As part of June’s Trench Safety Month, the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) recently participated in OSHA Demo Day, an exhibition showcasing trench and excavation construction practices for representatives of OSHA.

OSHA Demo Day was conducted June 2 at a large construction industry training site in Hyattsville, Maryland, and featured six demonstration stations. These stations included ones for utility locating and marking, horizontal directional drilling operations, basic trench safety for contractors, an in-depth demonstration of trench safety equipment including steel trench boxes and hydraulic shoring, vacuum excavation techniques and equipment, and contractor safety programs.

Several NUCA national partners and contractor members participated in the event, which drew attendees from the Washington, D.C. area. Ditch Witch, Sunbelt Rentals, TRUVAC, United Rentals, Vermeer and MV Solutions featured their trench safety and excavation equipment, while NUCA of Metro Washington D.C. members such as Aaron Enterprises, Garney Construction, and B.F. Joy provided personnel and their industry expertise.

Other construction industry stakeholders such as the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Common Ground Alliance, Distribution Contractors Association, and the Associated General Contractors of America joined with NUCA to host this event and explain their commitment to trench and excavation safety.

June is Trench Safety Month for the utility construction industry. NUCA, OSHA, and United Rentals are sponsoring the industry’s sixth annual Trench Safety Stand Down Week during June 20-24. In 2021, more than 22,000 industry employees and first responders at over 2,200 job sites, from 340 organizations, took part in NUCA’s industry-wide stand down. During these company events, employees learned the importance of being safe around excavations and trenches from peers and experts alike, utilizing the same equipment and techniques demonstrated at the recent OSHA Demo Day.

For 2022, remember to check out NUCA’s social media channels on Twitter (@NUCA_National), Facebook (NUCA1964), LinkedIn (NUCA National), Instagram (NUCA_National), and YouTube (NUCA National).

The social media hashtag is #TrenchSafetyMonth.