A 23-year-old construction worker was killed Wednesday when a trench collapsed at a commercial construction site in Handy Township, Livingston County. First responders were able to pull other workers from the excavation, but the man trapped below grade was pronounced dead at the scene, county authorities said. The collapse happened while crews were working to install underground tanks at the site.
What officials say
Livingston County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the industrial-accident scene near Grand River Avenue and Nicholson Road, where a development project is underway. As reported by MLive, workers had been installing underground tanks when the trench gave way and buried the 23-year-old. Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials were expected to release more details as their investigation moved forward.
Why trenches are so dangerous
Trench cave-ins can crush a worker in seconds, which is why federal rules require protective systems such as sloping, shoring or shielding for most excavations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s trenching guidance spells out those requirements and inspection duties, and public health researchers at NIOSH have found that most trench deaths are preventable when planning and protection are done correctly. NIOSH provides step-by-step safety guidance for employers and crews.
Recent close calls in the region
The Handy Township collapse comes on the heels of other trench emergencies in southeast Michigan. On June 30, crews pulled a 35-year-old man from a trench on Barber Road in Oxford Township, according to WWJ, and local coverage also noted a separate Orion Township collapse earlier in the week that injured a 25-year-old worker. Together, the incidents underline how quickly excavation work can turn deadly when something goes wrong.
What investigators will examine
State and local investigators are expected to review whether a competent person inspected the trench, whether a protective system was in place, and whether excavation plans and industry protocols were followed. Those findings can result in citations or fines. Livingston County officials say the investigation is ongoing and that more information will be released as it becomes available.
