Inspection Detail

Inspection: 17443755 - Mccaskill Brothers, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Jackson Area Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 9:30 a.m. on July 18, 1990, Employees #1, #2, and #3 were vertically installing large concrete pipe for a sewer lift station in an excavation that was approximately 15 ft deep, 20 ft in diameter at the top, and 10 ft in diameter at the bottom. The walls were nearly vertical and unshored. The soil consisted of approximately 3 ft of red clay sand, 3 ft of fine, tan, silty sand, and 9 ft of fine tan sand with seeping water. A dewatering system of 28 well points was installed 5 days before the excavation was opened. The base section was lowered into the excavation, then the three employees entered the excavation to position the pipe for inlet and outlet hole alignment. A small cave-in occurred, covering Employee #2's legs to about his knees. Employees #1 and #3 moved around the pipe to free Employee #2. Employee #1 was pulling upward on Employee #2 and Employee #3 was digging with his hands at the dirt around Employee #2's legs. Another cave-in occurred at the southwest quadrant, covering all three employees. Employee #1 died of asphyxia due to compression of his chest. Employees #2 and #3 died of asphyxia due to obstruction of their airways.

Keywords: CHEST, ASPHYXIATED, WORK RULES, CONSTRUCTION, TRENCH, CRUSHED, SHORING, SLOPING, BURIED, CAVE-IN