Trench safety starts before the first shovel hits the ground
By Cam Dougherty, Cooper Trench Safety. Published by Equipment Journal.
In 2023, a Calgary worker lost his life when his supervisors failed to provide trench safety equipment.
The same happened in Toronto in 2024 after a tragic trench collapse. Later that year, a construction worker was fatally trapped in a four-metre-deep trench after conducting repairs. Most recently, unstable soil caused a trench to collapse, leaving two people gravely injured.
With all our advancements in equipment and safety awareness, these accidents shouldn’t happen, but they do. Trench excavation is dangerous work when precautions are overlooked. The biggest threat is non-compliance — contractors operating outside the safety system or not using one at all to save a bit of cash. And when safety culture is non-existent, workers may feel unable to speak up.
The consequences can be fatal.
Trench projects are often highly complex – especially if they involve existing utilities, adjacent infrastructure, unstable soils or water systems. Success hinges on the right equipment selection but also expert guidance around safety regulations and in-depth knowledge of infrastructure systems.
One effective strategy is partnering with an equipment rental provider. It gives your team access to the latest trench equipment that is both well maintained and meets safety regulations. And the benefits go beyond just the equipment. A reliable rental provider offers hands-on training, on-site planning, customized solutions, timely delivery, site specific engineering and even emergency support for those unexpected projects. With the right partner by your side, your crew can operate with confidence and focus on getting the job done safely and efficiently.
