Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125796599 - Navaho Pipe Lines Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 11:30 a.m. on October 15, 1997, Employee #1 and a coworker, of Navaho Pipe Lines, were excavating a storm drain pipeline in Sacramento, CA. The coworker was using a backhoe, and after digging about 15 ft of trench that was 9 ft deep, they began to work in a 2 to 3 ft deep section, locating crossing utility pipes. The backhoe operator felt what he thought was an obstruction, so Employee #1 threw his shovel into the trench and jumped in after it. The shovel bounced up just as Employee #1 was coming down, and he was impaled in the groin by the handle of the shovel. He then fell into the deeper section of the trench, where he was helped out with aid from the loader bucket.. Employee #1 was taken by ambulance to U.C. Davis Medical Center, where he was hospitalized with a torn scrotum and an impalement injury.

Keywords: EXCAVATION, IMPALED, STRUCK AGAINST, CONSTRUCTION, TRENCH, FALL, FLYING OBJECT, HAND TOOL, SHOVEL