WorkSafe is investigating a trench collapse at an Auckland worksite which has left one seriously injured and another with moderate injuries
The incident took place on 25 October in the Auckland suburb of Meadowbank on Rutherford Terrace.
“It is far too early to determine what went wrong here. Our investigation is in its very early stages and the specifics will become clearer with time,” says WorkSafe’s investigation manager, Danielle Henry.
“Excavation failures are particularly dangerous because they can occur quickly, limiting the ability of workers to escape, especially if the collapse is extensive.”
Earlier this year, R&L Drainage was sentenced at Hamilton District Court for a similar incident – a fine of $275,000 was imposed, and reparations of $45,000 ordered.
Two employees were working on a trench near Te Kuiti in February 2021 when one of the side walls gave way, engulfing one of them and leaving only the top of his head visible.
The rescuer initially used his hands to clear the dirt away so the victim could breathe, and then used a spade until he could pull him out. The victim suffered a collapsed lung, a broken rib cage, a broken sternum, and a broken collarbone. He now also lives with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of the incident.
A WorkSafe investigation found on-site safety was of an extremely poor standard. The trench had been built with a flat floor and steep vertical sides, rather than shored up with shields or battered into a safe slope to keep the sides stable. There had also not been any geotechnical assessment of the site to check the soil stability before work began.
R&L Drainage did not have a safe system of work in place for the job, and did not provide enough information, training, or supervision to protect workers from the risk of a trench collapse. The company also did not notify WorkSafe, as required for any excavation deeper than 1.5 metres and when a worker is intended to be in the trench.
WorkSafe says anyone digging such a trench should be aware of the possibility of collapse and should take proper precautions. These include:
- Seeking a geotechnical assessment of the site to check soil stability as part of scoping and planning works
- Shoring, benching, or battering back dirt to prevent collapse. Do not assume ground will stand unsupported.
- Ensuring safe access to get in and out of a trench
- Barriers strong enough to not collapse if people or materials fall against them
- Check the excavation each day before starting work and after any event that may affect its stability.
Read more about excavation safety
Read about a trench collapse case sentenced earlier this year
