Abstract: At approximately 5:30 a.m. on June 12, 2012, Employee #1 was cutting steel wires from one-ton compact trash bales, so as to facilitate the distribution of trash on a landfill. Twelve compact trash bales had been deposited next to one another and in a row on the landfill. As he cut the steel wire on one of the trash bale, an adjacent trash bale became dislodge, striking him from behind. Employee #1 was then pinned to the ground with the weight of the bale upon his lower back and extremities. He summoned one of the truck drivers in the landfill for help and who was then assisted by other drivers in the removal of the bale from upon him. The supervisor was notified and summoned emergency medical personnel. They arrived and transported Employee #1 by ambulance to a medical center. At the hospital, he was diagnosed with two fractured vertebrae in his back and with right lower knee trauma, which he subsequently underwent surgical procedures for the injuries. Employee #1 was hospitalized for more than nine days following the procedures for postoperative care.