New York Construction Accident Lawyers

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Cave-ins are the most feared trenching hazard in the construction industry.

Excavation protection is essential, since the sides of a trench can collapse with great force and without warning, burying workers beneath tons of soil before they have a chance to react or escape.

NIOSH Warns of Danger of Trench Cave-ins
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) warns construction workers that they may be risking their lives when working in trenches or near potentially unstable ground. Already this year, at least six workers have died in construction cave-ins. Based on NIOSH statistics, an average of 60 workers die in cave-ins. each year.

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According to NIOSH Director Dr. J. Donald Millar, these deaths are entirely preventable. "It is appalling that workers continue to be buried alive in cave-ins.. Almost without exception, these deaths can be prevented with existing safety precautions. These are not accidents, but incidents that can both be anticipated and avoided," said Millar.

Of the 607 cave-in fatalities identified by NIOSH researchers in the ten year period from 1980 to 1989, construction workers accounted for 77% of these deaths. However, cave-ins are not the only threat to the safety of construction workers. These workers also face hazards associated with working at heights, working with heavy machinery, manually handling materials, and working near sources of electricity, such as overhead power lines.

Construction is one of the nations's most hazardous occupations, with an annual work-related fatality rate that is over three times the rate for all industry sectors. For the approximately 7 million people currently employed as construction workers, simply going to work each day can be a risky venture.

Cave-ins however, are not the only threat to these construction workers. They also face hazards associated with:

• Underground utilities,
  
• Working with heavy machinery,
  
• Manual handling of materials,
  
• Working in proximity to traffic, and
  
• Electrical hazards, such as overhead power lines