Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction operations. OSHA defines an excavation as any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earths surface formed by earth removal. A trench is defined as a narrow underground excavation that is deeper than it is wide, and is no wider than 15 feet (4.5 meters). Dangers of Trenching and Excavation. Cave-ins pose the greatest risk and are much more likely than other excavationrelated accidents to result in worker fatalities.