Pressurised hose accident seriously injures two workers in Feldkirch

Two workers were seriously injured in a pressurised hose accident during screed work at a construction site in Feldkirch on Tuesday afternoon, ORF reported.

At about 2.30pm, the workers were trying to clear a blockage in a hose after the pump had been switched off. When they opened a connection, it came loose under the pressure still inside the hose. One worker was thrown backwards and fell headfirst about three metres to the floor below, suffering serious head injuries and losing consciousness.

Screed escaping from the hose under high pressure also got into the second worker’s eyes. After receiving initial treatment, he was taken to an eye clinic and later underwent surgery.

Rescue workers and an emergency doctor treated the man with head injuries. Firefighters then used an aerial ladder to recover him before he was taken to the trauma room at Feldkirch Regional Hospital.

The labour inspectorate and police attended the scene. The response also included two ambulances and 12 members of the Feldkirch-Stadt fire brigade.