Abstract: At approximately 8:24 a.m. on May 23, 2003, Employee #1 was helping the city building inspector to inspect the footings for a block wall. Just before the accident, Employee #1 was taking the measurements of an overlap on the horizontal reinforcing steel bars in a 28-inch deep trench for the block wall. The bar measured 0.75 inches in diameter. While getting out of the trench, the dirt on the edge of the trench gave way, and Employee #1 fell right on the protruding reinforcing steel bar. The reinforcing bar impaled him through his groin area and went through his stomach on his right side. His injuries required hospitalization for four days.