An Oregon company in charge of digging a trench has been questioned after a work accident led to the collapse of the trench. While the company claims that all safety precautions had been taken, the work accident left one man injured. The company, Apollo Drain and Rooter Services, claims that the accident was a rare occurrence that was not the fault of the company.
The injured worker was in a trench that was approximately 11 feet deep when it collapsed. The man was trapped for three hours as other workers attempted to free him. When he was pulled from the rubble, he was taken to a hospital and given proper medical treatment. The owner of the rooter company says that the man did not suffer any broken bones. The company’s owner also maintains that the trench was built according to the standards given by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
It is possible that the trench collapsed because there had been a lot of rain the area over recent weeks. While the collapse could have been accidental, it is important to note that the Apollo Drain and Rooter Services has recently been inspected by OSHA. OSHA found three violations for which the company paid a small fine.
Companies should always provide their employees with safe work conditions. It is possible that the man should have never gotten in the trench if there had been a lot of rain. A further examination could determine if the Oregon company could be held liable for the work accident and if the injured worker is eligible for any type of compensation.
Source: kgw.com, Co.: Freak accident caused trench collapse, Sara Roth, March 4, 2014
