Abstract: In July 1984, at approximately 9:15 a.m., Employee #1, a plumber, was working in a 24 ft long by 2 ft 6 in. wide by 8 ft deep trench. He was opening an 8 in. wide hole in the inside wall of a manhole to install a sanitary pipe. While he was working, he noticed that the wall to his left was starting to cave in. Employee #1 ran into the trench toward the opposite side from where he had been, but he was completely buried. He suffered a fractured skull and multiple fractures to other parts of his body. Employee #1 was killed. The walls of the trench were neither shored nor sloped. Employee #1 was not using safety equipment at the time of the accident. No ladder or steps had been provided to exit and enter the trench.