Digging trenches is an integral part of many, if not most, engineering and construction projects. The work that goes on inside of them can range from connecting and maintaining utility lines, to excavation, to a range of other activities that are integral to the successful completion of a project. Using a trench shield to protect workers while they are in the trench is an important part of maintaining and efficient and safe job site. Knowing the basics about what they are used for and how they are rated can go a long way toward understanding how to use them, too.
A number of factors determine the stand-up time that an individual trench will have. Stand-up time is the amount of time that it generally takes for the walls to cave in after the trench is dug. Soil quality and composition, humidity, local weather conditions, climate and other factors can change the stand-up time, and using safety equipment like trench boxes will allow for much more time for workers to perform their duties before any structural problems are encountered. They will also keep the workers from experiencing the worst effects of a cave-in, giving them time to get out or even allowing them to continue working if the cave-in is minor.
These shields work in a very simple way, by providing a solid wall for the trench and the support infrastructure necessary to keep that wall in place. The walls are made out of heavy-duty aluminum or stainless steel, and they can be ordered in various thicknesses that are depth-rated so that you know what you can safely use them for. This is very helpful when deciding exactly what kind of trench shield you need to get the job done.
The support infrastructure that goes between the walls is generally the same metal that goes into the construction of the walls, and it consists of a series of spreader bars. Those bars can be extended to fit the full width needed for the project. They will hold the walls in place by putting pressure back against the soil, and as such their strength is taken into account in the shield's rating.
Working in trenches is very, very hazardous. Every year, workers are injured or killed by cave-ins, and this is due to a variety of factors. Using these shields is a common, even customary way of preventing injuries and other problems related to this hazard. Purchasing safety equipment that is rated safely in excess of your needs from a reliable supplier will keep your workers safe and your project on-track.
A number of factors determine the stand-up time that an individual trench will have. Stand-up time is the amount of time that it generally takes for the walls to cave in after the trench is dug. Soil quality and composition, humidity, local weather conditions, climate and other factors can change the stand-up time, and using safety equipment like trench boxes will allow for much more time for workers to perform their duties before any structural problems are encountered. They will also keep the workers from experiencing the worst effects of a cave-in, giving them time to get out or even allowing them to continue working if the cave-in is minor.
These shields work in a very simple way, by providing a solid wall for the trench and the support infrastructure necessary to keep that wall in place. The walls are made out of heavy-duty aluminum or stainless steel, and they can be ordered in various thicknesses that are depth-rated so that you know what you can safely use them for. This is very helpful when deciding exactly what kind of trench shield you need to get the job done.
The support infrastructure that goes between the walls is generally the same metal that goes into the construction of the walls, and it consists of a series of spreader bars. Those bars can be extended to fit the full width needed for the project. They will hold the walls in place by putting pressure back against the soil, and as such their strength is taken into account in the shield's rating.
Working in trenches is very, very hazardous. Every year, workers are injured or killed by cave-ins, and this is due to a variety of factors. Using these shields is a common, even customary way of preventing injuries and other problems related to this hazard. Purchasing safety equipment that is rated safely in excess of your needs from a reliable supplier will keep your workers safe and your project on-track.


04:27
Faizan
Posted in: