A number of incidents have occurred recently where workers have been seriously injured after being engulfed while working in trenches that have collapsed.

Wet weather and increased ground moisture has created a higher risk of ground slippage and engulfment.

Trenches greater than a metre deep can pose a significant risk to workers, especially those who are bending down to work on pipes or other services. The risk of fatalities will also considerably increase with depth.

As a result, a Safety Alert has been issued.

For more information or to download the alert, view Trench Collapse Safety Alert.