Computational Technology Resources - CCP

Keywords: safety, enabling events, triggering events, trench, collapse, motes, fuzzy logic, fuzzy set.

Summary

Trench collapse is a major source of events contributing to the accidental deaths occurring in the United States of America. Excavating is recognized as one of the most hazardous construction operations. Trench accidents on U.S. construction sites accounting for an estimated one hundred fatalities per year and with at least eleven times as many workers injured. Trench collapse accounts for nearly 1% of all the work related deaths in the United States [1]. Trench accidents usually kill victims almost immediately. Many of victims who are pulled out alive then die with the injuries or suffer from mechanical asphyxia. Moreover trench collapse can affect many other factors including: delay in the completion of the trenching operation, delay in related activities, decrease in the work efficiency of the injured worker, increase in the direct and the indirect cost, damage to the reputation of the company in the market and many more.

This paper deals with the efforts trying to prevent the trench collapse which are directly or indirectly resulting in major losses. The paper includes, a study of the enabling and triggering causes of trench collapse, the classification of soil types by the OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration), the frequently identified causes of trench failures, the traditional methods used to prevent trench failures, and the improper use of methods and equipment for a particular type of trenching activity.

The authors have identified the major factors involved in trench collapse as shown in Table 27.1. Statistical data regarding the occurrences of these factors are not readily available. In addition, assessment of trench safety is often expressed subjectively, necessitating the use of the fuzzy logic approach. Based on this evaluation a trench safety monitoring system has been designed.

Table 27.1: Factors affecting trench safety

Factors	Description
Geometry	Depth, width, and length of the trench, type of sloping and shoring method used
Soil type	Different type of soils as specified by OSHA [2]
Weather condition	Rain, snow, heavy wind, heat
Workers skill	Type of training, repetition of work, experience and aptitude of the worker
Equipment	All the equipment used during construction which are either operating or just lying at the site
Surrounding features	Source of vibration if expressway or roadway is passing by, high rise structures, natural or artificial water reservoirs

The intention behind the study described in this paper is to develop a proactive approach that involves the application of a translational fuzzy logic model. The model incorporates the use of fuzzy relationships and composition operations. Users can employ this model for monitoring trench safety and implementing quality control procedures.

References

1: Michael F. Hein, http://www.trenchsafety.org, "Trench Safety", August 18, 1999.
2: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/trenchingexcavation/index.html, "Trenching and Excavation", U.S Department of Labor, Revised: April 01, 2003.

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