McKinney, TX — a sewer-line trench had caved in ... Occupational Safety and Health Administration are continuing to investigate but do not suspect foul play.

June 24, 2022: Man dead after trench collapses on him in Cleves

CLEVES, Ohio — a trench collapsed

June 18, 2022: Emergency responders recover body of worker killed in Brighton trench collapse

Denver, CO — a sewer line when the trench collapsed ,

June 17, 2022: Two workers killed after construction trench collapses in St. Paul

ST. PAUL, Minn. —when a construction trench collapsed

May 10, 2022: Two dead in collapsed trench

PUNTA GORDA, FL — collapsed trench that trapped and killed two construction workers

April 29, 2022: 2 Alto men killed in trench collapse

LOWELL TOWNSHIP, Mich. —Two men killed after a trench collapsed ... a 14-foot trench that was being dug for drainage where a pole barn was being built.

April 21, 2022: One man killed, another injured in trench collapse

BOISE, Idaho — a trench collapse ...OSHA has opened an investigation into the incident.

April 16, 2022: Construction Worker Dies in Trench Collapse in Tennessee

SPRING CITY, Tenn. (AP) — trapped in a trench that collapsed while he was working on a home

March 31, 2022: Worker dies in trench collapse in northwest Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, NV — worker was killed when a trench collapsed OSHA is investigating the collapse, but ... could not share additional details due to confidentiality requirements.

February 27, 2022: Worker dies after ground collapses near newly dug trench in Shelby County

SHELBY COUNTY, Ind. — found the man about 19 feet into the trench . Indiana OSHA issued no violations.

January 29, 2022: Contract worker dies following trench collapse on Sand Island

HONOLULU, HI –Hawaii OSHA issued 5 serious violations

January 11, 2022: Coroner identifies construction worker killed in accident

JACKSON, Miss. –... trapped 20 feet below ground

NSPE Policy on Workers Compensation Insurance

OSHA www.osha.gov POINTS OUT WHY WORKER SAFETY IS SO IMPORTANT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY:

"Nearly 6.5 million people work at approximately 252,000 construction sites across the nation on any given day. The fatal injury rate for the construction industry is higher than the national average in this category for all industries.

Potential hazards for workers in construction include:

Falls (from heights);
Trench collapse;
Scaffold collapse;
Electric shock and arc flash/arc blast;
Failure to use proper personal protective equipment; and
Repetitive motion injuries.

OSHA Trenching and Excavation Safety

OSHA Working Safely in Trenches

Five Shocking Facts About Construction Jobsite Safety:

As of March 2017 the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 6,882,000 people were employed in the construction industry. This is right at 4% of total employment in the United States.

Yet, they also report that the number of fatal work injuries in 2015 , the latest available data, was 937 in the construction industry, which amounted to just over 21% of all worker deaths.

13 Shocking Construction Injury Statistics

For example, did you know that:

1. One in ten construction workers are injured every year . (Source: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration .)

2 . Over the course of a 45-year career, a construction worker has a 1 in 200 chance of dying. (Source: Safety + Health .)

... and

11. Between 2002 and 2012, 19.5% of all workplace deaths were from the construction industry . (Source: EHS Today ).

OSHA points out, " Construction is a high hazard industry ..." and this is true. Working 100's of feet above the gound on the high steel, working on and around large equipment, climbing ladders, and other construction activities indeed involve elevated risk of injury. However, how can working in an excavation (trench, drilled pier) involve the elevated risk of death due to collapse when all involved know how to prevent the collapse in the first place, AND all regulation of this aspect of construction PROHIBIT any worker from entering an unprotected excavation? Nevertheless, trench collapse injury and death persist throughout the US constuction industry.

This is a national disgrace, and Kentucky is not immune from its reach.

Construction Jobsite Death Close To Home!

Trench Collapse Death in Lexington

May 4, 2016 10:43 AM

Construction worker is killed in trench collapse on Todds Road

The victim, Samuel Tyler Williams, was a married father of three

Trench along Todds Road was 16 feet deep; worker was covered by dirt, gravel

Trench is between a retaining wall and the pavement

There has been a trench collapse in Richmond, KY today, and the Coroner has been called to the site. Recovery activities are underway, and may take several hours. I will update this report as information becomes available.

The Richmond Register has reported that one worked is dead.

Construction Jobsite Safety Is An Issue Of Great Concern For Our Profession!!!!

To Return to this page after visiting any of the above external links ,
use the "Back" button on your browser.

To Return To Home Page

The Toll of Trench Collapses In First 1/2 of 2022

July 4, 2022: Washington trench collapse in Shoreline, WA, kills 2 workers

July 5, 2022: Worker killed in trench collapse at housing development near Albemarle

June 28, 2022: Bodies of 2 men recovered following trench collapse in Jarrell

June 24, 2022: Construction worker dies after falling into trench in Sun Valley

June 24, 2022: Construction worker dies in McKinney accident