Employers May Have a Hand in Preventing Florida Trench Cave-in Accidents
Construction workers may not always be able to control how the trench is made, constructed or maintained. When a construction worker gets called to a job, he shows up trusting that the trench was constructed safely and properly and that the construction employer is keeping safety a top priority.
The company who bid the job should have developed trench safety provisions and taken certain steps to make sure that construction workers are as safe as possible while working in trenches. This will decrease their chances of a Florida construction accident.
Listed are some preventative safety tips companies can take include:
- Evaluate the soil
- Select protective systems
- Use retaining devices to prevent spoils from falling back into the trench
- Coordinate the heavy equipment so that it is not in proximity to the trench
- Place barricades and fences around excavation pits and wells
- Train the construction workers on trench safety
- Make sure safety equipment is in place, such as safety harnesses and life lines
- Confirm all employees are wearing hard hats
- Provide ladders and safe exits to workers in the trench
- Locate underground utility lines in preplanning
- Test for toxic fumes
- Develop an emergency plan in case of a trench collapse
- Inspect the trench work site every day
How a Construction Accident Attorney in Fort Lauderdale Can Help
If your employer did not take the necessary steps to prevent trench accidents and you were seriously injured in a cave-in, or if you have lost a loved one in a Florida trench collapse, then you may be able to recover damages for your injuries and losses. Find out more about your rights to recovery and call the Law Offices of David Benenfeld for a free legal consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney in South Florida today at 954-677-0155.
