ACCIDENT SUMMARY No. 61

Accident Type:	Trench Collapse
Weather Conditions:	Fair
Type of Operation:	Excavation Work
Size of Work Crew:	2
Competent Safety Monitor on Site:	No
Safety and Health Program in Effect:	No
Was the Worksite Inspected Regularly:	No
Training and Education Provided:	Inadequate
Employee Job Title:	Laborer
Age & Sex:	51-Male
Experience at this Type of Work:	6 Months
Time on Project:	2 Days

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT

An employee was working in a trench 4 feet wide and 7 feet deep. About 30 feet away a backhoe was straddling the trench when the backhoe operator noticed a large chunk of dirt falling from the side wall behind the worker in the trench, he called out a warning. Before the worker could climb out, 6 to 8 feet of the trench wall had collapsed on him and covered his body up to his neck. He suffocated before the backhoe operator could dig him out. There were no exit ladders. No sloping, shoring or other protective system had been used in the trench.

INSPECTION RESULTS

As a result of its investigation, OSHA issued citations alleging three serious violations. OSHA's construction standards include several requirements which, if they had been followed here, might have prevented this fatality.

ACCIDENT PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to the work environment [29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2)].
2. Provide protection from cave-ins by an adequate protective system [29 CFR 1926.652(a)(1)].
3. Provide a means of egress within 25 feet of employees in a trench 4 feet or more deep, such as a ladder or stairway [29 CFR 1926.651(c)(2)].

SOURCES OF HELP

• Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1926 -- 0SHA construction standards, in particular Subpart P Excavations. The OSHA standards are available at www.osha.gov
• For Information on OSHA-funded free consultation services use the A-Z index to find state locate "Consultation Services" at www.osha.gov.
• For information about construction resources use the A-Z index to find the construction page at www.osha.gov
• For the "Small Business Handbook" use the A-Z index to find its link at www.osha.gov
• Courses in construction safety are offered by the OSHA's Directorate of Training and Education. Course and contact information is listed at www.osha.gov under the Training tab.

NOTE: The case described above was selected as an example of fatalities caused by violations of OSHA’s construction standards, particularly the excavation and trenching standards. No special emphasis or priority is implied nor is the case necessarily a recent one. The legal aspects of OSHA’s citations have been resolved, and its case is now closed.