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Caught-In or -Between
Welcome back, let’s Build Smart & Build Safe! Caught-in or -between hazards occur when a worker is pinned, crushed, or buried by equipment or materials. While "Struck-By" involves the impact of an object, "Caught-In" involves being trapped within it. In the construction industry, excavation cave-ins are the most lethal example of this hazard, often resulting from a lack of engineering controls in trenches.
Excavation and Trenching: The "Landslide" Risk
Soil is deceptively heavy; a single cubic yard can weigh as much as a small car. When a trench wall fails, it happens in seconds, leaving no time for escape. Under OSHA 1926.652, protective systems are required for any trench 5 feet or deeper.
The 5-Foot Rule: All excavations 5 feet or deeper must use one of the "Three S’s": Sloping (cutting back the wall), Shoring (aluminum hydraulic or timber supports), or Shielding (trench boxes).
The 2-Foot Rule: Spoil piles and heavy equipment must be kept at least 2 feet back from the edge of the excavation. This prevents "surcharge loads" from putting excessive pressure on the trench walls.
Access and Egress: A ladder, ramp, or stairway must be located within 25 lateral feet of any worker in the trench to ensure a quick exit during an emergency.
Machinery Guarding and Entrapment
Rotating parts and "pinch points" on machinery can pull in loose clothing, hair, or limbs before a worker can hit a stop switch.
Power Take-Offs (PTOs) and Belts: Factory-installed guards must remain in place. If a guard is removed for maintenance, the equipment must be locked out.
Unguarded Equipment: Handheld tools like grinders or saws must have their guards properly adjusted. Never "pin back" a guard on a circular saw; this is a leading cause of severe lacerations and caught-in injuries.
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO): Maintenance must never be performed on energized equipment. De-energizing and locking out the power source is the only way to ensure a machine does not cycle while a worker is inside the "point of operation."
Control Method | Application |
Shoring/Shielding | Prevents cave-ins in excavations. |
Machine Guarding | Prevents physical contact with moving parts. |
Exclusion Zones | Keeps workers away from equipment "pinch points." |
Implementation: The Competent Person Review
Every excavation must be inspected daily by a Competent Person before anyone enters.
Check for "Tension Cracks": Look for cracks in the soil parallel to the trench edge; these are early warning signs of an imminent collapse.
Verify the Protective System: Ensure the trench box or shoring is rated for the specific soil type (Type A, B, or C) and depth.
Control the Perimeter: Ensure that no vibrating equipment (like a plate compactor) is running too close to the edge while workers are in the hole.
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-The Safety Man
