That load of brick at the Jenkins site almost killed me

I was working a job over on Jenkins Road last Tuesday, stacking a pallet of brick near a retaining wall. The ground was soft from rain the night before, and I didn't check it close enough. That wall shifted about 3 inches while I was unloading, and a whole section came down right where I was standing. Now I always check the base first for any drainage issues before I even start a new pile.

2 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

2 Comments

bettyh844mo ago

Oh man, that's a scary close call. But you know, it might not have been just the soft ground from the rain - sometimes those retaining walls get built without proper drainage behind them in the first place. Water can build up inside for weeks before it shows. You might want to check if there's a weephole or gravel backfill anywhere near the base next time.

1

jamiegreen4mo ago

Betty that is a really good point about the drainage. I never even thought about water building up inside the wall itself before it gives way. Your advice about checking for weepholes and gravel backfill makes a ton of sense to me, especially if that wall is old. Must have been pretty scary to see it go like that. Hope everyone stays safe and dry over there.

9