Abstract: Employee #1 and a coworker were in an approximately 7 ft deep by 4 ft wide by 14 ft long trench connecting a 4 ft long by 16 in. diameter nipple with an attached 90 degree elbow to a previously installed 16 in. water main. A 12 in. water main was located about 2 ft above the 16 in. water main. A 10 ft long by 1/2 in. diameter wire rope choke-type sling was used to rig the 16 in. water main. The sling was laid under the 12 in. water main and looped onto the hook of a backhoe bucket. When the backhoe operator raised the bucket, Employee #1 became caught between the wire rope sling and the 12 in. water main. The operator did not know that Employee #1 was between the sling and pipe and claimed that he saw a signal from the designated signaler to raise the bucket. The signaler in the trench denied giving such a command.