News | Trench and Traffic Safety Equipment Sales, Rentals, Training

National Trench Safety Announces Opening of New Washington D.C. Operation

HOUSTON, T.X.—National Trench Safety, LLC (NTS), a Houston-based company specializing in the rental and sales of trench and traffic safety equipment, trench and traffic safety engineering, and OSHA-compliant training classes, announced today the opening…

Steel Sheeting Guide Shores Excavation for Sewer Line Repair

A contractor was performing a sanitary sewer line repair within a wastewater treatment plant in Southwest Florida. The repair required a 16’ linear run, with a width of 20’ and an excavation depth of…

Knowledge Article: Legal Responsibility and Liability of the Competent Person

First, I am not an attorney and I am not giving or providing legal advice here, but I will try to address some questions many of us deal with in our industry today….

Site Specific Engineered System Proves Cost Effective for Contractor

The contractor was installing sanitary sewer pipe in a Gulf Coast Florida city as part of an eventual road expansion project. The project comprised several open trench/cut linear runs ranging from 40’ to about…

National Trench Safety Relocates San Antonio Operation to Larger Facility

Knowledge Article: Surcharge Load Decisions for the Competent Person

One of the most complicated and least understood requirements of the OSHA Subpart P-Excavations Standard is surcharge loading. There is very little information provided about how to determine and deal with surcharge loads, while…

Sheeting Guide Frame System Provides Open Span Excavation

A contractor was performing a grease trap system installation in Northeastern Illinois. The new installation required a 16-ft linear run, with a width of 12-ft and an excavation depth of 18-ft. The competent person…

A Brief Summary of Differences Between the New Confined Space Entry Standard for Construction and 1910.146

This is a brief summary of some of the differences found in the new construction confined space standard (1926 Subpart AA) compared to the confined space standard for general industry (1910.146). This is not…

Modular Aluminum System Accommodates Crossing Utility

A contractor was performing a storm drain drop inlet installation in Southeast Nevada. The new installation required a 10-ft linear run, with a width of 10-ft and an excavation depth of 12-ft. The contractor’s…

Sheeting Guide Frame System Used During Highway Lane Widening Project

A Southwest Florida municipality was expanding its highway infrastructure with a lane widening project to account for recent growth. As part of that highway widening project, the municipality also needed to upgrade the supporting…

Beam and Plate System Used During Foundation Pour

A contractor had been engaged to pour a cast-in-place foundation for a chemical injection building in Southeast North Carolina. The job required a 75 ft linear run, with a width of 10 ft and…

Knowledge Article: Exceptions to the OSHA Requirements for Protective Systems

The following articles are a series focusing on Federal OSHA Subpart P Excavations 1926.652 Requirements for protective systems. Exceptions to the Rule Although OSHA allows trenches under 5’ deep to be left unsloped or…

Knowledge Article: Excavations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) establishes basic standards for employee protection when working in and around excavations. These standards are very important for keeping employees safe, as well as establishing employer responsibilities. …