Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: FALLING

Serious Citation 1, item 1 Title 40.1-51.1(a), Code of Virginia: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to a tunnel cave-in hazard while constructing a pedestrian walkback tunnel (south end) at Dulles Airport. On November 1, 2000, an employee of Kiewit Construction Company was killed when a section of the tunnel collapsed. The employer knew that a catch basin was located above the tunnel between excavation rounds 104SE and 105SE, but failed to field verify the invert elevation of the basin before tunneling through this location, in accordance with the contract specifications. The crown of the tunnel was approximately 16 feet below the surface. The catch basin, which was part of the water collection system, was approximately 8 feet deep. The employer failed to verify not only the depth of the basin, but also failed to consider that the original excavation for the catch basin was likely deeper than 8 feet, and that during its installation and continued use as a water collection system, the soil underneath could have been compromised considerably in relation to surrounding soil conditions. The October 31st falloff of 5 cubic yards (cy) of soil, and the tunnel collapse November 1st, occurred in close proximity to where the catch basin was located above the crown of the tunnel. One feasible and acceptable abatement method among others to correct this hazard is to comply with the contract specifications, Section 03301, Paragraph 1.03.B.