A tragic accident on an East Houston construction site tragically killed a worker yesterday morning.
Site Foreman Became Trapped In Machine Trencher
Emergency responders were dispatched to the site, located in the 12700 block of East Freeway and Halsey Street, around 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 31st.
According to the Houston Fire Department, the fatal accident occurred as workers used a machine trencher to drill a hole about 20 feet into the ground. The site’s foreman somehow fell into the hole and became trapped in the machinery as it was running. When crews arrived on the scene, they determined that the worker had died. At that point, their rescue effort transitioned into a recovery effort.
So far, officials have not identified the deceased worker or their employer. No one else was injured in the incident, and it remains under investigation.
“Caught In” Accidents a Leading Cause of Construction Industry Deaths
According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “caught-in” or “caught-between” hazards are one of the leading causes of death and injury in the construction industry. These tragedies typically occur when clothing, hair, jewelry, or body parts become caught within machinery and equipment that have unguarded moving parts or are not de-energized (locked out) during maintenance.
Almost all work sites use machinery that has moving or rotating parts or require maintenance or repair at some point during construction. If machinery is not properly guarded or de-energized during maintenance or repair, injuries from caught-in or between hazards may result, ranging from amputations and fractures to death.
OSHA has established both specific regulations and general obligations for employers that aim to prevent these types of injuries and deaths. These include administrative controls governing dress codes, training on safe work practices, and lockout/tagout procedures, as well as engineering control requirements such as placing guards on machinery and the use of equipment to prevent contact with a machine’s moving parts.
What Should You Do If You or a Loved One are Hurt on a Construction Site?
If you or a loved one were injured or tragically killed while working on a construction site, you must take immediate action to protect your rights and your family’s future.
Under no circumstances should you trust your employer to take care of you, regardless of any reassurance they might offer. No matter what they promise, the company’s only priority is to save money by paying you and your family as little as possible and limiting your recovery to worker’s compensation benefits.
You should NEVER agree to provide a recorded statement, sign ANY paperwork, or accept any money from your employer (other than your regular paycheck) before speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer who has successfully represented injured workers and their families in and out of the courtroom.
Undefeated Houston Accident Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here for a Free Consult.
Our Undefeated Houston Accident Lawyers are investigating yesterday’s deadly East Houston construction accident and will post an update if new information becomes available.
In addition to being Undefeated, Our Experienced Wrongful Death Lawyers have won Billions, including the #1 Largest Burn Injury Settlement in History and the #1 Largest Accident Verdicts and Settlements in Texas following the worst workplace accidents and explosions in recent history.
To learn more about our success representing injured workers and their families, visit our “Results” page or Click Here to see what our clients have said about their experience with our firm.
If you’re interested in exploring your legal rights and options after a construction accident or other workplace tragedy, call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here to send us a confidential email via our “Contact Us” form.
All consultations are free, and because we only represent clients for a contingency fee, you’ll owe nothing unless we win your case.