Shoring in trench work is used to do what?

• A. To ventilate the trench
• B. To remove soil from trench
• C. To support trench walls
• D. To mark trench depth

Answer: (C)

Shoring is used to support trench walls and keep them from collapsing under the pressure of the surrounding soil. By installing supports or walls—like timber, hydraulic shores, or trench boxes—earth pressure is held back, creating a safer space for workers inside the trench. This directly prevents cave-ins, which is the primary safety risk in excavation. Ventilation, soil removal, and marking depth are separate tasks: ventilation provides breathable air, removing soil is done with digging equipment, and depth is measured with instruments. So the main purpose of shoring is to stabilize the trench walls to protect workers.