Trenchers
National Trench Safety partners with MGF to enhance its U.S. market expansion
National Trench Safety (NTS) has announced a strategic distribution partnership with MGF, a leading UK-based manufacturer of specialist shoring products. This partnership marks a significant milestone as NTS enhances its product offerings to the American market.
Connecticut contractor, worker plead guilty in fatal trench collapse case
A contractor and one of his employees have pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter charges after a trench collapse at a Connecticut jobsite led to the death of a worker in 2022.
Ditch Witch West sells first Bulldog trencher to speed up undergrounding work along West Coast
Ditch Witch West has sold its first Bulldog trencher, designed by UK manufacturer Mastenbroek, to Cox and Cox Construction, a full-service underground utility contractor licensed in California and Nevada. Mastenbroek designed the Bulldog for underground utility installation, particularly in areas where overhead electrical cables could cause or be destroyed by forest fires.
Dresser Utility Solutions acquires pipe-pulling tech firm Kobus
Dresser Utility Solutions has acquired Kobus, a U.S.- and U.K.-based provider of gas and water pipe pulling technology, in a move aimed at expanding Dresser’s infrastructure repair capabilities for utility customers.
Arcosa Shoring Products launches new system to improve trench safety
Arcosa Shoring Products recently unveiled their patent-pending Convert-A-Shore system that makes changing a hydraulic vertical shore from a multi-cylinder shore to a single shore (and vice-versa) quick and easy.
Worm-like robot burrows underground to cut power line installation costs
The innovation, known as a "peristaltic conduit," mimics the segmented movement of earthworms to propel itself through the soil with minimal disruption to existing infrastructure.
Cross Country Infrastructure, Tesmec partner to advance trenching solutions in U.S.
Cross Country Infrastructure Services has announced a partnership with Tesmec USA to introduce advanced trenchers to the U.S. marketplace. This new alliance combines Cross Country's extensive construction expertise with Tesmec's innovative equipment to offer improved trenching solutions for major infrastructure projects.
Two workers killed in Maryland trench collapse during home renovation
Two construction workers were killed on Feb. 28 after a trench collapsed while they were working on a home renovation project in Catonsville, Maryland, fire officials confirmed.
Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
According to CBS News, two construction workers in Wyandotte, Mich., were rescued Tuesday evening after being trapped for nearly four hours in a collapsed trench. Wyandotte Fire Chief Jeremy Moline told authorities the men were excavating a hole about 15 feet deep when the trench collapsed.
Ditch Witch launches compact W8 Hydrovac for urban, residential jobs
Ditch Witch has introduced the W8 hydrovac truck to provide contractors with a compact and agile solution for potholing, slot trenching and cleanup tasks in urban and residential environments. The W8 is the latest addition to the Warlock series of truck vacs following the release of the larger W12 in 2023.
Construction worker killed in trench collapse near Prosperity, S.C.
A construction worker was killed when a trench collapsed while he was installing a water line, according to Newberry County authorities.
Smelly Mel’s, Sewer Rat Plumbing fined nearly $530,000 after San Mateo, Calif., trench collapse
California workplace safety regulators have fined Smelly Mel’s Plumbing and Sewer Rat Plumbing a combined $529,640 for safety violations linked to a trench collapse that seriously injured a construction worker in San Mateo on Aug. 1, 2024.
Trench collapse kills one construction worker in Houston, Texas
A construction worker was killed Wednesday, Feb. 5 after an eight-foot-deep trench he was working in collapsed in southwest Houston, according to ABC13 Eyewitness News and the Houston Fire Department (HFD).
National OnDemand expands in Texas with J. Tucker Construction acquisition
National OnDemand, a communication and utility infrastructure services provider, has acquired J. Tucker Construction, a Greenville, Texas-based company specializing in telecom and utility infrastructure.
OSHA cites Glenburn, Maine contractor in fatal trench collapse at Brownville worksite
While installing storm drainage pipes at a Brownville worksite, a retaining wall collapsed, killing one worker and injuring another. OSHA cited Patriot Paving Group LLC for multiple safety violations, including failing to brace the wall and remove workers from the hazardous trench.
