Abstract: Employees #1 and #2 and a coworker were removing rocks and dirt from inside a 14 ft by 14 ft by 4 ft deep excavation so that rebar could be placed flat on the bottom. A coworker operating a John Deere 310E backhoe/loader positioned his vehicle near the south side of the hole, where the crew was working. The operator turned his seat 180 degrees to use the shovel at the back of the machine, whereupon the backhoe moved rapidly forward and fell into the excavation, pinning Employees #1 and #2. Both workers were declared dead at the scene. The operator had left the backhoe in forward gear and had not engaged the parking brake before turning his seat around.