Houston, TX — There was a worker who was injured and taken to a hospital (reportedly in good condition) after a trench collapse on Monday. Police said that the worker was buried up to his chest and armpits after the trench he was in suddenly collapsed.
The accident reported at about 10:00 a.m. on Monday morning, December 8, 2014. The worker was apparently standing or working in the trench that morning when something went wrong and the walls collapsed around him, partially burying him.
Paramedics were called to take the man to a hospital after firefighters worked to free him. He was not seriously injured, they said. The approximate location of the trench, as shown on the map below, was Riley Road and Almeda School Road — in far south Houston.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary:
From the looks of the accident site photos I saw, this trench was very long and narrow. Now, the photos weren’t exactly prize-winning photography, but I couldn’t help but notice that no shoring devices were visible. Shoring devices are like little “walls” you put up in a trench to hold the dirt, soil, and rocks from caving in while you’re working.
For construction sites, it’s mandatory. Perhaps since this was a small trench, someone thought they could get away with not using one. The other accident prevention technique (which doesn’t look like it was followed) is called “benching.” That’s where the depth of the trench does not exceed the width, so as to prevent from collapses that harm people. If this worker’s employer had sent him into an unsafe situation (or failed to provide the proper equipment), they could be held liable for the accident.
However, you must still consider workers’ compensation benefits, which will probably also apply.
— Grossman Law Offices
