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Importance of Safety in Trench Excavation: Introduction to ESC Trench Boxes


ESC has fully developed its Trench Box Series used as a two-sided excavation support system. A trench box is designed as a temporary earth retaining structure allowing the sides of the excavation to be cut vertical or near vertical. This quick and easy method ensures ground stability within a trench and helps to minimise the excavation area to avoid damage to neighbouring structures and utilities in the ground.

Trenches are actually used much more frequently in construction. In construction, the excavation of earth is a common occurrence, and for many different purposes. The



main job of trench boxes is to be installed by pushing them into the ground before excavations. This is done after ensuring that the side of the trench box is always supported.

These trench cages feature high-tensile steel sidewalls and extra pipe clearance for dependable, rugged performance in-the-trench. The trench width is usually chosen to allow for the pipe diameter and surround, the width of the excavator bucket, and the thickness of the box panels. With the box set at the right width, the section of the trench is then dug to a depth of 0.5m – 1.0m depending on the type of soil. This will allow the trench box to go in. The trench shoring box is then placed in the excavation and pushed down at each edge in turn. The space between the trench box and the trench wall should be back-filled to avoid collapse or cave-in.

ESC completed third party verified structural calculations and professionally completed Finite Element Analysis of the proprietary ESC Trench Box design system, with special attention on the spreader connections to the panels. A wide range of loading conditions was simulated to verify the robustness of the system.

There are a number reasons why shoring is important and ESC believes employee safety is at the top. Whether digging the foundation for a building or laying pipes or wires, trench boxes ensure worker safety and play a major role in the prevention of cave-ins and injuries. Your workers will not be able to work efficiently and quickly if they are constantly worried about their trench collapsing. They might make mistakes and be on edge without the proper support around them.

Trench shoring is incredibly important for many different reasons. If you want your workers to be safe, and avoid costly repairs and wasted time, you need to use trench boxes anytime you have people working in trenches.


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