Graham Paine/Metroland Firefighters worked for more than three hours to free a worker trapped in a collapsed trench. DEEP TRENCH COLLAPSES ON CONSTRUCTION WORKER DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com A construction worker at ajob site in Oakville was reportedly trapped for around four hours after a deep trench he was in col- lapsed. Oakville Fire Chief. Paul Boissonneault said the cident took place Monday (Nov. 14) at around 4:55 p.m. ‘irefighters were called to the area of Lakeshore "Upon arrival our crews determined there was one male patient in a trench that was approximately 8- 10 feet down," said Boisson- ae "Our understand- was he fell into the trench and then the of the trench had. collapsed around him and he was up to his upper chest buried in soil. He was coherent and talking, but was certainly panicking, unable to get out "the fire chief said the situation was serious be- cause the ground around the construction worker was very unstable and sim- ly rushing in to dig him out could have resulted in the trench collapsing fur- ther. Fire crews initially planned for a rope rescue, but quickly determined truck to extricate the soil from around the individu- At around 9 p.m., Bois- sonneault said fire crews were finally able to get the man out of the trench. The individual was seen by paramedics and ti ported to hospital with non life-threatening inju- ee the fire chief said the Ministry of Labour has been contacted about the this would not be feasible. incident and he expects It was ultimately decid- _ they will be conducting an cc Fire i Sot, and Emergency Services "The way that the situa- would need to be called in. "We are not certified for a trench rescue, so we called in Mississauga to as- sist," said Boissonneault. departments worked together...They brought their trench res- cue team. They shored up the area, they made it safe. We brought in a vacuum tion played out ended up very good result," said Boissonneault, "The patient is here with us. There were no ad- ditional injuries to the pa- tient and none to the first responders. I would call that an excellent effort among all the agencies in- volved." PRESENTATION CENTRE NOW OPEN ™ Always There For You 905.464.0807 Retirement Residence™ Please Drop by for Coffee and a Visit to Find Out More About Our Beautiful NEW Age-In-Place Living Community PRESENTATION CENTRE North Oakville Medical Centre, Unit 105, 3075 Hospital Gate 905.464.0807 | ALL SENIORS CARE™ www.allseniorscare.com LIVING CENTRES Where Caring is Our Number One Concern™ PROUDLY Bll CANADIAN Oakville Estates a ° g = if g Fy a 2 3 2 3 FI i 3 8 8 woo"uoy]EYyapIsUt