This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
ENR logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
ENR logo
  • News
  • Projects
    • Buildings
    • Construction Methods
    • Design
    • Sustainability
    • Transportation
    • Environment
    • Power & Industrial
    • Water & Dams
    • Best Projects
  • Business
    • Safety & Health
    • Workforce
    • Finance
    • Companies
    • Project Delivery
    • Ethics & Corruption
    • Government
    • Risk
    • Pulse
    • Contractor Business Strategy
  • Talent
    • Awards
      • Top 25 Newsmakers
      • Award of Excellence
      • Legacy Award
      • Top Young Professionals
    • Promotions & New Hires
    • Obituaries
    • Annual Photo Contest
  • Regions
    • ENR California
    • ENR MidAtlantic
    • ENR Midwest
    • ENR Mountain States
    • ENR New York
    • ENR New England
    • ENR Northwest
    • ENR Southeast
    • ENR Southwest
    • ENR Texas & Louisiana
    • Regional Contests and Surveys
  • Tech
    • Information Technology
    • Construction Technology
    • BIM
  • Products
    • Equipment
    • Materials
    • Product Snapshot
  • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Editorials
    • Viewpoints
    • Letters
    • Book Reviews
  • Costs
    • Construction Economics Archive
    • Construction Cost Index
    • Building Cost Index
    • Historical Indices
    • Quarterly Cost Reports
    • FAQs
  • Lists
    • ENR Top Lists
    • ENR Sourcebooks
    • Survey Schedule
  • CE Center
  • InfoCenters
    • Disrupt or Be Disrupted
    • Innovations in Waterproofing
    • Planning for Project Perfection
    • Revolutionizing Productivity Safety
    • The Business of Projects
  • Events
    • AEC BuildTech
    • Award of Excellence
    • Best of the Best Project Awards
    • FutureTech
    • Groundbreaking Women in Construction
    • Global Best Projects Awards
    • Port Authority of NY & NJ
    • Regional Best Projects
    • Top 25 Newsmakers
    • Upcoming Events
    • Webinars
  • More
    • Subscription
    • Proposals & Bids
    • Industry Jobs
    • Special Reports
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • Videos
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Digital Editions
    • Year In Construction Photo Contest
    • Special Advertising Sections
  • About
    • Contact
    • Advertise
Home » Boston Water Main Break Floods Trench and Kills Two Workers
RiskSafety Health
Construction Accidents

Boston Water Main Break Floods Trench and Kills Two Workers

Details of the accident and identities of the victims remain unclear

watermain_break_trench_box.jpg

A crew lifts a trench box into position to secure trench where two workers died following a watermain break in Boston October 21. Photo by Justin Rice for ENR.

October 21, 2016
Justin Rice
KEYWORDS construction risk management / trench safety
Reprints
No Comments

Two workers died in Boston on Friday afternoon after a water main break flooded the trench where they were working, according to the Boston Fire Dept.  

A fire department spokesman said firefighters were dispatched to the location at 12:56 p.m., which quickly “became a recovery operation.” At 4 p.m., the spokesman said “it’s still an ongoing incident, we’re still working to recover the two victims.” 

The workers reportedly punctured a water main before being trapped in a 12-to-15-ft deep trench as it quickly filled with water. “Workers were in the ground and the water let go,” the spokesman said. “How or why remains to be determined.” 

As emergency responders descended on the scene, water was removed with a large vacuum before a trench box was lowered to secure the walls to prevent the trench from collapsing, the spokesman said. 

Gary Einsidler, the owner of a drug store adjacent to the work site, saw water coming down the street at 1:06 p.m. “Water was coming out of the hole,” he said. “I saw a worker coming out of the hole all wet, all panicked, everyone was running all around.”

One of Einsidler’s employees said workers then tried to take a backhoe to knock off the metal plate that was partially covering the hole because water was filling the hole.  

Einsidler said “then all hell broke loose” as emergency responders arrived on the scene.

ENR Subscribe

Recent Articles by Justin Rice

ENR New England Announces Top Young Professionals

ENR MidAtlantic Honors Top Young Professionals

ENR New England Names Christine Keville 2019 Legacy Award Winner

Enr-justin-rice
Justin Rice is Editor for ENR MidAtlantic and ENR New England

Related Articles

Break in Water Main Kills Two Workers in Boston Trench

Water Main Break in Boston Sets Off Manhole Fires

Post a comment to this article

Report Abusive Comment

Subscription Center
  • Subscribe
  • Renew Your Subscription
  • eNewsletter Subscriptions
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Connect with ENR

More Videos

Popular Stories

NTSB final Report

Final Collapse Report Details Miami Bridge Team's Failures

Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway

Fixing Construction's Fixed-Price Conundrum

Damaged tower cranes

Tricky Takedown of Tower Cranes Readied Collapsed New Orleans Hotel for Demolition

Md Bridge

Skanska-Led Team Aims for Early 2020 Start on $463M Maryland Bridge

Haverhill

Fatality on I-495 Bridge Project in Mass. Raises Questions Over Proper Training

Industry Jobs



Poll

ENR Photo Contest Special Issue

Help us select the cover of our Photo Contest special issue, which runs January 13.
View Results Poll Archive

Products

2020 BNi Green Building Square Foot Costbook

2020 BNi Green Building Square Foot Costbook

See More Products

Special Ad Section

Spotlight on Service Providers
 Spotlight on Service Providers
 View all Special Ad Sections
 Archives

 


ENR

ENR December 16, 2019 cover

Dec 16, 2019

To attract a broader and more diverse workforce, companies and unions are courting the LGBTQ+ community and strengthening recruiting and retention efforts.

View More Create Account
  • Resources
    • advertise
    • contact us
    • about us
    • photo submissions
    • customer service
    • digital edition
    • Survey And Sample
  • Subscription Center
    • Subscribe
    • Website Registration
    • Privacy Policy
    • eNewsletters
    • FAQ
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Slideshows
    • Photo Contest

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing