Trapped Construction Workers Rescued From Trench

Two workers were injured today in a trench at a construction site in Chatsworth, authorities said.

Firefighters were sent to the 21500 block of Nordhoff Street about 6:50 a.m., said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Both men were transported for hospital treatment, one in fair condition and the other in good condition, he said.

According to the preliminary investigation, the men were working with heavy equipment to demolish and remove "massive" concrete panels over a pipe in the trench when one man became trapped beneath part of a panel that broke off, Humphrey said. The other man tried to free the first man, and became trapped briefly himself, he said.

Firefighters managed to free the first man, who is about 30 years of age, Humphrey said.

Humphrey said people apparently waited "up to 25 minutes" before calling 911, and it would have been better if they had called for help sooner.

"We would have been able to offer our expertise in a more timely manner," Humphrey said.

Cal/OSHA was notified of the accident, Humphrey said.

--City News Service