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Trench Accidents Happen on Construction Site When Safety Precautions are not Taken
Posted on August 10, 2011 by Ronald Todd
Most trenches are dug to lay pipe, utilities, manholes, conduit runs or footing. When working fast in a trench without taking the correct safety measures, construction workers are killed. Trenches are a confined space with special problems. Most construction fatalities in trenches are from cave-ins. Other risks are falls from height, electrocution injuries, falling objects, backhoes and bad air.
Common cave-in accidents happen when trench walls are unstable, soil is undermined by sand and water, water is standing in the trench and construction equipment or materials too close to the trench walls. Cave-in accidents can be prevented when the following OSHA standards are enforced at the construction site:
- Trenches are shored, sloped or braced in unstable materials (29 CFR 1926.652(b) and 1926.651(c)).
- Trenches must have a means to escape (29 CFR 1926.652(h)).
- A competent person must inspect all trenches prior to every shift for construction site hazards (29 CFR 1926.640(i)).
- All work must be stopped when there is evidence of a cave-in or slides (29 CFR 1926.650(i)).
- Excavation material must be moved at least 2 feet from the edge of the trench (29 CFR 1926.651(i)).
- Extra precautions must be taken when heavy equipment is being operated near the trench (29 CFR 1926.651(q)).
Contact a Construction Site Accident Lawyer at Ronald S. Todd, P.C.
With so many financial and medical concerns, the right representation can make all the difference. We handle construction site accidents on a contingency basis. You don't have to pay any attorney fees until you get the compensation you deserve.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident, you need an experienced construction accident Indiana attorney. Construction accident cases can be won or lost based on investigation conducted by your construction injury attorney. The sooner you hire a qualified attorney, the sooner we can start protecting your rights. We offer evening and weekend hours in addition to our weekly business hours. We are ready to help. Our phone lines are open twenty-four/seven. Call 317-375-7718 or contact us online at www.ronaldtoddlaw.com today for a conference with a construction injury lawyer.
This entry was posted in Construction Accidents, Falls from Height, Construction Accident Law Firm, Construction Fatalities, Construction Injury Attorney, Construction Injury Lawyer, Construction Site Accident Lawyer, Construction Site Hazards, Electrocution Accident, Electrocution Injuries
