Two trench collapse incidents had different outcomes Thursday. In Irving, TX, firefighters spent three hours removing debris to successfully rescue a worker, while a worker was killed by a collapse in Portland, OR.
Portland firefighters were called to SW 54th Ave. at 11:40 a.m. to a worker who was trapped by a cave-in.
The worker, who had been at the bottom of the 11-foot deep, 3-foot wide trench, was working outside of the protected area when the collapse occurred, according to the fire department.
Portland firefighters rushed to the scene to rescue the man, but they transitioned to a recovery operation after an hour.
The body of the 27-year-old worker was recovered later in the day, according to the Oregonian.
A 34-year-old worker installing a sewer line in Irving became trapped after a trench collapsed around 3 p.m.
“They were all down in the pit,” witness G.C. Richey told Fox4News.com. “The backhoe operator, he would run and get in the backhoe, dig a couple of times, then run back to the pit.”
He was initially buried, but workers were able to clear the debris from around his head.
“Fortunately, the workers that were on scene initially got the initial soil off of him down to his waist,” Assistant Chief Jake Taylor told the television station. “We immediately got them out. Therefore, we didn't have more than one patient because it would have caved in on them at some point.”
Officials said the man was outside of the protected area when the collapse occurred.
Rescuers from Irving and Coppell fire departments spent three hours removing dirt from the trench.
He was removed from the trench shortly after 6 p.m. and taken to the hospital for injuries to his legs and chest.
Training Resources
- Freeman: The Progression of Trench Rescue Operations
- Daley: First Due At A Trench Rescue
- Daley: Rescue Operations for Trench Collapse - Part 1
- Daley: Rescue Operations for Trench Collapse - Part 2
- The Buzz on Technical Rescue: Crush Syndrome and Injuries from Rescue Incidents
