What to Know Before You Get in a Trench

While the fatality rate for excavation workers is 112% higher than that of general construction workers, injuries and fatalities are not inevitable for excavation workers*.  There are important safety measures that employers can take to protect excavation workers from serious injury and death, and we believe that employers have both legal and ethical responsibilities to take appropriate measures to protect the safety of their workers.

Specific Safety Steps That Can Protect Trench and Excavation Construction Workers

OSHA recommends that construction employers take the following seven steps to protect trench and excavation workers from injuries and fatalities.  Construction employers should:

• Preplan by evaluating conditions and contacting utility companies.
• Provide appropriate protective systems.
• Test the soil.
• Test for oxygen levels and toxic gases.
• Provide safe access into and out of the excavations.
• Monitor and protect against water getting into the area.
• Inspect the excavation site daily for hazards.

Contact a New Jersey or New York Construction Accident Attorney if You’ve Been Injured

If you have been injured or if you’ve lost a loved one in a New Jersey or New York excavation accident, then you may be entitled to damages.  Contact a New York or New Jersey construction accident attorney at Hofmann & Schweitzer at 1-800-362-9329 or via our online contact form to discuss your case.

*Source: United States Department of Labor, OSHA Construction e-Tool, Trenching and Excavation