What are the Benefits of Using a Trench Box?

A trench box is a system installed within an excavation to protect workers while they’re below ground level. Trench boxes come with many benefits: they give a trench stability, improve project efficiency, extend the life of a trench, and allow laborers to work in peace knowing that even if the trench collapses, they will not be trapped under the weight of the soil.

Trench Boxes Provide Worker Protection

Excavation work can be hazardous to laborers, and cave-ins have been known to take place even after safety precautions are taken. The main purpose of a trench box is to increase protection and minimize the risk of injury to workers while they’re on the job. Trench boxes can be used alongside other protective systems for added safety, such as sloping and benching. As trenches get deeper, trench boxes can also be stacked on top of one another to provide the additional protection for workers.

Trench Boxes Improve Stability

Trench boxes are usually made of steel or aluminum. They’re comprised of two plates called shields which are held apart by spreaders. The plates run along the trench’s walls, while the spreaders are braced perpendicular to the plates. Together, these components stabilize both the trench box and the excavation site; without a trench box, the excavation would be more likely to cave in.

Trench Boxes Improve Project Efficiency

Without the use of a trench box, cave-ins and worker injury would be commonplace. As expected, each project setback translates into a decrease in productivity as workers must re-excavate collapsed sites, repair tools and equipment, reconnect piping or wiring that was damaged during the cave-in, and handle worker injuries. By utilizing trench boxes, common excavation setbacks can be avoided, thereby increasing productivity. Additionally, trench boxes are designed so that workers can easily move in and out of a trench. This ease of movement also results in improved efficiency.

Trench Boxes Extend the Lifespan of the Trench

As mentioned above, trench boxes improve the stability of an excavation site by bracing the site’s walls and preventing partial or full collapses. Due to this increase in stability and cave-in prevention, trench boxes help extend the life of a trench. This is especially valuable for long term projects when a trench might be required for weeks or months at a time.

Trench Boxes Can Be Resold

Trench boxes are an important safety tool for any excavation site where workers are operating below ground level. Though they are an expense, trench boxes are made of steel or aluminum, which are durable materials that are designed to do well under pressure. Because of this, trench boxes hold their value and can be resold after use.

Buy and Sell with Eiffel Trading

Eiffel Trading is the leading online marketplace for used trenching and shoring equipment, including used trench boxes, used shoring towers, used slide rail systems, and more. Additionally, we offer other equipment types including used sectional barges, used pile drivers, used concrete formwork, and more.

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