Worker trapped in 14-foot ditch at Dunkin Donuts construction site in Montgomery Co.

[elleng]

The man is trapped in the ditch up to his chest, officials said.

GERMANTOWN, Md. — Crews are working to rescue a worker who officials say is trapped up to his chest in a 14-foot ditch at a Dunkin Donuts construction site in Montgomery County, Md.

The construction site in located on Wisteria Drive. Police are shutting down nearby roadways while crews work to rescue the man.

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/worker-trapped-in-14-foot-ditch-at-dunkin-donuts-construction-site-in-montgomery-co/65-39dcf730-ba7c-4292-b823-8df4aafc9bc0?

[Atticus]

1. This is why UNIONS have long required contractors to use shoring in most any ditch

a laborer couldn't see out of. Maryland is not a right to work state, so I wonder what happened here.

Hope the guy survives.

[bluedigger]

2. Don't need to run a union job to follow OSHA excavation safety rules.

I don't know the history behind the rules, (usually it involves multiple deaths) but I know any trench over 5' below ground surface needs to be stepped or shored if there's going to be people in it. A cubic yard of soil weighs roughly the same as a Volkswagen.

[Atticus]

3. Laborers and Hodcarriers Union fought for these safeguards in their contracts back before

OSHA existed. My Dad picketed for this back in the '50s.