Texas contractor penalized by OSHA for repeated trench safety violations
A U.S. Department of Labor workplace safety investigation has found a Frisco, Texas, contractor repeatedly exposed workers to serious hazards by sending them into unprotected trenches without providing a means of escape.
OSHA cites Florida contractors for trench safety violations at sewer and excavation sites
OSHA has cited two Florida contractors for trench safety violations at sewer and excavation sites in Jacksonville and Daytona Beach. Inspectors found workers exposed to cave-in hazards without proper protections, prompting citations for willful and serious violations.
Sewer line construction, 14-foot trench work to impact Honoapiʻilani Highway in Waikapū
Sewer line installation work on the Honoapiʻilani Highway (Route 30) in Waikapū will require a full road closure as crews prepare to dig a 14-foot-deep trench.
Worker deaths decline amid OSHA crackdown on high-risk trench and fall hazards
According to preliminary data, fatalities in key high-risk areas like trench collapses and falls, which are among the leading causes of death for construction workers, have notably declined.
IPEX expands trenchless offering with cost-efficient, large-size NovaForm PVC liner
NovaForm is a styrene-free, expand-in-place structural liner for rehabilitating trenchless sewer and stormwater culverts. This liner combines long-term strength with flexibility, allowing it to handle some of the most challenging installation conditions.
OSHA cites Massachusetts contractor after fatal trench collapse in Hanson
A federal workplace safety investigation has determined that the fatal injury of a worker in Hanson, Mass., in February 2024 could have been prevented.
Peabody General Contractors to host free trench safety training in Lockhart, Texas
Peabody General Contractors, in partnership with the Austin Chapter of the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) and OSHA, will host its annual Live Trench Training event on Oct. 4 in Lockhart, Texas.
Texas trench fatalities rise despite OSHA safety regulations
(UI) — Trench collapses continue to be a leading cause of preventable worker deaths in Texas, despite existing safety regulations set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Worker dies in trench collapse in Cleveland, Tenn.; rescue shifts to recovery
Rescue efforts initially focused on locating and retrieving the worker. However, once it was confirmed that the individual was deceased, the operation transitioned to a recovery effort.
Fatal Shawnee trench collapse linked to Oklahoma contractor’s repeated safety violations, OSHA reports
An Edmond contractor with a history of workplace safety violations dating back to 2018, including three related to the dangers in underground trenches, was found disregarding U.S. Department of Labor regulations.
Construction worker dies after being found unconscious in trench box
The worker, who was found approximately 15 feet deep in the trench near Second Ave and Pitchkettle Rd in Suffolk, Virginia, was engaged in utility repairs when the incident occurred.
Editor’s log: The road to rehab intensifies
The 1970s marked a revolution in underground infrastructure with the birth of cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) technology, allowing pipe repairs without excavation. This innovation, alongside other trenchless methods, has transformed the industry and continues to drive efficient solutions for aging infrastructure.
Trenchers: Unsung hero of utility installation
Trenching, with its versatility and adaptability, remains a vital method for utility installation across various terrains and conditions. The wide array of trenching machines and attachments available today allows for efficient and effective utility installations, from small residential projects to large-scale industrial applications.
Guam contractor faces $1 million fine over repeated trench safety violations, OSHA investigation reveals
Giant Construction Corp., a Tamuning contractor, is under fire with over $1 million in penalties after federal inspectors discovered trench workers exposed to fatal hazards.
National Trench Safety appoints Fernando Pinera as new CEO
National Trench Safety (NTS), the nation’s largest pure play trench safety solutions provider, has announced the appointment of Fernando Pinera as its new CEO, effective April 1, 2024.
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Construction worker killed in trench collapse near Prosperity, S.C.
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- Texas contractor penalized by OSHA for repeated trench safety violations
- Final construction phase kicks off for Indianapolis deep rock tunnel
- WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
- Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program