Shoring and Shielding Systems — Deep Dive
Construction · Ver en español
Talking points
- Hydraulic shoring uses aluminum hydraulic cylinders to brace trench walls. It is adjustable, reusable, and can be installed from outside the trench — the safest installation method.
- Timber shoring uses wood planks and wales braced against the trench walls. It requires workers to enter the trench during installation, which adds risk during the most dangerous phase.
- Trench shields (trench boxes) are placed in the excavation and workers operate inside the box. The shield does not prevent the cave-in — it creates a protected zone within the collapse.
- Where the excavation is sloped or benched above the box, the shield must extend at least 18 inches above the top of the vertical side — the soil above the box is what would otherwise slide in on you.
- Tabulated data from the shield manufacturer specifies the maximum depth and soil type for each shield model. Using a shield beyond its rating provides no protection.
Ask the crew
What type of protective system are we using today — and does it match the soil type and depth of our excavation?
Standards this talk is built on
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