King 5 news reported on the death of one worker, and injury of another, in a trench collapse at a construction project for the Skookumchuck wind energy project, which is developing a 38-turbine wind farm near the Thurston-Lewis county line. The incident happened on January 9, 2020.
Accidents like this should never happen. Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries has specific rules and regulations that apply to trench digging operations. If those rules and regulations are followed, workers are protected from harm. Investigation into this tragic accident is underway by the Department, and we look forward to learning what went wrong, and how incidents like this can be prevented. Our firm has handled cases related to trench collapse. We know the thorough work the Department does in its investigations, and in issuing citations and fines to companies that do not follow proper safety rules and regulations.
Our thoughts go out to the family of the worker killed.