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Altrad RMD Kwikform (ARMDK), a leading provider of formwork, falsework and ground shoring solutions, said it has launched a free guide, offering advice on how trench boxes can save lives as well as help reduce on-site costs.
Formerly known as RMD Kwikform, ARMDK is a leading provider of engineering solutions in the specialist field of temporary structures, a vital element for major infrastructure and building projects.
The new guide identifies the main trench hazards, and introduces trench boxes as a safety solution, detailing why they should be considered an essential piece of equipment for excavations.
There are also tips on how to spot the signs of an imminent cave in, and information to help readers understand the benefits of assured safety, increased cost savings, ease and simplicity, and greater flexibility.
Insight is also offered into how ARMDK’s trench boxes compare with other systems.
A leading temporary works’ systems provider, ARMDK pointed out that excavations were one of the most hazardous types of work undertaken in the construction industry, with a fatality rate 112% higher than the rate for general construction.
Cave-ins are a primary concern and are more likely to result in fatalities than any other construction-related accidents, it stated.
David White, Ground Shoring General Manager - Middle East & India at ARMDK, said: "Trench excavations pose a range of safety and environmental hazards to workers, with cave-ins posing the risk of suffocation, crushing, or at worst, fatalities."
"In the Middle East, flash floods are another concern, and sudden torrential rain can be very dangerous, potentially making entering and exiting trenches extremely difficult. Worryingly, there are still many instances of excavation projects where no trench support systems are being used at all," noted White.
"This new guide to trench boxes is a must-read for anyone in the construction industry in the Middle East. Only by educating ourselves further on potential health and safety risks and the solutions to mitigate these can we elevate standards in this region," he added.
With over 70 years’ engineering experience, ARMDK operates in 15 countries around the world, while servicing many more through its export teams.
Working closely with the entire supply chain, ARMDK has global experience working with businesses at each stage of the construction process, with key markets including the UK, Australia, India, and the Middle East.-TradeArabia News Service