A construction worker was killed after a trench collapsed north of Sherman Oaks, near Mulholland Drive on Tuesday, February 8.
According to The Beverly Hills Courier, the worker was using hand tools to dig a trench that was approximately 8 feet deep, and 2 feet wide. He was attempting to locate the sewer line from the street. The man was alone when the trench collapsed, and was discovered by a co-worker buried up to his neck in dirt and unconscious. The worker was declared dead at about 3:10 p.m. It is unclear what time the trench collapse accident occurred. California workplace safety investigators arrived at the scene of the construction accident to determine what caused the trench to give way and whether proper safety measures were in place.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that construction employers take certain precautions when workers are doing trenching and excavation work at a construction site. These safety measures include but are not limited to:
- A means of escape, such as a ladder, should always be in place in a trench.
- A trench must be braced, shored, or slope sheeted to help prevent a collapse.
- All trench work must be inspected on a daily basis by a “competent person.” If there is any evidence of a slide or a potential for a cave-in, all work must stop.
- Employers must instruct their employees to recognize and avoid unsafe working conditions.
- Employers must provide their employees with adequate protective equipment.
- Equipment and materials used for excavation work must be placed at minimum two feet away from the edge of a trench.
- Extra precautions must be taken if heavy equipment is operated close to a trench due to the extra weight imposed onto the ground.
Despite regulations regarding safety at trench construction sites, trench collapse accidents continue to occur throughout the U.S. The California construction accident attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP understand the financial difficulties and other burdens a construction worker and their family faces after a serious workplace accident. Our lawyers will work diligently to ensure that those injured while at work are fairly compensated for their injuries and losses. If you have been injured while working at a construction site in California, contact our law office to schedule a free consultation with one of our highly skilled attorneys. Call 1-877-800-1700 today.
