Inspection Detail

Note: The following inspection has not been indicated as closed. OSHA citation items will be posted 30 (thirty) days after the employer receives the citation(s), except in cases of significant public interest. Posted citation items reflect any amendments to citations that are the result of a prompt settlement, which OSHA encourages. Employers and employee representatives will continue to receive copies of the citation(s) upon issuance.

Inspection: 1641710.015 - Dirt Work Solutions, Llc

Inspection Information - Office: Allentown Area Office

Investigation Summary

At 12:30 p.m. on January 4, 2023, an employee and two coworkers were installing sewer pipe in a 6-foot, 7-inch trench. The employee and a coworker were working inside a steel trench box connecting the pipe. When the pipe was installed, another coworker, the excavator operator, covered the pipe with fine aggregate material, dumped 2-3 loads of stone, and then used the back of the bucket to smooth the material. The coworker facing the excavator with his back against the spreader bars was using hand signals to inform the excavator operator when to stop moving the bucket forward. While the coworker was giving the forward signal, the excavator operator continued to move the machine's bucket towards the employee while leveling the stone pipe cover material on the trench bottom. The coworker continued to give the signal to the operator until the employee in the trench yelled "stop" to the operator. Without a "stop" signal from the spotting employee, the excavator operator continued to move the bucket forward until it made contact with the employee's mid section. The employee was crushed between the excavator bucket and the steel trench box spreader bars. The employee died due to his injuries.

Keywords: Bucket , Caught Between, Crushed, Crushing, Drain Pipe, Excavator, Installing, Miscommunication, Sewer, Struck By, Torso, Trench, Trench Box