On January 28, 2013, construction crews were installing a pipeline along Main Street in Frisco when an accident in one of the trenches led to one worker being killed.  A section of the street was shut down for several hours while emergency rescue responders at worked on the scene.

Unfortunately, trench accidents are all too common on construction sites.  Workers are exposed to:

• injuries due to toxic fumes,

• electrocution or shock injuries due to buried utility lines,

• cave-ins,

• crush injuries due to falling debris,

• and falls.

OSHA has attempted to make trench-work more safe at construction sites by implementing safety protocols such as the following:

• mandating walking surfaces and guardrails around the surfaces of trenches,

• requiring retaining structures,

• requiring soil around trenches to be evaluated,

• ensuring adequate ventilation within trenches to prevent chemical injuries,

• monitoring changing weather conditions in order to avoid sudden changes in environment that could lead to an accident.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a construction accident?  If so, contact an industrial injury attorney at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP.  While sometimes accidents are unavoidable, at other times, the negligence of a third party might have been a factor in your accident.  The actions of subcontractors, vendors, and equipment manufacturers can affect your recovery.  Contact us today for a free case evaluation.