When Zach Taylor was a kid, his parents tried to get him to learn piano. But every time he sat down at the keys during lessons, his attention drifted to what was happening outside. Taylor was more interested in the playground, which had a toy digger that he loved to play on. That early pull toward machines and dirt never let go. A summer landscaping job led to being a laborer, a foreman, a project manager, and eventually starting his own excavation company, Milania Corporation, named after his daughter.
But As much as Taylor loves the work he does, there is a dark side of the industry that he is determined to help bring to the light: trench safety.
“Trench collapse deaths are 100% preventable if you're doing the right thing,” he said.
#TrenchSafetyTuesday
Years in the field gave Taylor firsthand knowledge of the realities of trench work. It’s not just about digging dirt; it’s about protecting lives every time someone climbs into a trench.Over time, #TrenchSafetyTuesday became more than a personal project. It turned into a conversation. Contractors, operators and safety professionals engaged with his posts, shared their own stories, and built a community that pushed trench safety into the spotlight.
For Taylor, that’s the point. Trench safety isn’t about one person shouting into the void. It’s about creating a culture where conversations happen regularly, whether online or on the jobsite.
Why Trench Safety Matters
Trench work is among the most dangerous tasks in construction. Taylor shared that “a yard of dirt can weigh as much as a Honda Civic.” He uses that comparison to drive home the unforgiving physics when a trench wall gives way.
He also points out that despite decades of OSHA rules and training; corners are still cut. Sometimes it’s pressure to get the job done faster. Sometimes it’s a culture of toughness. Sometimes it is just lack of awareness. Taylor advises workers to speak up or leave for a company that puts safety first.
“There are other companies that will hire you and keep you safe and teach you and educate you,” he said. “And you'll get to go home every day and not have to worry about it.”
Steps Companies Can Take
Taylor is blunt that safety isn’t just the worker’s responsibility—it starts with leadership.
“We have everything right at our fingertips. We've had it forever,” Taylor says of trench safety. “People know it exists. So it comes down to do the people at the top care?”
He stresses the basics:
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Always use trench boxes or shoring when you’re over five feet deep.
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Keep spoil piles at least two feet from the edge.
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Have a competent person on site who knows what to look for, especially concerning different soil types.
“If you're doing what you're supposed to be doing, nothing bad can happen to you if you're in the box,” he explained. “If you follow the process, you're not going to die.
And while rules matter, culture matters more. Taylor said all employees should be able to speak up when something doesn’t feel safe.
“Your employees should feel empowered to be say, ‘this isn't right’ and not fear any type of pushback.”
Closing Thoughts
Taylor knows the realities of working in the dirt. He’s seen the risks, the close calls and the tragedies. That’s why he’s determined to make trench safety not just a regulation, but a personal commitment.
“Everybody thinks it won’t happen to them—until it does. And then it’s too late”
His challenge to the industry is simple: slow down, do it right and go home safe.
“I don't need my daughter's mother to get a phone call or a police car to show up at her house and be like, ‘Hey, you know your dad was killed today because a wall of dirt caved in on him.’ But that's been people's reality, and it's just so unfortunate because it doesn’t have to happen.”
See Zach Taylor at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026
Zach Taylor will lead a panel discussion at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 titled In the Trenches, An Operators Perspective on Trench Safety. This session will bring together safety experts, survivors, and industry leaders for a powerful and practical discussion on the critical importance of trench safety.
Register for CONEXPO-CON/AGG today.
Photos Courtesy of Zach Taylor
