U.S. Department of Labor and Colorado Contractors Host Trench Safety Summit

DENVER, CO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the North American Excavation Shoring Association (NAXSA) hosted a Colorado Trench Safety Summit.

Nearly 400 attendees participated in the all-day event, which included training, live demonstrations, and a mock trench rescue from local first responders. Industry leaders, including the Associated General Contractors of Colorado, Colorado Contractors Association, CO, Association of Homebuilders, Colorado Chapter of the National Utility Contractors Association, and Colorado 811, worked together to highlight the message of safety in and around trenches.

"Trenching activities continue to cause fatalities, but they can be prevented," said Acting Regional Administrator Rita Lucero, in Denver. "This event was an opportunity to reach workers, and collaborate with employers and organizations to prevent fatal accidents in trenches."

Every year, more than 50 workers are fatally injured in trench-related activities and thousands more are injured in properly shored or unstable trenches. OSHA recently updated its national emphasis program (NEP) on preventing trenching and excavation collapses, and developed a series of compliance assistance resources to help keep workers safe from these hazards. The trenching and excavation webpage provides information on trenching hazards and solutions.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to help ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.