Inspection Detail

Inspection: 303988430 - Cross Branch Services, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Jacksonville Area Office

Investigation Summary

On April 3, 2002, Employee #1 and another employee were in a 6-foot trench, laying electrical conduit. The walls of the trench were not sloped, shored, or protected in any fashion to prevent it from collapsing. The nearest exit was approximately 30 to 35 feet from where Employee #1 was working. The wall of the trench collapsed, striking and burying Employee #1 to his chest. Other coworkers attempted to free him, but he died at the scene from a crushing chest injury and asphyxiation. No one at the site was knowledgeable and competent about safety matters in excavations. The employees had not been trained on the hazards associated with excavations. Normally, they only worked in excavations that were approximately 42 inches deep.

Keywords: ASPHYXIATED, CHEST, COLLAPSE, CAUGHT BY, TRENCH, CRUSHED, WORK SURFACE