Scout's Toolbox Talks

On slopes or loose terrain, physical barriers help prevent spoil from sliding into the trench.

Why It Matters:

Spoil that shifts or collapses into the trench adds sudden pressure to the walls — a major cause of cave-ins. This is especially dangerous after rain, vibration, or if soil is unstable.

Key Points:

• Use berms, trench shields, cribbing, or other barriers where rollback is possible.
• Never pile spoil on soft, wet, or sloped ground without reinforcement.
• After storms or equipment movement, reinspect spoil stability.
• Keep equipment and foot traffic away from unstable piles.

✅ Barriers stop accidents before they start.

Ask the Crew:

• Should we have spoil barriers set up here?
• Is the ground under our spoil piles compacted and stable?

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