Lack of bracing may have caused fatal trench collapse in Arlington

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.star-telegram.com/189/story/1362752.html

Posted on Thu, May. 07, 2009

By BILL MILLER and ELIZABETH ZAVALA
[e-mail]

ARLINGTON — A lack of proper cave-in protections may have led to the collapse of a trench that killed a Grand Prairie man Wednesday morning, according to preliminary findings from a Fire Department official.

The trench wall was not properly secured, and part of it fell on the worker, Assistant Fire Chief Alan Kassen said.

"It’s still under investigation," Kassen added, "but that appears to be the initial cause."


Robert Harrell was killed in a construction accident in Arlington on Wednesday (Texas Department of Public Safety photo)


The death is the latest of about two dozen in trench collapses nationwide since January 2008, a number that has drawn the attention of Congress and led to calls for stronger worker protection.

"In my opinion, in 2009, there’s no reason workers die in trenches," said Celeste Monforton, chairwoman of the Occupational Health & Safety Section of the American Public Health Association. "We have known for years how to shore trenches so they don’t collapse."

Robert Harrell, 34, of Grand Prairie was digging in a 15-foot-deep trench early Wednesday when one wall collapsed, partially burying him in mud, officials said.

Another worker outside the trench saw the accident and called police and firefighters about 7:45 a.m.

FULL story at link.

[atreides1]

1. Bracing materials = loss

And in these bad economic times spending money to keep a worker safe isn't good for the bottom line.

Yes it is sarcasm!

[Earth Bound Misfit]

2. Sad but true. Corpserate America sees the issue of worker safety

as "hindering" profitability. :grr: