Excavations and trenches have become so commonplace on work sites that some employers and employees have developed a sense of complacency with some of the most basic requirements of excavation safety.

Labor and industry groups are collaborating on a new effort to improve trench safety, a growing concern on jobsites across the U.S. in recent years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Excavation and trenching are considered two of the most dangerous construction operations by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, and the governmental agency cites numerous contractors ...