Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 201572211 - Employee killed after trench collapse

Accident Summary Nr: 201572211 -- Report ID: 0830500 -- Event Date: 10/12/2002
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
304981780	10/18/2002	1794	0	Grapes Enterprises, Llc Dba D&J Excavating

Abstract: On October 12, 2002, two employees were working in a trench approximately 11 feet deep. The trench had vertical sides and no protective systems in place. The trench was located on a residential street, where a new house was being built. The employees were planning to tap into an existing sewer line. The sewer line was damaged during the digging operation and two employees entered the trench to evaluate the extent of the damage in order to call for materials to patch it. While in the trench, the wall collapsed, engulfing Employee #1 and capturing a coworker up to his knees. The trench had been open for less than one hour when it collapsed. Employee #1 died of asphyxiation.

Keywords: EXCAVATION, ASPHYXIATED, COLLAPSE, CONSTRUCTION, TRENCH, SHORING, FALLING OBJECT

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Single family or duplex dwelling		New project or new addition		$50,000 to $250,000	2	11	X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	304981780			Fatality	Asphyxia	Construction trades, n.e.c.	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Trenching, installing pipe Fatality Cause: Wall (earthen) collapse

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