Georgia Construction Worker Killed in Trench Collapse Accident
A construction worker was killed last week in a trench collapse accident in Cartersville in Bartow County. James Hilbish was killed on February 4th when a trench collapsed during sewer line installation.
The trench was 30 feet deep and ran along 25 to 30 feet beneath the roadway. The accident occurred at noon, and Hilbish presumably died almost instantly, but his body was recovered after more than three hours of rescue operations. Trench rescues are inherently risky, and it took the combined efforts of firefighters from Cobb, Bartow, Calhoun and Gordon counties to mount a rescue effort. As is normal in a situation like this, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)officials have launched an investigation into the construction accident
Construction workers who work in trenches or other forms of excavated sites work in some of the most dangerous conditions on a construction work site. There is always the risk of a cave in or the risk of electrocution from touching exposed power lines that run underground. There can be suffocations in these confined spaces, as well as the risk of inhalation of toxic underground fumes. However, these scenarios can be avoided if employers make efforts to keep trench work conditions as safe as possible. Soil that has been excavated from the trench must not be piled too high and too close to the opening of the trench. It can cause the walls of the trench to become weak and cave in, pouring tons of soil on workers in the trench. The use of tools in the trench can create vibrations that may be strong enough to trigger a deadly cave in. For a worker trapped under mounds of soil, death is often the result because rescue operations are difficult to undertake.
Georgia Construction Accident Lawyers
A construction site is one of the deadliest workplaces in the US, accounting for a large number of workplace fatalities. Strict OSHA regulations have reduced the incidence of these accidents to some extent, but employers continue to scrimp on safety measures to the detriment of worker safety. When injuries or fatalities occur, survivors or victims' families can claim compensation not only from the employer, but also any other parties that may have been responsible for the unsafe conditions that resulted in the accident. If you have been injured in a construction accident, contact a Georgia construction accident lawyer at my office to discuss your options for compensation.
