Trench Worker Suffers Serious Injuries in Workplace Accident
A man working on a city sewer project in Connecticut suffered serious head, neck and back injuries on September 28, when a support pipe inside a 20-foot deep trench struck his head, according to The New Haven Register.
Workplace accidents like these are investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA requires that workers in trenches be protected. The hazards that cause the most trenching accidents include: lack of a protective system; failure to inspect the trench; unsafe spoil-pile placement; and unsafe access.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that between 1992-2001 there were 542 trenching and excavation fatalities. Industries that most frequently reported fatalities were those involved in excavation work, followed by water, sewer, pipeline, communications and power-line construction. Although excavation and trenching fatalities occurred in various occupations, the largest proportion of deaths occurred among construction laborers.
When it comes to Philadelphia on-the-job accidents, injured workers may be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits. They can also file a third party claim against a negligent party other than their employer, which includes contractors, sub-contractors or the manufacturers of defective products. Injured workers and/or their families would be well advised to contact an experienced Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyer who has successfully handled third-party claims.
The Philadelphia workplace injury attorneys at Cherry, Fieger & Marciano champion the pursuit of redress for those injured and their loved ones in on-the-job accidents. They have the knowledge and skill to represent cases of severe injury or death from accidents including malfunctioning machinery accidents, faulty tools, defective ladders, scaffolding accidents as well as the collapse of floors and walls. Call (888) 684-7192 today for a confidential consultation.
