The aim of this message is to remind operatives of the importance of working from within a trench box.

Excavations and trench cave-ins account for a number of fatalities and serious injuries in construction. With little or no warning, an improperly shored or sloped trench or excavation wall can collapse, trapping workers below in seconds.

Trench boxes are one of the available systems to protect operatives working in such environments. However, this security measure is of little use if workers do not stay within the confined space of the trench box. There have been incidents of fatalities when people have worked in a trench a few metres beyond the trench box.

Further information:

Trenching practice, Irvine and Smith, CIRIA, 1992, (www.ciria.org.uk).

This message should be applied on the inner face of a trench box, one at each end. It is recommended that the message should be applied by the trench box manufacturer or hire company before it is delivered to site.

Messages should be printed on A5 size laminated synthetic labels with an extra strong permanent adhesive backing to ensure long term adhesion.

This message has been approved by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association.