Tampa Trench & Excavation Injury Lawyer
Construction is a dangerous industry. It involves a lot of dangerous elements, including excavation and trenching. These processes are common during the building process, but they are considered to be very dangerous.
A worker who is involved in an accident during the trenching and excavation processes can suffer serious injuries and even death. If you have been a victim, seek legal help from the Tampa trench & excavation injury lawyers at Anderson & Anderson.
Dangers of Trenching and Excavation Operations
Construction workers face dangers any time they are working on trenching or excavation duties. There are various hazards that workers can face, including the following:
- Cave-ins. Of all trench and excavation accidents, cave-ins cause the most worker fatalities. This is because dirt is heavy—a lot heavier than you may think. In fact, one cubic yard of dirt can weigh as much as a car. There is also the risk of nearby materials falling into the excavation.
- Asphyxiation. Asphyxiation is another concern when trenching and excavating. This is because the work zone may have toxic gases or insufficient oxygen. If the construction crew is working with water lines, drowning is also a possibility.
- Falls. A hole or trench on a construction site can result in a hazardous situation for workers. When the hole is very deep, a worker can suffer serious injuries in a fall. Federal safety standards require holes more than 6 feet deep to have fences, guardrail systems, covers, or barricades to protect the workers from falls.
- Electrocutions. Contact with live electricity can occur in trenches. If a worker hits an underground utility line with a body part or with a tool or machine, they can get electrocuted. This can result in serious injuries or death.
Common Injuries
Trench and excavation duties can be dangerous. They can result in numerous injuries, including:
- Suffocation
- Asphyxiation
- Broken bones
- Electrocution
- Falls
- Eye and ear injuries due to explosions
- Head trauma from falling objects
How to Protect Yourself
You can avoid being a victim of a trench collapse by doing the following:
- Make sure the trench has been properly inspected.
- Ensure cave-in protection measures are in place.
- Make sure you can enter and exit the trench safely.
- Keep materials and equipment away from the edge.
- Keep standing water out of the trench.
- Use a protective system when the trench is deeper than 5 feet deep.
- Slope trench walls by cutting back the trench wall at an angle.
- Shore trench walls by installing supports to prevent soil movement.
- Shield trench walls with trench boxes to prevent cave-ins.
Contact Our Tampa Construction Accident Lawyers Today
Trenching and excavation can be dangerous in many ways. A person can fall, get caved in, suffocate, and die. It is important for employers to have safety procedures in place.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a trenching or excavation accident, The Tampa construction accident lawyers at Anderson & Anderson can help. If your employer was negligent, you may be able to file a claim for compensation against them. Call 813-251-0072 or fill out the online form to schedule a free consultation.
