Industry // Plumbing & Underground
The trench doesn't forgive. Neither does OSHA.
OSHA's Trenching & Excavation National Emphasis Program (CPL 02-00-161) exists because collapses kill fast — and inspectors are looking for one document.
The Exposure
One unprotected trench. One missing log. One fatality.
Any unprotected trench deeper than 5 ft requires a protective system — slope it, shore it, or shield it — and a daily inspection by a documented competent person before entry. The NEP means inspectors are actively looking for this record.
What the Gap Costs
What a missing competent-person log costs
Willful or repeat citations into six figures
A fatality settlement measured in the millions when the log doesn't exist
A stop-work order that idles the entire crew and kills the schedule
How Precision Command Closes It
Centralized inspection logs retrievable on demand
Centralized documentation control and the daily competent-person inspection log — signed, dated, and retrievable on demand across every crew and branch. When the inspector arrives, the record is already there.
Pillar: CommandYour Next Step
Grade Your Exposure in 10 Minutes
The Liability Exposure Scorecard maps your documentation gaps to the exact standards that govern your trade. Free. Instant results.