Trench excavation falls in and kills operative - Very sad......but avoidable

[Dave_L]

This happened locally to a farmer, digging in some pipework in his fields......

Trench tragedy

Sadly, an avoidable death, but going down a 12ft trench in 'loose' ground against others advice was asking for trouble.

The way in which he was left in the trench overnight awaiting recovery must have been absolutely awful for his family.

[Bob_A]

Emergency services were called to the scene at around 4.05pm on November 8, but Mr White’s body was left over night due to fears over the safety and stability of the trench

I realise people can't just jump in if it's not safe but to leave the man overnight seems a bit much.
How would you feel if your loved one was knowingly left in a ditch overnight

[Dave_L]

I know, not a nice thing to have on your mind is it, that your nearest and dearest spent 24hrs in his death-hole with his arms up above his head,seemingly trying to dig himself out before he died.

[Bob_A]

We see on the news in other countries where they have had a disaster people getting stuck in and doing their bit.
If it was this country nothing would get done due to H&S

[Pablo]

farmers account for a ridiculous percentage of work related accidents they were taking about it on local radio this week. There's been 9 fatalities on farms here this year so far and most are from slurry tanks but there's been a couple of burials. Terrible accident but I can understand why they waited until the morning you can't just conjur up a specialist rescue team and their kit in such a short space of time. It happened just before last light I wouldn't want to dig and shore bad ground in poor light and it still took them until 6pm to recover him. If there was a chance of him being alive I'm sure things would have been much quicker.

[Dave_L]

If it was this country nothing would get done due to H&S

After having to spend nearly 45 mins in a site induction meeting yesterday and the site manager openly admitting the H&S paperwork is killing the job......................I have to agree with you!

[Dave_L]

you can't just conjur up a specialist rescue team and their kit in such a short space of time.

I totally agree, but for the family to know he's up in that trench in the field overnight with his arms up in the air, stone cold dead must be absolutely awful.

[seanandruby]

They did the right thing to leave him there, other people going in could leave to more injuries, or fatalities. Too many people have been killed going in to rescue. He shouldn't of been in there without a drag box etc: His hands in the air mean nothing Dave L, there is no way he could of moved, he would of had his air cut off just being up to below his chest, doesn,t need to be upper body to stop you breathing. To get him out they would of had to wait for proper rescue equipment, a shoring system etc:

[Carberry]

They did the right thing to leave him there, other people going in could leave to more injuries, or fatalities. Too many people have been killed going in to rescue. He shouldn't of been in there without a drag box etc: His hands in the air mean nothing LLL, there is no way he could of moved, he would of had his air cut off just being up to below his chest, doesn,t need to be upper body to stop you breathing. To get him out they would of had to wait for proper rescue equipment, a shoring system etc:

It's harsh but he had it coming to him. You can't just dig down like that with no specialist equipment or knowledge and expect to come out unscathed especially after being warned not to do it.

He is probably one of those people who scoff when you give them a quote for anything.

[seanandruby]

If it was this country nothing would get done due to H&S

After having to spend nearly 45 mins in a site induction meeting yesterday and the site manager openly admitting the H&S paperwork is killing the job......................I have to agree with you!

i sometimes do 3, 4, hours, sometimes all day inductions. If paperwork saves lives then i'm all for it. Isn't that what those guys are paid for ???

[Bob_A]

I'm of the opinion that paperwork, inductions etc is there to safeguard management arses should you have an accident.

Bloke at work had a minor accident on a ladder, foot got caught in between two rungs when the two section ladder slipped slightly. We should've been given 2 section ladders where each section locks together to prevent this.
He needed help but wasn't hurt.
He now has a disiplinary case against him.
He was told he should do a safety check EVERY time he used a ladder.
At least 6 people use that ladder a day all day long.
Can you imagine how many safety checks that would need.

Still think if we suffered natural disasters like earthquakes no one would be able to help.
Yet in other countries people just get on with it just using their bare hands to help

[Dave_L]

All day inductions? That's crazy.

[rab1]

Dave, just wait until you have a 2 day induction.

[lutonlagerlout]

sean of course is right again
all the safety BS is worth 1 life
LLL

[seanandruby]

We should all check our equipment every time we use it, the last guy could of damaged something. People respond to emergencies in civil life, regardless of H&E, it is different in the work place, we have trained staff. F or instance i'm confined space trained, too many ops' have died trying to rescue lads from manholes, trenches etc: