Three California construction workers were rescued from a trench that had collapsed on a recent Monday morning. Trench collapses are usually avoidable workplace accidents as trenches that are properly fortified will not collapse. The California Division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has strict safety regulations to protect workers from hazards that can cause workers’ injuries.
It was reported that the trench collapsed at the premises of a dairy in Hickman. The Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Department responded to the call and arrived at the scene to find three men in a trench. One worker was uninjured, but another one was buried under a load of soil from the collapsed trench wall. The third worker appeared to have a fractured leg.
The uninjured man assisted the firefighters with attaching a harness to the worker who was trapped, allowing him to be extricated. A ladder was lowered into the trench, allowing the other two workers to climb out. It was reported that a further collapse occurred just as the last man was climbing to safety. The worker who was trapped was airlifted to a hospital for treatment of apparent back and chest injuries, and an ambulance transported the worker whose leg was fractured.
Most California workers are covered by the workers’ compensation insurance system and may pursue benefits to cover medical expenses and lost wages. Depending on the severity, workers’ injuries can cause long absences from work, resulting in financial difficulties for workers and their families. Obtaining compensation may assist families to cope with day-to-day expenses while the injured workers are recuperating.
Source: modbee.com, “Firefighters rescue 3 men in ditch collapse in Hickman”, Aug. 3, 2015
