A worker died in an Orange County trench collapse today

Orange County Fire Authority technical rescue firefighters responded to a construction trench in the 9800 block of South Newport Blvd. in unincorporated Tustin this morning as part of a response for an adult male who was injured in the trench.

The man was 15 feet below ground level in an excavation trench when the trench collapsed onto the victim.

While the OCFA technical rescue firefighters constructed shoring to safely enter the trench, their hazardous materials response team monitored the air in the trench to assure the atmosphere posed no additional hazards.

Unfortunately, the victim did not survive his injuries. The OCFA’s thoughts are with his family and friends.

Information on his identity was not immediately available and the circumstances of the death were under investigation.

It is dangerous to do trench work when it is raining. The trenches have to be shored up properly. The site must be monitored by a competent person and the workers must be trained in trench safety. As this was a workplace fatality it is expected that Cal/OSHA will also investigate the accident. Click here to learn more about trenching safety.