Due to a recent spike in trenching fatalities, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has updated the National Emphasis Program (NEP) on preventing trenching and excavation collapses.

GCSAA is sharing the new resources available from OSHA for golf courses with a trenching project such as digging deep holes to repair irrigation leaks.

OSHA's National Emphasis Program will increase education and enforcement efforts, while its inspectors will record trenching and excavation inspections in a national reporting system, and each area OSHA office will develop outreach programs.

The emphasis program began Oct. 1 with a three-month period of education and prevention outreach. During this period, OSHA will continue to respond to complaints, referrals, hospitalizations, and fatalities. Enforcement activities will begin after the outreach period and remain in effect until canceled. OSHA-approved State Plans are expected to have enforcement procedures that are at least as effective as those in this instruction.

OSHA has developed a series of compliance assistance resources to help keep workers safe from trenching and excavation hazards. The trenching and excavation webpage provides information on trenching hazards and solutions.

GCSAA's government affairs department offers one-on-one compliance counseling throughout the year. Contact GCSAA with any compliance related questions at 800-472-7878.