Two Construction Workers Injured in Manhole Mishap

According to the Valley News, two construction workers were injured on the job after an accident in a manhole in Lebanon, New Hampshire, on Wednesday morning.

Details of Workplace Accident

Two men were part of a crew working on a sewer cross project along Interstate 89 near exit 18 when the accident occurred. The workers were inside the manhole replacing the sewer pipe when a plug used to block the pipe blew out. The plug struck both of the construction workers.

The Valley News reports that a worker sustained a serious injury to his leg, and the other man suffered a wrist injury. The worker with the leg injury required rescue crews to pull him from the manhole. Both workers were taken to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and are expected to make a full recovery.

It isn’t known why the plug blew out from the pipe and hit the men, reports the Valley News, but the project manager believes it could have to do with the gauge freezing. The incident is under investigation, and either the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or Department of Labor will be assisting.

On the Job Accident Statistics

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),

• 4,821 workers died on the job in 2014.
• On average, more than 92 workers are killed every week, or 13 deaths per day.
• Worker deaths in America are down on average, from about 39 worker deaths per day in 1970 to 13 a day in 2014.