Excavation and Trenching

Excavation and trenching continue to be some of the most dangerous construction activities. There have been 31 excavation fatalities in Michigan in the past two decades. For each fatal incident, there are dozens of excavation accidents resulting in serious injuries. MIOSHA is adopting the National Emphasis Program on excavation and trenching operations to help prevent future incidents. The following resources have been developed to assist employers and employees in protecting their workers from common hazards associated with excavation and trenching.