When you work in construction, you are exposed to dangers every day. And even among construction jobs, some are riskier than others. Working from heights and working in trenches are two examples of the more dangerous conditions that can be found on construction sites.
One construction worker was killed recently while working in a trench at a wastewater construction project in College Station. According to KBTX, the 49-year-old worker was in a 30-40 foot trench when two shoring panels collapsed on him. He was crushed immediately, and it took emergency crews four hours to remove him from the site.
“From what I understand, the walls shifted and he got caught in it and it pinned him down,” said Patricia Logan from the College Station Police Department.
Shoring panels are used to hold up the sides of a trench. When a trench is dug, these panels are inserted to stabilize the dirt walls so workers can continue working within the trench. The panels that fell in this accident were each 20 feet long and weighed an estimated 1,500 lbs. each.
“There’s loose soil, so that loose soil can make it all collapse,” said Logan. “It makes those walls shift, so it just makes it a dangerous place to be.”
There are considerable regulations for setting up a trenching work site, and even more regulations concerning working within them and keeping workers safe. As with all fatal construction accidents, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will be investigating this one to see if any regulations or laws were violated on the site and what could be done to prevent future accidents from happening.
When you work in construction, you assume certain risks, but you also assume that your employer and the other people involved will do what’s necessary to help keep you safe. When this isn’t the case and you end up hurt or worse, you need someone on your side seeking justice on your behalf.
Houston Wrongful Death and Construction Accident Attorney
Whether you were seriously hurt in a construction accident or if you’ve lost a loved one in a fatal construction accident, Kevin Krist may be able to help. Call today to discuss your case and the legal options available to you.
