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Construction Worker Injured in California Trench Collapse

It’s absurd to California construction accident lawyers that something as preventable as a trench collapse continues to occur so often in the construction industry. This week, a construction worker in San Diego suffered moderate injuries when the trench in which he was working, collapsed. As the mud began to pour into the trench, the man’s legs folded under him, trapping him in that position until rescuers were able to retrieve him.

He was covered with mud up to the chest, but fortunately, was able to breathe and speak. According to firefighters, this was a successful rescue, because most trench collapses end in tragedy. The circumstances surrounding any trench collapse are such that rescuing a worker who is fast becoming trapped by the falling soil, is extremely difficult. In most cases, the worker may be completely buried under the soil before workers around are able to get to him.

Fortunately, in this particular trench collapse accident, the victim was only buried up to his chest, and rescue workers were able to mount a careful and cautious rescue to avoid another collapse.  The recovery operation after a trench collapse can trigger another collapse. The second collapse can trap not just the existing victim, but also rescue workers.

Trench collapses are some of the most serious accidents on a construction site. Excavation work is part of the construction industry, but over the years, strong standards have been set for excavation, to ensure that trench collapse incidents are minimized.

For instance, the walls of the trench can be strengthened using a process called shoring. This involves shoring the trench walls with metal or wood, to prevent the wall from destabilizing and collapsing. It’s still too early for a Orange County work accident lawyer to say whether trench shoring was conducted in this particular trench collapse.

Besides, supervisors at a construction site are required to make sure that the trench is safe to go into, before workers are allowed into the trench. There is no way of knowing if all these procedures were followed for this particular incident. According to estimates, trench collapses kill approximately 30 construction workers every year. Soil may look light, but can weigh between 2,000 and 3,000 pounds per cubic yard.

Besides, there can be other methods that can be used to prevent trench collapses. For instance, sloping can be done to prevent a collapse. Besides, some contractors use a steel cage or a trench shield in order to prevent such tragedies. Every trench that is constructed must have a clearly marked exit, like a ladder. The exit could also be in the form of a ramp. A worker must not be allowed into the trench until it has an exit on a ramp.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of construction accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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