Two killed in trench collapse during road works in County Down
Two people have died after a trench collapsed during road works in Crossnacreevy, County Down. Emergency services are working to rescue people still trapped, while the incident has closed the Ballygowan Road and prompted a workplace safety investigation.
The collapse was reported shortly after 11am as earthworks were under way. Firefighters are using specialist equipment, and police, ambulance crews and other responders remain at the scene; the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said no one had been taken away. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland has inspectors on site and is investigating the circumstances.
- Two people died in a trench collapse in County Down.
- Rescue crews are working to reach people still trapped.
- Safety inspectors are investigating as the road remains closed.
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A trench is a deep narrow hole dug into the ground. Road works frequently require trenches to reach underground pipes, cables and drains that need repairing or replacing, which means workers must go down into these holes.
When the walls of a trench collapse, the soil and materials can trap or crush anyone inside. This is why strict safety rules and protective measures are essential on building and road work sites.
After a serious workplace accident, an investigation is standard to establish what went wrong and whether safety procedures were properly followed. In Northern Ireland, the Health and Safety Executive is responsible for ensuring workplace safety rules are enforced.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Two die following ‘trench collapse’ during road work in Northern Ireland”.