15

I keep seeing these large rectangular structures on job sites they put in the ground.

image

I'm guessing something for strengthening the surface structures?

Wasabi
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v15
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2 Answers2

26

It is a trench shield. It gets placed in a trench after the trench is dug to prevent workers from being hurt or killed in the event of a trench collapse.

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This picture from GMC trench shield shows a partially collapsed trench with a shield installed that would protect the workers installing the blue brute pipe.

JACK
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13

It is shoring for trenching work.

If a trench collapses on a worker the weight and force of the material will lead to crush injuries. Even if you are able to dig someone out from a collapse, crush injuries can lead to crush syndrome ending with kidney failure and death.

Fresh Codemonger
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