Abstract: Employee #1 was working in a 14 ft wide by 16 ft long by 13 to 14 ft deep trench, assisting in the repair of a broken sewer main. The broken main had undermined some of the soil and the area had been previously excavated when the original equipment was installed. As a result, the soil was soft and unstable. Employee #1 was working in the unshored trench when one side of it collapsed, covering him with 6 to 7 in. of dirt. He received only minor injuries. The employer had attempted to slope the trench but was hampered in his effort by other utilities in the area (see diagram of site); the operation was completed using a trench shield.