Abstract: On May 23, 2001, three employees were laying PVC pipe (communications conduit) in the street. The employees broke sections of concrete street using a jackhammer, and dug a trench using a backhoe. At approximately 3:00 a.m. the following morning, the employees began laying temporary steel plates over the excavation to allow for safe vehicular traffic until construction work could resume on the next shift. At the time of the accident, the backhoe operator was placing the steel plates over the open trench. The backhoe carried the steel plates utilizing a chain connected to the backhoe and the eyelet, located in the center of the plate. Each plate weighed approximately 2400 lb. and measured 6 ft. by 8 ft. by 1.5 inches. An employee used his bare hands to guide the plates to ensure a smooth fit alongside the other plates. While a plate was being lowered to the ground, it struck the employee's right hand, crushing the middle and ring fingers. The employee was taken by paramedics to White Memorial Hospital, in Los Angeles. His right middle finger was fractured, and the right ring finger was also injured but not as severely. He was hospitalized for his injuries.