Each June, Trench Safety Month serves as an important reminder that excavation work can become deadly in seconds. A trench collapse can quickly create an unstable, time-critical emergency that puts both workers and rescuers at serious risk.
A Tennessee Incident Underscores the Risk
A December 2025 trench collapse at Big Ridge State Park in Union County, Tennessee, is a sobering example of how quickly excavation work can turn dangerous. According to reporting, two workers with Norris Brothers Excavating were trapped when a trench collapsed while they were working on the park’s sewage system.
One worker was rescued after a lengthy operation and airlifted to the hospital, while the second worker died at the scene. The incident prompted a large, specialized response involving local fire and EMS resources, as well as technical rescue personnel and equipment.
Trench Rescue Planning Must Happen Before a Collapse
For employers, the lesson is clear: trench rescue planning cannot begin after a collapse occurs. Once soil moves, the situation becomes unstable, dangerous, and difficult to control.
Secondary collapse hazards, limited access, and the need for shoring, barriers, vacuum excavation, and hand digging can make rescue operations slow and complex. These challenges reinforce why trench safety must begin with prevention.
Prevention Is the First Line of Defense
Employers should make sure trenching and excavation work is planned, inspected, and monitored by trained personnel. Key safety steps include:
- Having excavations evaluated by a competent person
- Using protective systems when required
- Keeping spoil piles and equipment a safe distance from the trench edge
- Providing safe access and egress for workers
- Inspecting conditions regularly throughout the job
- Reevaluating the site when weather, vibration, soil conditions, or work activities change
Specialized Training Strengthens Readiness
This Tennessee incident also highlights the value of pre-incident coordination and specialized training. Employers should not assume a trench emergency can be managed with standard response procedures alone.
Rescue from a collapsed trench often requires personnel who understand trench dynamics, scene stabilization, hazard control, and victim access. For organizations involved in excavation, utility, construction, or emergency response work, training can help strengthen both prevention efforts and rescue readiness.
Use Trench Safety Month to Review Your Preparedness
At UT CIS, we encourage organizations to use Trench Safety Month as an opportunity to review excavation hazards, emergency procedures, and employee responsibilities.
UT CIS offers trench rescue training, Excavation Competent Person training, and OSHA 7410 Managing Excavation/Trenching Operations classes to help employers, responders, and safety professionals better understand trenching and excavation hazards and strengthen preparedness before an emergency occurs.
If your organization performs excavation work or may respond to trench incidents, now is a good time to evaluate whether your employees have the knowledge and training they need.