Inspection Detail

Inspection: 114615552 - Hub Construction

Inspection Information - Office: Wyoming Department Of Workforce Services - Osha Division

Investigation Summary

Employee #1 and a coworker were digging up a previously installed sewer line during the construction of a new single family house. Employee #1 was the laborer, and the coworker was operating a backhoe. Employee #1 was in the excavation, which was approximately 8 feet deep and 5 to 6 feet wide and had vertical or near vertical walls. One wall of the excavation was dug adjacent to a concrete caisson/footer, which was approximately 2 ft in diameter by 3 ft long and was buried in the ground with the top either at the surface or just under it. The porch roof support beam was resting on the concrete caisson/footer but not secured to it. The excavation wall adjacent to the porch roof caisson/footer caved in, burying Employee #1 up to his knees. The caisson/footer rolled into the excavation, striking Employee #1 in the abdomen and pinning him against the excavation wall. He sustained severe internal injuries and died about 27 hours after the accident.

Keywords: STRUCK BY, UNSTABLE SOIL, SLOPING, BURIED, EXCAVATION, WORK RULES, CAVE-IN, ABDOMEN, PINNED, CONSTRUCTION