Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 201360583 - Employee Killed In Trench Collapse

Accident Summary Nr: 201360583 -- Report ID: 0419400 -- Event Date: 08/26/1998
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
301036620	08/26/1998	1711	0	Freeland And Lemm Construction Co. Inc.

Abstract: Employee #1 laid three sections of 8-ft sewer line (each section 13-ft long) inside of a 10-ft deep trench without using any type of cave-in protection. Employee #1 did not recognize the hazards caused by the sewer line being run under existing fiber optic cable lines; the spoil pile being located at the edge of the trench; and the lack of a ladder for trench egress/access. The competent person on site noted a fracture in the wall of the trench and told Employee #1 to get out. Employee #1 paused for a few seconds and ran toward the back of the trench. This is the area where the competent person had observed the fracture. The trench wall caved-in. Employee#1 was buried in the upright position 2-ft-to-3-ft over his head. Employee #1 was killed.

Keywords: SEWER, ASPHYXIATED, LADDER, CONSTRUCTION, TRENCH, SHORING, CAVE-IN, UNGUARDED

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Other heavy construction		New project or new addition		$50,000 to $250,000		10	X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	301036620			Fatality	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Excavation Fatality Cause: Trench collapse

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