Abstract: At approximately 10:00 a.m. on April 5, 2000, Employee #1, of Ironstone Construction, was part of a crew using a backhoe to excavate a 25 ft long by 12 ft 6 in. deep trench, of which 16 ft had been shored. At the end of the trench was a new manhole and the 9 ft in front of it was not secured. There was a stub of a pipe coming from the manhole. As the backhoe worked near the manhole, Employee #1 descended a ladder in front of the it to locate and dig out the pipe stub. Shortly after he entered the trench, the east wall caved in, burying him over his head. Employee #1 was dug out by coworkers and transported to U.C.-Davis Medical Center, where he was hospitalized with fractured ribs and for observation.