As a general guideline, you should cordon rescue operations around the trench by how many feet?

• A. 25
• B. 50
• C. 75
• D. 100

Answer: (D)

Establishing a wide safety perimeter around a trench is essential to protect everyone and give rescuers room to operate. Soil can fail suddenly, debris can be thrown or slide beyond the trench edge, and the spoil piles, water, or equipment used in the rescue can create additional hazards. Setting the cordon about 100 feet from the trench creates a reliable buffer to keep bystanders out of danger, keeps heavy equipment and spoil piles outside the immediate work zone, and gives incident command space to stage resources, control access, and coordinate shoring or disentanglement operations. Smaller distances, like 25, 50, or 75 feet, don’t provide enough clearance for a potential secondary collapse or for responders to work safely and efficiently. Always tailor the perimeter to conditions, but 100 feet serves as a solid general guideline.