A workmen''s cage adapted to be positioned within a trench or the like to protect workmen in the case of a cave-in has a top wall and side walls of reinforced screen material with one of the side walls hingedly connected to the top wall for swinging movement toward the opposite side wall to facilitate removal of the cage from a trench or the like after a cave-in. An over-center hinge interconnects the side walls to brace the side walls in the normal use condition of the cage and can be selectively released from a location above the cage by a pull-cable to allow the pivotal side wall to be swung inwardly after a cave-in, enabling easy lifting removal of the cage.