Construction workers in Delaware are exposed to many different types of work-related hazards on the job, from serious injury risks to substances and tasks that can result in occupational diseases. Various types of construction accidents and injuries occur on construction sites, and most of them are preventable. From falls due to scaffolding safety issues to struck-by accidents caused by improperly operated machinery, most construction injuries could be avoided with proper safety protocols, personal protection equipment, and training. Trenching and excavation accidents are common types of deadly accidents on construction sites, and it is critical for employers and contractors to understand how to make trenching and excavation work safe.
Getting the Facts About Trenching and Excavation Injuries
Excavation work on a construction site involves digging or cutting out a trench, a cavity, or a depression in the ground by artificial means, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Accordingly, trenching work is a specific kind of excavation work that involves the creation of trenches in the ground. Trenches can be necessary on various kinds of construction sites for purposes of installing utilities like water or gas, putting in power lines, or for creating building foundations. Trenches are often narrow, and they tend to be at least 15 feet in the ground or more.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), trench cave-ins are among the deadliest types of accidents that occur on construction sites because workers can be suffocated or crushed by the force and weight of the dirt that caves in. Indeed, as the CDC explains, although “a small amount of dirt may not seem dangerous,” in fact, “one square yard can weigh more than 3,000 pounds,” which is more than “the weight of a compact car. As such, construction workers who are in a trench with a cave-in that involves even one square yard of dirt can be deadly. The CDC reports that 373 trenching fatalities occurred between 2003 and 2017, and about 80% of them happened on construction sites.
Preventing Trenching and Excavation Injuries on Construction Sites
The University of Delaware emphasizes that, in order to prevent trenching and excavation accidents on construction sites, it is critical for excavation sides to have protective systems in place and for proper training to occur. The University of Delaware lists some of the following safety “checklist” items for any construction site to consider when trenching work is going to be done:
- Does the excavation site have proper safety supports?
- Have protective systems been installed properly?
- Has the excavation site and any adjacent areas been inspected by a competent person before any work begins?
- Does a competent person have the authority to remove workers from excavation sites where there are safety concerns?
- Have inspections been done of the excavation site or trench following rain or any other weather-related occurrence that could increase the likelihood of a cave-in?
Contact a Delaware Construction Accident Attorney
If you or someone you love got hurt in an excavation or trenching accident on a construction site, you should seek advice from a Delaware construction accident lawyer who can provide you with more information about your options for seeking compensation. Contact Freibott Law online or call our firm in Wilmington at (302) 633-9000.