Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126024736 - Mladen Buntich Construction Co.

Inspection Information - Office: Van Nuys District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 3:45 p.m. on January 20, 1999, Employee #1 and three other employees were standing at ground level next to a 24 ft deep (shored) boring pit, which had been excavated for the buried pipeline project. The ground area where the workers were standing moved and created a void, which engulfed Employee #1. From the surface level, the ground disturbance did not appear to be directly related to the adjacent bore pit. However, below the surface, the pit could have weakened the surrounding ground foundation. Emergency personnel extricated Employee #1 in an 8-hour rescue operation. He was transported to hospital where he was hospitalized.

Keywords: EXCAVATION, COLLAPSE, WALKING SURFACE, FALL