Trench Safety Stand Down Events Held in Rapid City

Rapid City, S.D. – The Associated General Contractors of South Dakota, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), and South Dakota 811 hosted two successful Trench Safety Stand Down Events as part of June’s Trench Safety Month. The first event took place on Thursday, June 6th, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM MT, and the second event occurred on Friday, June 7th, from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM MT. Both events were held at 3600 Anderson Road in Rapid City, SD, with attendees accessing the location from the north off Long View Road due to a road closure.

These events were part of an ongoing alliance between the AGC of South Dakota and the South Dakota OSHA office, aimed at educating industry workers about falls and trenching hazards. The interactive events featured a trench staged with both safe and unsafe conditions, a live rescue demonstration by the Rapid City Fire Department, and several safety talks from various agency representatives.

Key speakers included Eric Wollan, OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist, and Codi Gregg, Executive Director of SD 811/South Dakota One Call. Sheila Stanley, Area Director of the Sioux Falls Area OSHA Office, and Jason Mundt, Assistant Area Director, were also invited to speak. All speakers focused on trench and excavation hazards, emphasizing the importance of using trench protective systems to ensure worker safety.

The media was invited and encouraged to attend these interactive events, which underscored the commitment to improving safety standards in the industry.