Inspection Detail

Inspection: 307341313 - J & M, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Oakland District Office

Investigation Summary

On the morning of January 30, 2006, Employee #1 was measuring the depth of an excavation using a surveyor's leveling pole during the construction of a sewer pipeline. He was standing in the bottom of a 120 ft-long excavation that was 14 to18 ft deep by 28 to 36 ft wide. The excavation had been inspected earlier that morning by the jobsite foreman, who was deemed as competent to conduct such inspections. The excavation was reportedly dug into type "B" soil and sloped at a ratio of 1:1. The spoils were greater than two feet from the edge of the excavation. While Employee #1 was checking the depth of the trench from inside the excavation, a clump of soil rolled down the spoils pile and struck him on the left shoulder, producing a clavicle fracture. Employee #1 was hospitalized. Another excavation (also opened by the employer), with similar type "B" soil and dimensions, near the incident scene was inspected and an evaluation of the employer's Code of Safe Practices was conducted.

Keywords: SEWER, EXCAVATION, FRACTURE, SHOULDER, CONSTRUCTION, PIPELINE, STRUCK BY, FLYING OBJECT