It is Vital to Focus on Digging During Trench Safety Stand Down this Week
Trenching accidents almost always involve an unthinkable event that can lead to injury or death: Being buried alive. But every trench failure is avoidable with proper planning, training and safety measures.
Beyond the obvious motivation to avoid serious injuries and deaths, OSHA last year announced a national enforcement emphasis program for trench safety after a spike in trenching deaths.
The National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) organizes an annual Trench Safety Stand Down in the middle of June. This week’s focus for National Safety Month is also trenching.
The stand down gives employers and supervisors the opportunity to speak directly to workers about trench and excavation hazards.
Trench collapses, or cave-ins, pose the greatest risk to workers' lives. To prevent cave-ins, jobsites should use OSHA’s “Slope It. Shore It. Shield It.” method:
- SLOPE or bench trench walls,
- SHORE trench walls with supports, or
- SHIELD trench walls with trench boxes
According to NUCA, most trenching accidents occur in trenches of 5 to 15 feet deep, and there is usually no warning before a cave-in.
The Trench Safety Stand Down is a good time for home builders to review their procedures for digging and excavating. NAHB has a video toolbox talk (embedded below) that builders can use to present to their workers and subcontractors, and additional resources in the NAHB Trenching and Excavation Toolkit.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Aug 06, 2026
Multifamily Developer Confidence Weakens in Second Quarter
Confidence in the market for new multifamily housing weakened year-over-year in the second quarter, according to the Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) released today by NAHB. The MMS produces two separate indices. The Multifamily Production Index (MPI) had a reading of 43, down three points year-over-year, while the Multifamily Occupancy Index (MOI) had a reading of 74, down eight points year-over-year.
Disaster Response
Aug 05, 2026
How to Help Spokane Relief and Recovery Efforts
A series of fast-moving wildfires recently broke out in and around Spokane, Wash., causing widespread destruction. In response, the Spokane Home Builders Association is accepting donations to the Spokane Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund to provide support to the communities hit hardest by the wildfires.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Aug 06, 2026
Multifamily Developer Confidence Weakens in Second Quarter
Confidence in the market for new multifamily housing weakened year-over-year in the second quarter, according to the Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The MMS produces two separate indices.
Economics
Aug 06, 2026
Mortgage Rates Climb Again as Iran Conflict Re-escalates
Re-escalation of the conflict in Iran pushed mortgage rates higher in July. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.54% in July, up 5 basis points (bps) over June. Since the conflict in the Middle East began, the 30-year mortgage rate has climbed by almost 50 bps.
Economics
Aug 05, 2026
U.S. Economy Expanded at a Slower Pace in the Second Quarter of 2026
Real GDP growth slowed in the second quarter of 2026, as a pullback in government spending and slower growth in investment and exports, more than offset stronger consumer spending.