A construction project at a Port Arthur refinery was the site of a trenching accident last week. According to CBS News, the accident resulted in the death of one worker—a 65-year-old man who was trapped when the trench collapsed.
There are few details available — only that the collapse didn’t involve refinery operations.
Trenches are a frequent source of construction accidents. Whenever you dig into the earth, you take a chance of tons of dirt and rubble collapsing in on the workers inside. For this reason, countless safety measures are usually in place when workers are trenching and excavating.
According to OSHA, excavating is one of the “most hazardous construction operations”:
The primary hazard of trenching and excavation is employee injury from collapse. Soil analysis is important in order to determine appropriate sloping, benching, and shoring. Additional hazards include working with heavy machinery; manual handling of materials; working in proximity to traffic; electrical hazards from overhead and underground power-lines; and underground utilities, such as natural gas.
What are the dangers of trenching and excavation operations?
Trenching and excavation work presents serious hazards to all workers involved. Cave-ins pose the greatest risk and are much more likely than other excavation-related accidents to result in worker fatalities. Other potential hazards include falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, and incidents involving mobile equipment.
All construction projects present unique risks, and each day you go to work at a construction site, you must take precautions to prevent tragic accidents like the Port Arthur incident. Accident prevention is a matter of following safety regulations set in place by your employer and national organizations like OSHA, but it also requires that you be aware and extra cautious throughout the day.
Sometimes, no matter what you do, Texas workplace accidents happen. This could be due to the inattention of coworkers or lack of safety oversight by your employer. In cases like these, injury can be particularly life-changing as you know you had no control of the situation that led to your pain, suffering, and the subsequent medical costs.
Houston Construction Accident Attorney Kevin Krist
As a Houston personal injury attorney, I’ve seen all kinds of accidents. These accidents frequently have something in common—that the physical injuries are only a small part of the harm suffered. In addition to obvious physical injuries, a Houston construction accident, for instance, can leave you with lasting mental scars and severe stress.
If you’ve been hurt—whether in a trenching accident or another construction accident—I may be able to help. Contact me today by calling 281-677-3967.
