The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation after four workers were buried in a trench collapse in Willoughby Wednesday morning.
Willoughby Fire Captain Todd Ungar told newsnet5.com that contractors were replacing sewer lines when the trench collapsed.
Four workers were on scene when it collapsed around 10:05 a.m. Two of the workers injured. One was transported to MetroHealth Medical Center. The other was taken to Lake West Medical Center. The others were sent home for the day.
About 25 firefighters were called to the scene to assist.
"Once that weight falls, there's no easy way to get to get that much weight off an occupant," Ungar explained. "Yes it's very likely to be fatal in that incident."
Two people were home at the time of the incident. Donna Cipkus, who's lived at the home for more than 20 years, told newsnet5.com that she watched the trench collapse.
"It was a miracle that they came out alive, it was really a miracle," Cipkus said.
According to OSHA, preliminary investigation indicates that the four workers—who are employees of Domenick Electric Sewer Cleaning Company Inc.—were in a 10-foot deep trench with sheer walls and no visible trench box when the trench collapsed.
“This tragic incident is a reminder of how quickly a trench can become a death trap and potentially bury a worker under thousands of pounds of soil,” said Danelle L. Jindra, OSHA’s acting area director in Cleveland.
OSHA’s trenching standards require protective systems on trenches deeper than 5 feet.
Fire crews on the scene also told newsnet5.com that no protective trench boxes were visible when they arrived on scene.
According to OSHA, the company has no previous history of accidents.
A company representative on the scene would not comment on the incident but said he is very thankful that the two workers were not injured more seriously.
"Any time something like that happens your emotions get the best of you," employee Jason Reel told newsnet5.com. "From what I heard everyone’s doing all right now."
OSHA on scene of Willoughby trench collapse @WEWS pic.twitter.com/50mEVEEV72
— Megan Hickey (@hickey_megan) July 6, 2016
