An all-new international shoring safety trade association — the North American Excavation Shoring Association (NAXSA) — was recently formed to help promote personal worker safety and the effective use of shoring practices for all workers in this field across the nation.

“It is critical that these men and women have a safe, worry-free working environment,” says NAXSA President J. Dana Woudenberg. “With the recent formation of NAXSA, these workers now have a national network of peers that they can rely on, network and interact with. This is a trade association designed just for them."

Founding members of the new association include Trench Shore Rentals; National Trench Safety; DP Nicoli Inc.; Gary Carlson Equipment; Pacific Shoring LLC; Underground Safety Equipment; United Rentals Inc.; TrenchSafety and Supply Inc.; Efficiency Production Inc.; Trench Plate Rental Co.; Trinity Shoring/Pro-Tec; Trench Shoring Services; Trench Shoring Company; Trenchtech Inc.; Icon Equipment Distributors Inc.; Ozark Laser & Shoring; Cascade Shoring LLC; and BakerCorp.

Although still a brand-new association, NAXSA’s board of directors has already made significant strides to advance the association and to recruit new members. NAXSA’s five member categories that shoring professionals can choose from include regular members, associate members, industry affiliate members, government agency members and continuing members.

Four committees have also been established to keep members active in current industry events, while simultaneously allowing them unlimited opportunities to network with their peers. These committees include training, communications, membership and engineering guidelines.

A website for the new association is under development, and a unique association core purpose has also been established.

“Our goal is to be the nationally recognized authority for safety in the excavation shoring industry, as well as the champion of a zero deaths and injuries goal in our industry,” says Woudenberg.

For more information or to join NAXSA, contact Donna Clark at 540/369-4489.