Groundwork preparation may look like routine business for Alabama’s booming construction industry, but beneath the surface lies a persistent and entirely preventable threat. In recent months, federal regulators have dropped multi-thousand-dollar penalties on contractors who have been cited for trenching violations.
In April 2026, a Huntsville-based company was cited with eight serious safety violations following the tragic death of a 45-year-old laborer buried alive in a drainage ditch. Just months prior, a Birmingham construction company was hit with a $170,145 willful violation penalty for employees installing drainpipes in a completely unprotected trench.
A single cubic yard of Alabama soil can weigh more than 3,000 pounds—roughly the weight of a compact car. When an unprotected trench collapses, it is an immediate threat to anyone working in the trench.
With all the expectations of increased infrastructure construction - underground facilities, roadways and bridges - it is imperative that trench safety be as much of a concern as underground damage prevention during these projects. There are several resources for trench safety and competent person training here in Alabama, such as:
Alabama Training Network
Alabama Associated General Contractors
National Trench Safety
This edition of Global 811 provides great information on how to incorporate trench safety in your overall company safety programs.