Cave-Ins and Trench Collapses

When new shopping centers, office complexes and homes are popping up around your South Jersey neighborhood, sometimes seemingly overnight, you know that the finished product is the work of skilled contractors who keep safety uppermost in their minds. However, when a construction site is not maintained properly, and safety precautions that should protect workers are not in place, serious injuries can occur. Construction workers can fall into sinkholes or trenches or they can become trapped when excavated land caves in on them.

If you have been hurt on a construction site in New Jersey because the ground gave way and you fell into a sink hole, trench or were the victim of an excavation cave-in, you should talk with a Camden County, NJ lawyer at Graziano & Flynn, P.C. We will explain your rights and work hard on your behalf to get you compensated for your pain, suffering, mounting medical bills and any time off work.

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employers must comply with strict regulations regarding safety on construction worksites where excavation is underway or trenches are present. Since a single cubic yard of soil can weigh as much as a car, getting trapped in a trench or falling into another type of excavated hole could spell disaster for the injured worker. In fact, OSHA reports that two people die every month as a result of a trench accident in the United States.

General contractors (GCs) on construction sites have a legal responsibility to check all equipment and reinforce safety mechanisms on all construction trenches – every day. Failure to do so is not only in violation with OSHA regulations, but it also means that construction workers are being put in harm’s way. Changes in weather or other work done nearby can shift machinery and safety equipment at any time.

GCs must identify any hazards on an excavation site and put safety systems in place to protect workers, including:

• Benching: An egress created by excavating horizontal levels or steps in the excavation
• Sloping: Angling the trench wall away from the excavation
• Shoring: Aluminum or other hydraulic supports are installed to prevent cave-ins
• Shielding: Trench boxes or other supports are put in place to prevent the soil from shifting

Also, trench ladders and harnesses must be in place and maintained, and all heavy equipment must be kept far from the excavation site or trench edge.

If you have been hurt because your employer failed to follow reasonable construction site safety procedures or failed to repair an identified problem, you may be able to be compensated for your injuries. If someone you know was severely injured, or worse– lost his or her life – lawyer Ron Graziano will fight tirelessly to hold the construction company responsible for your injuries and loss.

Ron Graziano will take the contractor to court and work tirelessly on your behalf to get you the compensation you deserve. Mr. Graziano has been named a New Jersey “Super Lawyer” for multiple years and was a certified trial attorney for over 25 years. Contact us for a free, confidential consultation with an experienced construction site injury lawyer at Graziano & Flynn, P.C. We can be reached by phone or through email and we will respond promptly.