WAIALAE IKI, OAHU- A construction worker identified by colleagues as Gilbert Macalma died Tuesday after being trapped by the sudden collapse of a dirt trench at a construction site in Waialae Iki. The collapse occurred at about 8:30 a.m.
Macalma, believed to be in his 40’s, was pronounced dead at the Queen’s Medical Center two hours after the collapse occurred at a home under construction on the 1900 block of Piimauna Place.
Lt. Clinton Sukekane of the Honolulu Police Department said three workers with general contractor W.A. Felix Builders were buried just below their waists. Two of the men dug themselves out while Macalma remained trapped. He was eventually dug out by fellow workers.“I know that shortly later he did suffer some medical problems,” said Sukekane. “He was buried up to his thighs.”The men were apparently removing dirt from an existing retaining wall next to the trench that was being excavated when the dirt suddenly fell and struck Macalma, possibly in the chest area.“We haven't sifted through the dirt to look and see if there was something, a big rock in there or something, that might of struck him,” said Sukekane.According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Hawaii is one of twenty-five states with approved safety plans for trenching and excavation work. Records show W.A. Felix Builders, located at 94-1247 Kahuaina Street in Waipahu, has no safety violations on record.According to OSHA, trench collapses kill an average of two workers in the U.S. every month.Register to log on and leave a commentHave a news tip? Contact Andrew Pereira at 368-7273. Follow Andrew on Twitter at Khon_Reporter or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AndrewPereiraKhon2
