Excavation vs. Trench: Key Differences and Safety Protocols

Excavation is any human-made cut or depression in the earth, while a trench is a narrow excavation in which the hole is deeper than it is wide. Learn the difference between an excavation versus trench to make the right choice for your project and put the proper safety mechanisms in place. Both methods can be dangerous, so it’s best to call a pro no matter what job you’re doing.

What Are the Differences Between Excavation and a Trench?

Excavation is any human-made cut or depression in the earth’s surface, and a trench is a narrow type of excavation where the cavity is deeper than it is wide. The width of a trench can’t be greater than 15 feet (measured across the bottom), and the cavity should also be longer than it is narrow. Trenching is often used for laying pipes, sewage lines, wires, cables, and other underground utilities. Excavation, on the other hand, is used to construct foundations, drainage ditches, roads, and reservoirs. Both methods require strict safety precautions.

Excavation vs. Trench: Differences in Size

To qualify as a trench, a cavity must be deeper than it is wide and longer than it is narrow. Trenches can’t be more than 15 feet across, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). With excavation, the size and shape of the cavity can be anything, from big ditches to deep holes. Excavation can involve drilling, grading, dredging, or trenching.

Common Uses

Trenching is common for laying underground utilities, including pipelines, electrical cables, telephone wires, and sewage lines. You might trench your yard if you’re adding electricity to your garage or running plumbing to a pole barn. Excavation is used to form a foundation for a building, such as a house, garage, or shed, and for creating reservoirs, roads, and drainage ditches. 

Tools

You can create a trench with an earthmoving machine called a trencher. You can excavate with various tools, including bulldozers, shovels, and excavators. The size and strength of the equipment depend on the size of the hole and the type of soil and other material you plan to remove. 

The cost of renting an excavator runs from $100 to $250 per hour. The cost of trenching ranges from $5 to $12 per linear foot or more, depending on the depth and the soil conditions. A micro-trencher rental costs around $125 per day.

Training and Preparation

Whether you’re excavating or trenching, you need to put proper safety mechanisms in place. Before digging, you must be aware of any underground utilities. Always call the 811 dig line before embarking on a digging project. Without clear markers for utilities, you are at risk for personal injury, electrocution, damage to utility lines, and gas leaks.

You should hire an excavation company near you to handle an excavation or trench project to ensure you and your property stay safe. Professionals have the tools, knowledge, and experience to ensure correct and safe trench digging and excavation. They can also handle obstructions, tough soil, and heavy machinery.

Safety Protocols

Trenching and excavating can be hazardous or even deadly if the right precautions are not taken. Excavation sites should be inspected daily and throughout the project by someone qualified to assess the risks and watch for structural integrity and hazardous conditions, especially after rainstorms. 

Enjoy your weekends off and leave the dangerous work to the pros who know how to safely handle everything.

Removal of Waste

You can use a dump truck to move large amounts of soil, rock, concrete, and other materials off-site. You can also move the materials onto a tarp or into a wheelbarrow to haul elsewhere for dumping.