Abstract: Employee #1 was trying to determine the exact location of a small steam leak in a 10 in. steam pipe in an approximately 16 ft diameter by 12 to 13 ft deep excavation. The steam pipe was wrapped in asbestos, and a galvanized metal shield was set in place to seal the asbestos around the pipe. Employee #1 was in a crouched position using an oxyacetylene torch to cut the galvanized metal shield when the southeast wall of the excavation caved in, burying him. He was forced against a hot steam pipe. His body was buried for a total of 40 to 45 minutes, but his face and head were buried approximately 8 minutes. Employee #1 required hospitalization. The excavation was neither shored nor sloped because of small trees around the perimeter of the excavation.