Enhancing Safety Measures: The Importance of Trench Safety Training

Safety should always be a top priority, especially in high-risk industries like utility and excavation work. Ensuring the well-being of workers and preventing accidents should be a collective responsibility. In this context, the Live Trench Training event to be held on June 2, 2023 is a fantastic opportunity for utility workers in and around the Nashville, TN area to refresh their safety training. Both public and public companies will benefit from this training. The event aims to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to mitigate potential risks in the field, with a particular focus on trench safety. .

The Importance of Trench Safety Training:

Trench work poses numerous hazards that can lead to serious accidents, injuries, or even fatalities if proper precautions are not taken. These risks include cave-ins, hazardous atmospheres, falls, and utility strikes, among others. Trench safety training plays a vital role in mitigating these dangers by providing workers with the necessary knowledge and skills to identify, prevent, and respond to potential hazards.

Trench safety training programs educate workers on a wide range of critical topics, including utility location, trench box safety, confined space entry, emergency preparedness, work zone safety, spotting utilities, shoring systems, and sloping/benching. By covering these areas, workers are better equipped to navigate various scenarios and make informed decisions when working in and around trenches.

The June 2, 2023, Nashville, TN Live Trench Training Event:

The Live Trench Training event proves a comprehensive and valuable resource for utility workers seeking to enhance their trench safety skills. The event encompasses a series of training stations, with participants spending 20 minutes at each station. These interactive stations will provide hands-on experiences and practical knowledge, ensuring that participants can apply what they learned directly to their work.

The event covers various essential aspects of trench safety, including utility location, which helps workers identify and avoid damaging underground utilities. Trench box safety focuses on the proper use of protective systems to prevent trench collapses. Confined space training emphasizes the importance of proper entry procedures and recognizing potential hazards in confined spaces. Emergency preparedness sessions will equip workers with the necessary skills to respond effectively to emergencies that may arise during trench work.

The event also features an overhead arc simulation to raise awareness about electrical hazards and reinforce the importance of maintaining safe distances. Work zone safety training aims to improve workers’ understanding of traffic control measures, minimizing the risks associated with working near traffic. Spotting utilities and shoring systems sessions address additional critical elements of trench safety, while sloping/benching training focuses on creating stable trench walls.

By covering these diverse training stations, the Live Trench Training event provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of trench safety, enabling them to make informed decisions and take appropriate measures to protect themselves and their colleagues.

Continuing Education and Cost:

One of the key advantages of participating in the Live Trench Training event is the opportunity to earn four continuing education credits. Continuing education ensures that workers stay updated with the latest safety standards and practices, further enhancing their abilities to handle potential risks in the field.

In terms of cost, the event is reasonably priced at $25 per person, making it accessible to workers from various backgrounds and organizations. By offering affordable training, the event organizers aim to encourage maximum participation and create a safer working environment for all involved.

The Live Trench Training event showcases the pressing need for trench safety training among utility and dirt excavation workers. With its comprehensive training stations and hands-on approach, this event will equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to mitigate risks associated with trench work. By emphasizing continuing education and providing accessible training options, the event facilitates the overall improvement of safety practices in the industry. It is essential for both private and public companies to prioritize safety and ensure that their workers receive regular and up-to-date trench safety training. By investing in training programs and events like the Live Trench Training, companies demonstrate their commitment to the well-being of their employees and the communities they serve. Ultimately, the importance of trench safety training cannot be overstated. It is through continuous education and practical application of safety measures that we can create a culture of safety and prevent accidents, injuries, and loss of lives in the utility and excavation industry. Let us strive together to make safety the cornerstone of every trench work operation, ensuring that workers return home safely at the end of each day.

More information about the live trench training event:

The event opens for check in at 7 a.m. Coffee & donuts will be served.  The training kicks off at 8:00 a.m. Attendees will then rotate through ten different training stations.  TOSHA will be present to  answer questions; attendees may choose English or Spanish instruction. Personal protection equipment (PPE) is required, including hard hats,vests, and closed toe shoes. Box lunches will be available if ordered in the registration form.

STATION DESCRIPTIONS

Utility Locating: Presented by TN 811
Planning route of excavation, white lining the site, submitting a locate request, theory/science of locating, demonstration of locating and marking, observing the tolerance zone, indicators of unmarked utility lines.

Sloping & Benching: Presented by RAWSO
Necessity for Cave-In Protection, 4 soil types and simple definitions, sloping and benching requirements for each soil type, depth of excavation to require engineers’ approval, Questions/OSHA Input.

Trench Boxes: Presented by United Rentals
Determining what protection system you might need and how to properly assemble and install. Understanding and interpreting tabulated data. How to inspect trench boxes and common misuses. Questions/OSHA Input.

Shore Systems: Presented by NTS
Safe installation of Vertical Shores, difference between positive shoring and shielding, types of soils where Positive shoring is necessary, Questions/OSHA input.

Confined Space Entry: Presented by Cleary Construction
Defining confined space, classification of confined spaces, identifying hazards associated with confined spaces, eliminating hazards associated with confined spaces, explaining confined space training, demonstrating confined space safety.

Emergency Preparedness: Nashville Fire Department
Explanation for the FD arriving on site, things they need from contractor to make process smoother and fast as possible.  What is process for looking at equipment, shore protection – will they be using it?  How long does assessment process take – confined space, excavation.  Steps FD will take prior to making attempt to rescue.

Overhead Electrical Safety: Presented by Stansell Electric
Avoiding contact with overhead power lines. Emergency procedures when contact with overhead power lines is made.

Work Zone Safety Awareness**: Presented by Meridian Safety
Standards and guidelines on work zone safety, components of a temporary traffic control zone, lane closure on a two-lane road using flaggers, flagger equipment, and flagger signaling techniques.

Spot Utilities**: Presented by Civil Constructors
Even after locating and marking underground utilities there are things that we can do to better support operators digging in the area. There are indicators that can possibly help identify utilities before it’s too late.

Arc Demo**: Presented by Middle TN Electric
What happens at the point of contact?

** Indicates new station for this year

Register for the event: Registration