Equipment Upkeep & Maintenance
At North East Shoring Corp., Inc, we realize the importance of maintaining your excavation and trenching equipment to ensure safety and efficiency. Serving New England, our team of experts is dedicated to providing top-tier services that meet your specific needs.
With over 35 years of experience, we are well-equipped to handle even the most challenging projects. Our comprehensive services include:
- Necessary repairs
- Cleaning trench shields
- OSHA-regulated inspections
- Paint touch-ups to prevent corrosion
- On-site welding shop
Call or text us today to learn more about how we can assist you with your equipment upkeep and safety needs.
What Makes Shoring or Shielding the Better Option
There are several ways to protect workers in a trench, including shoring, shielding, sloping, and benching. Sloping involves removing material around the trench to create a gradual incline, reducing the likelihood of a full collapse. While this method minimizes the risk of cave-ins compared to a vertical excavation, it requires significantly more space, making it impractical for many job sites.
Shielding does not prevent a trench collapse but protects workers inside if the earth shifts or falls. Trench boxes and manhole boxes act as protective barriers, shielding workers from falling debris or shifting soil. This method is the most common and cost-effective approach to trench safety.
Shoring reinforces trench walls by using bracing systems that apply opposing forces to prevent collapse altogether. This method is ideal for situations where trench stability is a major concern and additional support is needed.
Whether using shielding or shoring, both methods provide critical protection for the men and women working in trenches, ensuring safety even in unstable conditions or when heavy equipment is operating nearby.
Other Excavation Safety Hazards
While cave-ins and trench collapses are major concerns, excavation work presents many other hazards that put workers and bystanders at risk. Some additional dangers to consider on an excavation site include:
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Lack of protective equipment, including hard hats, eye protection, and steel-toed boots
- Heavy equipment faults or accidents
- Falling materials
- Exposure to hazardous materials in the trench—electricity, water, sewage, etc.
- Collapse of adjacent structures
- Bystanders falling into the trench
- Damage to egress equipment
Being proactive about worksite safety is critical to reducing risk. This includes quarantining the area, enforcing proper safety protocols, and performing routine safety checks. As long as a trench is open, safety precautions should be in place for everyone in the vicinity. And remember—no unsupported trench should ever be entered, even for a quick retrieval of a fallen item.
Most of these hazards can be mitigated or completely prevented with a properly installed trench box or shoring equipment.
Factors That Contribute to Trench Collapse (and, Easy Ways to Prevent It)
In nearly every trench collapse incident, there is an element of surprise that catches us off guard. When the earth is disturbed, even by the most skilled excavation team, there is reason to doubt its stability. Couple that with equipment and people moving about the area, and it is a recipe for certain disasters. That is why we believe every trench should be reinforced every time, no matter how small or quick the job is. There is no price on safety.
What contributes to a trench collapse? First, you have to consider the weight of the earth — a cubic yard of dry dirt can weigh between 2,000 and 2,700 pounds, and move in a matter of seconds. Factors that contribute to trench collapse include:
- The moisture content of the soil
- The type of soil/dirt/earth
- Adverse weather
- The length of time a trench is open
- Vibration — machinery, nearby trains, seismic activity, etc.
- Depth of the trench
- Previous soil disturbances/ excavations
- Adjacent structures
- Weight or movement near the trench
- Failure to use shoring equipment
For every trench, every time, make use of shoring equipment or trench boxes! At North East Shoring, we carry top names like Atlas and Kundel in every size to meet all of your safety needs.
Trench Safety Tips
There is a certain inherent risk in the line of excavation and trenching, but none that should result in loss of life. Accidents happen, but implementing safety measures can reduce the chances of injury or fatality. In addition to OSHA’s excavation and trenching safety requirements discussed above, some general trench safety tips include:
- Always brace trenches that are more than five feet deep
- Keep heavy equipment away from the edge of trenches
- Avoid walking or standing near the trench edge
- Know where underground utilities are located
- Test for oxygen, hazardous fumes, and toxic gases
- Do not work beneath raised loads
- Inspect trenches and safety equipment daily
- Inspect trenches after every rainstorm (even if that means more than once daily)
- Wear personal protective equipment
- Keep egress equipment — ladder, stairs, etc. — near at all times
- Never enter a trench without someone knowing
- Don’t make adjustments to shoring equipment from inside the trench
- Know the soil you’re trenching in
- Never enter an unprotected trench
Never challenge the trench, always respect it, and remember, it does not respect you. Trust North East Shoring for all of your excavation safety equipment. For purchase or rent, we’ve got all the trench boxes and shoring equipment you need to get the job done safely. Contact us today to learn more.
Why You Should Choose North East Shoring for Your Trenching and Excavation Safety Equipment
At North East Shoring, we believe that no worker should step onto a job site fearing for their safety. Every life has value, and we are committed to providing the equipment and expertise needed to ensure trench safety. We follow OSHA regulations not just to help you avoid fines, but because we want every worker to go home safely at the end of the day. When you partner with North East Shoring, you’re not just getting steel trench boxes—you’re getting a team of professionals dedicated to job site safety across New England.
Why partner with us?
- Industry-Leading Equipment – We carry top brands like Kundel and Atlas, ensuring you have access to the best trench safety solutions available. Every piece of equipment is inspected and serviced on-site before returning to our inventory.
- Flexible Rental Options – Not looking to buy? Rent your equipment, and we’ll deliver it anywhere in New England—on time, assembled, and ready to go. We’ll even pick it up when the job is done.
- Complete Safety Solutions – We provide everything you need to secure your job site, including shoring equipment, trench boxes, crane systems, and road plates.
- Equipment for Every Job – No matter the size of your project, we have the right equipment to meet your needs.
There’s no excuse for an unsafe trench. Call or text us today to get the support your trench needs—and to keep both the trench and OSHA off your back.
