Trenching and excavation work presents serious hazards to all workers involved, even in trenches only 4 feet deep. Cave-ins pose the greatest risk and are more likely than some other excavation-related incidents to result in worker fatalities. According to a 2016 OSHA press release, "Trench deaths have more than doubled nationwide since last year - an alarming trend that must be halted," states Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. One cubic yard of soil can weigh as much as a car. Employers have a responsibility to ensure that workers enter trenches only after adequate protections are in place to address potential hazards.

This app will address common hazardous conditions found in 3 different trench styles and include overhead hazards as well. A scorecard is compiled at the end of each VR scenario to evaluate that all hazards have been identified. We recommend that the app should be used as a supplement to an in-house training course to emphasize the learning objectives of safely assessing a trench for potential hazards.