View source for National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation

{{Program
|ProgramName=National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation
|ProgramType=Program
|OrgSponsor=Occupational Safety and Health Administration
|TopOrganization=Department of Labor
|CreationLegislation=Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
|Purpose=The National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation targets inspections and outreach to reduce fatalities and injuries in trenching and excavation operations. It aims to enhance worker safety by enforcing OSHA standards and increasing hazard awareness in construction.
|Website=https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-02-00-161
|ProgramStart=1985
|InitialFunding=Congressional appropriations
|Duration=Ongoing
|Historic=false
}}

'''National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation''' (NEP) is a Department of Labor initiative led by the [[Occupational Safety and Health Administration]] (OSHA) that focuses enforcement and education efforts on trenching and excavation hazards, conducting over 1,000 targeted inspections annually across the United States to address the construction industry’s leading cause of fatalities—trench collapses—reducing incidents by an estimated 30% in participating regions since its update in 2018 as of 2025. 

Initially launched in 1985 and revitalized in 2018 following a spike in trench deaths (23 in 2016), it mandates competent person oversight, protective systems for trenches over 5 feet, and hazard awareness training, leveraging partnerships with state plans in 29 jurisdictions and the OSHA Training Institute to enhance compliance with 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P.

{{Official URL (simple)|url=https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-02-00-161}}