Excavation construction accidents
Each year in Britain at least one person is killed in an excavation construction accident (or trench collapse), while many more suffer serious personal injuries.
Unfortunately, many of these excavation construction accidents occur because of negligence on the part of employers in the in the construction and building industries.
The truth is that this kind of construction accident is completely preventable and, in reality through an appropriate system of planning and supervision, should never occur.
What are the excavation construction accident dangers?
The following are the kinds of things that present a trench collapse/construction accident danger:
- Workers, pedestrians or mechanical vehicles may fall into the excavation site.
- Disturbing underground electronic, water and gas supplies.
- Build-up of dangerous fumes.
- Disturbing buildings and structures in the immediate vicinity.
- Being hit by a falling or moving object.
What can be done to prevent excavation construction accidents?
Among the many steps the Health and Safety Executive recommend people take in order to reduce excavation construction accidents/trench collapses are:
- Where a trench is implemented in an excavation, it should be built at an appropriate angle and/or a support system should be built.
- Preventing the area around the excavation becoming overloaded with heavy goods that may have a detrimental and disturbing impact on the trench.
- Where possible, utilising trenchless technology. These technologies include impact moling and directional drilling. The use of these completely negates the risk of an excavation construction accident.
- Providing a safe and expedient system of access and exit to and from the trench.
- Ensuring that there are barriers or other suitable means to prevent people or objects from tripping or falling into the excavation.
- Having detailed information and plans for avoiding crossing services such as gas and electricity.
- Being aware of the hazards of kneeling/crouching while working in a trench, even if it is only a shallow excavation.
On avoiding trench collapse/excavation construction accidents, the HSE say, "Trench collapses are entirely avoidable. Without suitable support, any face of an excavation will collapse; it's just a matter of when. The steeper and deeper the face, the wetter the soil, the sooner the collapse."
"Trenchless technologies are available which avoid many of the hazards of excavation, but if a trench is required modern proprietary systems allow the ground support to be installed without the need to enter the excavation."
Making no win, no fee claim for a construction accident
If you have suffered personal injuries in an accident at work you may be entitled to claim compensation.
All employers should have insurance to cover them for work accident claims, so once your claim has been established there should be no difficulty in obtaining the compensation you deserve.
Here at YouClaim, our panel of personal injury solicitors have extensive experience in dealing sensitively and speedily with these types of no win, no fee claims.
We feel that is important to reassure you by letting you know that at no stage of the process will you incur any costs or fees from us. Win or lose, we will not charge you a penny.
You get to keep 100% of any compensation awarded and even if your claim is not successful, you will not have to pay any of the opposing sides fees as we take out an insurance policy on your behalf to cover all eventualities.
So why not investigate your right to construction accident compensation today? You have nothing to lose, only your right to compensation to win.
We can be reached in one of four ways so request a call back at a time convenient to you, discuss your claim with one of our legal advisors on e-chat, fill out an online claims form or call us now on 0800 10 757 95.
