidents and precursors. Revista de la Construcción. Journal of Construction, 19(2).
Gillen, M., Baltz, D., Gassel, M., Kirsch, L., & Vaccaro D. (2002). Perceived safety climate, job demands, and coworker support among union and nonunion injured construction workers. Journal of Safety Research, 33 (1), 33-51.
Goldenhar, L., Williams, L.J., & Swanson G.N. (2003). Modelling relationships between job stressors and injury and near-miss outcomes for construction labourers. Work Stress, 17 (3), 218-240.
Hinze, J., & Bren, K. (1997). Causes of trenching related fatalities and injuries. Construction Congress V: Managing Engineered Construction in Expanding Global Markets, ASCE, Reston, Va., 389–398.
Hinze, J., Pedersen, C., & Fredley, J. (1998). Identifying root causes of construction industries. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 124:67-71.
Hinze, J. (2005). Use of Trench Boxes for Worker Protection, Journal of construction engineering and management, 131, 494-500.
Hinze, J., Huang, X., & Terry, L. (2005). The Nature of struck-by accidents. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 131(2), 262–268.
Jannadi, A.A. (2007). Risks associated with trenching works in Saudi Arabia. Building and Environment, 43, 776-781.
Lan, A., & Daigle, R. (2009). Review of Regulations and guides for excavation and trenches-comparison with the québec safety code for the construction industry. Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction, 14:201-209.
Le, A.B., Wong, S.W., Lin, H.C., & Smith, T.D. (2021). The association between union membership and perceptions of safety climate among US adult workers. Safety Science 133, 105024.
Lee, S.Y. (2003). Simulation analysis of accident delays in utility trenching operations. KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering, 7(2), 107-113.
Lew, J., Abraham, D., Wirahadikusumah, R., Irizarry, J., & Arboleda, C. (2002). Excavation and trenching safety: existing standards and challenges. Implement. Safety Health Construct. Sites, CIB.
Laborer’s Health and Safety Fund of North America. (2020). Trenches and Excavations. https://www.lhsfna.org/index.cfm/occupational-safety-and-health/trenches-and-excavations/ Accessed 15 November 2020.
Lopez-Arquillos, A., Pardo-Ferreira, M., Gibb, A., & Rubio-Romero, J.C. (2019). Occupational safety needs into construction formwork market: Perception of stakeholders. Journal of Construction, 18 (1).
McCann, M. (2006). Heavy equipment and truck-related deaths on excavation work sites. Journal of Safety Research, 37, 511–517.
MMWR. (2004). Occupational fatalities during trenching and excavation work-United States, 1992–2001. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report-April 23, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta.
Oglesby, C.H., Parker, H.W., & Howell, G.A. (1989). Productivity improvement in construction. New York, USA: McGraw-Hill.
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) (2020). Trenching and Excavation. https://www.osha.gov/trenching-excavation Accessed 16 November 2020.
OSHA, (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) (2020b). 1926 Subpart P-Subpart P-Excavations. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926SubpartP Accessed 12 November 2020.
Plog B.A., Materna, B., Vannoy, J., & Gillen, M. (2006). Strategies to prevent trenching-related injuries and deaths, The Center to Protect Workers’ Rights. https://www.cpwr.com/wp-content/uploads/publications/krtrenching.pdf Accessed 15 November 2020.
Rampuri, S. (2019). Excavation & Trenching work Safety: A Review. International Journal of Institution of Safety, 2(2), 6-9.
Ruttenberg, R., Schneider, S., & Obando, M. (2019). Recent trenching fatalities: causes and ways to reduce. CPWR, The Center for Construction Research and Training.
Schriver, W.R., & Schoenbaum, M. (2003). Analysis of fatal events in the construction industry, 1991–2001: What do OSHA data show. Proceedings of the national occupational injury research symposium, National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety, October 29, 2003, Sites, May 7-10, 2002, Hong Kong.
Suruda A., Whitaker, B., Bloswick, D., Philips, P., & Sesek, R. (2002). Impact of the OSHA trench and excavation standard on fatal injury in the construction industry. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 44: 902–905.
Suruda, A., Smith, G., & Barker, S.P. (1988). Deaths from trench cave-in in the construction industry. Journal of Occupational Medicine, 30 (7), 552-555.
Thwala, W.D., Mustapha, Z., & Aigbavboa, C. (2018). Management of health and safety risk associated with excavation cave-in. Proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management Washington DC, USA, September 27-29.
Wagner, J. P. (2004). Causal Analysis of Fatal Trenching Accidents, Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
