National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation

Stored: National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation

National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation

Type	Program
Sponsor Organization	Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Top Organization	Department of Labor
Creation Legislation	Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
Website	Website
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.
Program Start	1985
Initial Funding	Congressional appropriations
Duration	Ongoing
Historic	No

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 Site

Goals

• Reduce trench-related fatalities and injuries through targeted inspections.
• Increase employer compliance with OSHA excavation standards (29 CFR 1926 Subpart P).
• Enhance worker and employer awareness of trenching hazards and safety practices.

Organization

The National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation is sponsored by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under the Department of Labor, operating through OSHA’s 10 regional offices and 85 area offices, with over 2,000 compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) conducting inspections. Funding comes from Congressional appropriations, with FY 2025 at $620 million for OSHA, supporting NEP inspections, outreach via the OSHA Training Institute, and enforcement across federal and 29 state plan jurisdictions. It integrates with OSHA’s broader safety framework and collaborates with industry stakeholders.

The leader at the Department of Labor level is the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, currently Douglas L. Parker (as of February 19, 2025).

History

The National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation was established in 1985 as OSHA Instruction CPL 2.69 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, responding to persistent trench collapse fatalities, with a significant update on October 1, 2018, as CPL 02-00-161 following 23 deaths in 2016. It evolved from local emphasis programs in six regions into a nationwide effort, introducing a 90-day outreach phase in 2018 before enforcement, and by 2025, it has expanded training and inspection frequency, addressing over 373 trenching deaths from 2003-2017, with ongoing adaptations to new hazards like utility line strikes.

Funding

Initial funding in 1985 came from Congressional appropriations, integrated into OSHA’s early budgets (e.g., $41 million in FY 1971). Funding began in 1985 and continues, with FY 2025 at $620 million for OSHA, a portion supporting NEP’s 1,000+ inspections and outreach, supplemented by fines and state contributions, with no end date as appropriations sustain efforts like the 2025 trenching safety campaigns.

Implementation

The program is implemented through programmed safety inspections targeting trenching and excavation sites, requiring competent person oversight, protective systems (sloping, shoring, shielding) for trenches over 5 feet, and daily inspections, with over 1,000 annual checks. It operates continuously across federal and state jurisdictions, with a 90-day outreach phase preceding enforcement (e.g., post-2018), adapting in 2025 to focus on utility safety and cave-in prevention, with no end date.

Related

• OSHA Construction Safety and Health Program
• OSHA Training Institute
• Cross-State Air Pollution Rule

External links

• https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-02-00-161
• https://www.osha.gov/construction - OSHA Construction Overview
• https://www.osha.gov/trenching-excavation - Trenching and Excavation Page
• wikipedia:Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Social media

• https://twitter.com/OSHA_DOL
• https://www.facebook.com/departmentoflabor