San Fernando Valley residents may be concerned to learn that two construction workers were injured while working on a construction site in Chatsworth. The two male employees were completing a construction project early in the morning and were attempting to move bulky structural pieces within a trench.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the employees were struggling to maneuver cumbersome equipment in the cramped surroundings when one man became stuck in the trench. When the second worker attempted to help the ensnared man escape from underneath a concrete slab, he also became lodged in the trench. Fortunately, the second employee was able to free himself while waiting for emergency responders to arrive at the construction site.
The Los Angeles Fire Department rescued the first worker after arriving on the scene and emergency crews conveyed both men to Northridge Hospital. Neither worker reported life-threatening injuries although it is unknown whether the men will return to work immediately.
Construction site accidents are not uncommon; hefty machinery, varying weather conditions, tight project deadlines, and human error can lead to potentially dangerous conditions for construction workers. Sometimes, employees cause the accidents. In other cases, the blame may fall to companies and supervisors who disregard safety issues until it is too late.
Injuries oftentimes affect not only the hurt workers, but their families as well. Many workers injured in construction site accidents are entitled to file workers’ compensation claims for their suffering, medical bills and lost income. Workers’ compensation can possibly help to ease the financial burden of a significant injury, not to mention the emotional burden of an uncertain future after a traumatic incident.
Source: CBS Los Angeles, “2 Construction Workers Injured After Getting Trapped In Trench In Chatsworth“, July 09, 2013
