Companies who do excavation work have a huge responsibility to take care of their workers and properly protect them from cave-in accidents at the work site, but too often these precautions are not taken. If you are working on an excavation project and a cave-in accident occurs you may be eligible to claim Connecticut workers’ compensation benefits.
Without the proper protections an excavation site can turn deadly very quickly and serious, often fatal, injuries may occur. When companies or employees fail to follow the strict guidance set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) problems may arise that could cause individuals or companies to face serious consequences.
It’s important to first have a clear definition of what truly constitutes a cave-in by the standards of OSHA. According to the government agency a cave-in is “the separation of a mass of soil or rock material from the side of an excavation, or the loss of soil from under a trench shield or support system, and its sudden movement into the excavation, either by falling or sliding, in sufficient quantity so that it could entrap, bury, or other wise injure and immobilize a person.”
With this definition in mind it is important that you take certain steps to avoid this type of accident and injury for you and your co-workers.
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Utilize a sloping technique which cuts back the trench wall at an angle away from the excavation.
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Create stepped benched grades using a process called cutting
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Using supports to shore up the excavation site and prevent slipping or soil movement at an excavation site
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Use trench boxes to shield the excavation site from the type of cave-in that could cause injuries
OSHA requires that all companies who are performing excavations provide training and safety procedures for all of their employees and if proper techniques are not followed a company can be fined heftily. While it is not your responsibility as a worker to ensure that you are being trained properly or not, you may be eligible for Connecticut workers’ compensation if you’re injured due to a cave-in accident.
Cave-in accidents on excavation sites can be dangerous and may even be deadly. If you’re involved in this type of accident or your loved one is involved, you may need to seek a board-certified attorney to guide you through the claims process. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will speak with you about your claim and help you protect your long-term interests.
