OSHA - Tragedy in the Trenches - Polling Questions

Sep 26, 2026

OSHA “Tragedy in the Trenches” training content introduces hazards of excavation and trenching, emphasizing the high fatality risk and the danger of cave-ins. It lists other risks such as falling loads, falls, incidents involving mobile equipment, and hazardous atmospheres. The module also presents polling questions to assess participants’ industries, supervisory and oversight responsibilities, and prior safety policy violations. It connects the topic to OSHA regulations and compliance resources, including related reporting and citation trends.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages107

Reading Time4 h 30 min

AccessFree to download

Tragedy in the Trenches

Polling Questions

REGULATIONS | SAFETY&COMPLIANCE

Deaths from Trench Collapses 2013-2022

Nonfatal Trenching Injuries 2011-2022

OSHA Trenching Citations in Construction

OSHA # Tragedy in the Trenches Training Institute Education Centers⁶ Welcome! Background"The Rules"▶Case studiesHazards▶ControlsResources # Polling Questions 1.What industry do you work in? 2. Do you have any supervisory responsibilities? 3. Do you have any oversight responsibilities fortrenching/excavating activities? 4.Have you ever personally violated a safety policy,procedure,standard,rule,or regulation? Excavation and trenching work poses ahigher fatality rate(112%)than the ratefor general construction work. Cave-ins are the most dangerous andfrequently cause worker fatalities inexcavation-related accidents. Other potential hazards include fallingloads,falls,incidents involving mobileequipment,and hazardous atmospheres. *This state has an OSHA-approved State Plan covering private and state and local government workplaces **This state has an OSHA-approved State Plan that covers state and local government workers only # REGULATIONS |SAFETY&COMPLIANCE OSHA Reports 39 Trench Deaths in2022-More Than Double 2021 Toll Don McLoudJan 5,2023|Updated Aug 9,2023 # Deaths from Trench Collapses 2013-2022 # Nonfatal Trenching Injuries 2011-2022 | 800-
600-
construction
Number of nonfatal injuries in
400-
200-
0 | 96.8%
83.3%
92.1%
600
61.1%
350
200
110 | 100%
80%
60%
Percent of all trenching injuries
40%
-20%
0% | | --- | --- | --- | | Source:U.S.
Calculations
*Sum is show
to biennial es
^Calculated a
industries. | 2013-14 2015-16 2
2021-22
2011-12 2
2017-18 2019-20
Bureau of Labor Statistics,2011-2022 Survey of Occupational Injuries an
by the CPWR Data Center.
n for each two-year period to produce comparable statistics following BL
timates for 2021-2022.
s Number of trenching injuries in construction/Number of trenching injur | d Illnesses.
S data change
ies in all | # OSHA Trenching Citations in Construction | 4K-
3K-
Number of citations
2K
1K
0K
Source:
Calculati | 3.8%
3.9%
3.7%
3.1%
3.1K
2.9K
2.0K
1.6K | 4%
3%
-2%
Percent of citations
1%
0% | | --- | --- | --- | | | 2011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
2011-2023 Department of Labor OSHA Enforcement Data.
ons by the CPWR Data Center. | |

FAQs

Why does excavation and trenching have a higher fatality rate than general construction?

Excavation and trenching work poses a higher fatality rate than general construction. Cave-ins are highlighted as the most dangerous and frequently causing worker fatalities in excavation-related accidents.

What hazards are identified besides cave-ins?

The content lists other potential hazards including falling loads, falls, incidents involving mobile equipment, and hazardous atmospheres.

What are the training’s polling questions designed to collect?

The polling questions gather information about the participant’s industry, whether they have supervisory responsibilities, whether they oversee trenching/excavating activities, and whether they have ever personally violated a safety policy, procedure, standard, rule, or regulation.

Sep 26, 2026

Uploaded by Valentina