Excavating refers to any hole dug into the ground by the removal of material (like dirt/soil). A trench is a type of excavation, where depth exceeds width. There are a variety of types of construction job sites that make use of trenching and excavation equipment. It’s broadly considered a big and hazardous job, due to the tons of dirt and other materials being moved around.

Trench boxes minimize the dangers of trenching and excavating. The biggest danger is cave-ins. Many other hazards exist on excavation sites including falls, hazardous atmospheres, falling loads, and equipment accidents. Trench collapses cause dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries annually.

Many regulations that must be followed on a trench site. OSHA requires that trenches be inspected daily, as well as after any change of environmental conditions, by an experienced person to ensure no excavation hazards are present.

We can assist you with choosing the right equipment for your needs. Some of the information we need includes the machine’s size, the intended depth, soil conditions, and what kind of structure is being installed or repaired.

All shoring equipment needs to reflect your machine’s lifting capacity. If the shoring system is too light it will become easier to damage the trench box with your machine. If the shoring system is too heavy, you can damage your machine. Deciding on what model shoring system you need is easy. Let us know your machine’s lifting capacity and model number.

We offer Kundel brand trench boxes. They offer a wide range of accessories for making shoring equipment more versatile. Whether you need leg kits or end enclosures, there are many options available that can help you tailor your trench box to your job site’s needs.

These are OSHA designations meant to classify soil based on cohesiveness. A-soil is the most sturdy, like rock. C-soil is a much looser soil material, such as sand. You must have a competent and knowledgeable professional designate the soil type before choosing trench equipment.

All shoring equipment has to include tabulated data and a PE stamp to ensure that the equipment has met or exceeds OSHA standards.

Kundel brand trench boxes make models designed to be lightweight. They can be lifted by machines smaller than is usually required. Shore Lite makes aluminum trench boxes specifically that are lightweight and easy to put together.

Yes, there are trench boxes that can be assembled by hand. We offer Shore Lite Modular Simple Robust Aluminum trench boxes. Two men can assemble this trench box by hand. It does not require the help of a tractor-backhoe.

At North East Shoring Corp., Inc, we offer modular trench boxes such as the Shore Lite Modular. The benefits of a modular trench box include the ability to transport with smaller vehicles and the ability to install in confined areas. It allows for customizable height and width to accommodate any job’s demands.

We would be happy to answer any questions you have. We’ve been in the construction industry for decades and know how important our equipment can be for workplace efficiency and safety. We are 100% committed to customer satisfaction. Our goal is to get you equipment that works for your needs.

Anyone new to an excavation site will find that there are many ironclad safety rules. Rules are for the safety of everybody on the jobsite. 

They include:

• Keeping heavy equipment away from the edges of a trench
• Keeping surcharge loads over 2’ away from the edges of a trench
• Knowing where any underground utilities are
• Testing for low oxygen, toxic gases, and hazardous airborne material
• Inspecting trenches before beginning any work
• Inspecting trenches following rain or other inclement weather conditions
• Never allowing workers under a raised load

Road plates are essential for any safe excavation site. They are used to bridge excavations to open up pathways for traffic. Any road plate usage must be authorized by a qualified supervisor who determines that the road plate is thick and large enough.

To work safely, a steel plate must be fixed directly in place to avoid movement. This involves direct contact with the pavement, pinning, recessing, or securing with asphalt wedges. Pinning involves driving pins through steel plates into the concrete to hold the plate in place. Recessing means cutting out the steel plate exactly to the dimensions of the excavation so the steel plate rests flush with the pavement.

Road plates can easily get slippery when they get wet. They generally require an anti-skid coating. The anti-skid coatings give the road plates skid resistance, reducing the risk of workplace injury from slips and falls. Some road plates have anti-skid coating applied. Others require that the user applies the anti-skid coating before use.

Tapered ramps are necessary to make road plates usable for pedestrians and vehicles. The clearance of the road plate can cause problems without a ramp. A ramp should be tapered slowly. If it is too sloped, it can be a hazard to motorists and bicyclists. Required taper lengths vary from state to state. There is a national U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration guideline that any transverse pavement joints that result in a bump must be tapered at a ratio of 60:1, or 5 feet horizontal length for every 1 inch of vertical elevation.

There are a wide variety of guidelines for using a road plate on a job site. Below you’ll find a checklist (though not comprehensive) that should be performed when using road plate.

• Select the correct dimensions
• Ensure correct overlap (about 1 foot of the road plate should be on firm ground on each side)
• Secure the edges properly and feather with asphalt
• When more than one road plate is used, they must be welded
• Uneven roadways require road plates to be countersunk
• All road plates should have an anti-skid coating
• The road plate’s edges should be painted or marked for additional visibility
• Warning signs should be placed in advance of the road plate: “Steel Plate Ahead” or “Warning: Bump Ahead”
• The trench and roadway conditions must be evaluated every day before use, as well as during weather changes (rain, snow, wind, etc.) in order to maintain safety
• Authorities should be notified of road plate locations during winter
• Road plates should always be inspected at the end of the day, every day

Yes. OSHA requirements include ‘frequent’, or ‘periodic’ inspections regularly. OSHA’s standards incorporate or reference standards from ASME, NEC, and ANSI. Inspections protect business owners from liability in the event of an accident or equipment failure. These inspections must be carried out according to schedule and by qualified personnel.

OSHA 1910.179 has two categories of crane system inspections: frequent and periodic.

Frequent inspections need to be performed daily or monthly, depending on the task. Frequent inspections include checking hooks, hoist chains, wire ropes, and all other functional operating mechanisms every day. They are generally performed by the operator.

Periodic Inspections are monthly, semiannually, or annually, depending on the task. Normal service periodic inspections are required annually. A heavy service inspection should be performed semiannually, and a severe service quarterly.

The answer varies too much to give a direct answer. A call to one of our friendly and knowledgeable representatives will connect you with someone who can take all your required specs and go through all of the crane models.

North East Shoring Corp., Inc partners with Kundel to offer the highest quality selection to our customers. Types of cranes we offer include SnapTrac, KTrac, TTrac, Ergonomic Gib Arms, Steel Gantry Cranes, Aluminum Gantry Cranes, ISTRUT Modular System, Floor Cranes, Ceiling Cranes, and Hybrid Cranes.

Ton refers to a metric unit that equals 2,000 lbs. Tonne refers to a metric unit that equals 1,000 kg, or 2,200 lbs. One Tonne equals 1.1 ton.

At North East Shoring Corp., Inc, we are always ready to help our customers find the equipment they need. If you are interested in investing in a crane system, we can help you pick the right one. Our friendly and knowledgeable representatives are always available to answer any questions you have. Please feel free to contact us.