Laborer Dies On First Day Of Work

Dec. 16, 2005 was Lajos Feher’s first day on the job, and sadly his last.

The 55-year-old Burnaby, BC, laborer died when a trench collapsed at a Surrey construction site. Feher was helping to install a storm sewer when the excavation collapsed, burying him.

Rescue workers were unable to free Feher, who died at the scene. He leaves behind a wife and two children. Feher, who came from Yugoslavia, reportedly took the construction job to make extra money for Christmas.

Work-Safe BC is investigating the incident to determine if any safety violations contributed to the fatality.

Regulations dictate that trenches must be sloped and supported by a protective structure, such as a trench box.

Preliminary indications suggest there was no protective structure in the trench that Feher died in.