Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 201352358 - Employee drowns in excavation

Accident Summary Nr: 201352358 -- Report ID: 0419700 -- Event Date: 01/09/2004
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
306748286	01/12/2004	1623	237110	R & B Contracting, Inc.
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
306748526	01/12/2004	1629	238910	Barco-Duval Engineering, Inc.

Abstract: On January 9, 2004, Employee #1 was operating a Komatsu, Model Number PC300LC-6, excavator for lot preparation, drainage and road work of a residential subdivision under construction. The excavator was equipped with an arm and grapple hook. Employee #1 was instructed to remove brush and debris in and around a mitigation pond, located in wetlands, for the installation of a water pump. In the area that he was working, there was a 6-foot-deep excavation that was previously dug, approximately one week before. This excavation was located under the shallow water of the pond, making it difficult to see the edges. Additionally, no warning signs/markers were posted. For some reason, he machine slid and fell into the excavation. The cab of the excavator went under water, allowing water and mud to enter. Employee #1 became trapped and drowned.

Keywords: EXCAVATION, LUNG, ASPHYXIATED, SLIP, INHALATION, EXCAVATOR, FALL, DROWN, WARNING SIGN, WATER

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Highway, road, street		New project or new addition		$1,000,000 to $5,000,000		10	X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	306748286					Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Fatality Cause:
2	306748526			Fatality	Asphyxia	Miscellaneous material moving equipment operators	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Site clearing and grubbing Fatality Cause: Drown, non-lethal fall

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