Two people have been injured after a trench collapsed at a workplace incident in Auckland this afternoon.
Emergency services were called to the scene on Rutherford Tce in Meadowbank around 2.55pm, police said.
One person was found seriously injured, while a second person received moderate injuries.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson told 1News two fire trucks responded around 2.48pm.
One person was helped out of the trench.
Two people have been taken to Auckland Hospital, a Hato Hone St John spokesperson confirmed to 1News.
Two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, and an operations manager were called to the scene at 2.49pm.
In a statement this evening, WorkSafe investigation manager Danielle Henry told 1News it is “too early to determine exactly what went wrong here”.
“Our investigation is in its initial stages and the specifics will become clearer with time,” she said.
“Excavation failures are particularly dangerous because they can occur quickly, limiting the ability of workers to escape, especially if the collapse is extensive.”
Henry said anyone digging a trench should be aware of the possibility of collapse and should take proper precautions, including:
- Seeking a geotechnical assessment of the site to check soil stability as part of scoping and planning works;
- Shoring, benching, or battering back dirt to prevent collapse;
- Ensuring safe access to get in and out of a trench;
- Barriers are strong enough to not collapse if people or materials fall against them;
- Checking the excavation each day before starting work and after any event that may affect its stability.
