6/2001 - Nationally, about 100 workers are killed every year and many more are seriously injured; most could have been avoided by using trench shields. Imagine the weight of small car falling on your shoulders – that’s what 1 cubic yard of soil weighs!

One major topic of discussion would be the "misconception" by many end users that using trench shielding and shoring equipment "increases" their installation costs. The fact of the matter is that this "mind set" is the farthest thing from the truth, the proper use of Trench Shielding and shoring equipment has reduced the high cost of conventional steel sheeting and/or wood lagging by literally millions of dollars in trench shoring costs a year.

Trench shielding and shoring techniques are profitable alternatives to the time consuming conventional methods of bank sloping or benching, sheet piling, and wood lagging. In comparison, a trench shield can be installed in a fraction of the time and can be moved along the excavation as work progresses. Material costs are reduced and productivity and profitability are increased.

Trench shields are also effective in reducing the amount of excavation and restoration on a construction site saving a substantial amount of money. Over the years the use of Efficiency’s trench shielding and shoring products have also been recognized to greatly reduce the risk of serious injuries and loss of life to underground utility workers resulting in lower workman’s compensation costs, and liability insurance. As the founder of the company, T.A. Forsberg, says, "Trench Shields have literally saved construction companies millions of dollars by reducing excavation and restoration costs, and reducing the risk of liabilities due to trench accidents. They save lives and increase pipe production!"

What future trends do you see having an impact on your industry?

The most important trend in the last 5 years is the increased awareness within the underground construction industry of the necessity of using trench shields. Trench cave-in fatalities are publicized more often which have the effect of reinforcing the OSHA Subpart 29 mandate that requires the use of trench safety systems.

The continuing increase of work on the country’s aging Metropolitan or inner city infrastructure and the need to expand that infrastructure to support the growth in land development to outlying areas.

Equipment used in new or interesting ways?

The OSHA mandate has also forced creativity / innovation in the design and applications of trench safety systems. Combinations of various Trench Shield products have been successfully installed in order to fit difficult / challenging job requirements. For example, combinations of Slide Rail Systems and cross-trench utility shoring systems are being used when dealing with poor soil conditions, confined spaces, and existing underground utilities. Innovative trench safety systems are also required as deteriorating infrastructures of inner cities are improved. Slide Rail Systems, for example, are frequently used to support pit excavations for fuel tank replacements which often take place in extremely confined spaces.

Efficiency's objectives as we move into the new millennium will be to continue to aggressively respond to the direct feedback we receive daily from our customers in order to meet specific job requirements. We will continue to design and engineer systems that are more standardized and interchangeable to provide the added value of higher equipment utilization for a greater variety of job applications. Furthermore, we will continue to strive for excellence in the development of larger obstruction-free shielding systems for open excavations and two, three, and four sided pits. We will also continue to improve depth to weight ratios for stronger and lighter shields.