The National Utility Contractor Association (NUCA), the Safety Ambassadors Club and OSHA will hold a Trench Safety Stand Down June 18-23. Participating companies will take a break during the workday to have a toolbox talk or another safety activity to draw attention to the specific hazards related to working in and around trenches/excavations.

The goal: to provide those who work in and around trenches and excavations with information about current excavation requirements and safety procedures for working in trenches.

“By reaching as many workers as possible we can reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries that occur each year in our industry, and make others, such as municipal and industry workers who are also exposed, aware of these serious hazards,” according to NUCA.

Anyone can participate. NUCA is urging employers in utility construction, residential, highway construction, plumbers, military, unions, associations, educational institutes, and safety equipment manufacturers to join in the safety stand down.

The NUCA is offering a number of resources to help companies prepare for the Stand Down, including:

Last year’s Trench Safety Stand Down reached more than 10,000 Workers at 800+ jobsites - more than five times the workers than the previous event. A stand down involving civil engineering airmen and DOD contractors was even held at Bagram Airforce Air Field in Afghanistan.

NUCA will provide a Certificate of Participation to all participating companies. For more information, visit the NUCA website.