ACCIDENT SUMMARY - Trench Cave In
| Accident Type: | Trench Cave-in |  |
| Weather Conditions: | Good | |
| Type of Operation: | Pipe Laying | |
| Size of Work Crew: | 3 | |
| Collective Bargaining | No | |
| Competent Safety Monitor on Site: | No | |
| Safety and Health Program in Effect: | No | |
| Was the Work site Inspected Regularly: | No | |
| Training and Education Provided: | No | |
| Employee Job Title: | Pipe Layer | |
| Age & Sex: | 32-Male | |
| Experience at this Type of Work: | 4 Months | |
| Time on Project: | 5 Minutes |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT
Two employees were installing storm drain pipes in a trench, approximately 20-30 feet long, 12-13 feet deep and 5-6 feet wide. The side walls consisted of unstable soil undermined by sand and water. There was 3-5 feet of water in the north end of the trench and 5-6 inches of water in the south end. At the time of the accident, a backhoe was being used to clear the trench. The west wall of the trench collapsed, and one employee was crushed and killed.
INSPECTION RESULTS
As the result of its investigation, OSHA issued citations for one willful, one serious, and one-other-than-serious violation of its construction standards. OSHA's construction safety standards include several requirements which, if they had been followed here, might have prevented this fatality.
ACCIDENT PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS
- Employers must shore, slope sheet or brace sides of trenches in unstable material (29 CFR 1926.652(b) or 1926.651(c)).
- There must be a means of escape from a trench such as ladder (29 CFR 1926.652(h)).
- Trench work is to be inspected daily by a "competent person". When there s evidence of cave-ins or slides, all work must stop (29 CFR 1926.650(i)).
- Water must not be allowed to accumulate in a trench (29 CFR 1926.651(p)).
- Excavation material must be moved at least two feet from the edge of the trench (29 CFR 1926.651(i)).
- Where heavy equipment is operating near a trench, extra precautions must be taken due to the extra load imposed on the ground (29 CFR 1926.651(q)).
SOURCES OF HELP
- Construction Safety and Health Standards (OSHA 2207) which contains all OSHA job safety and health rules and regulations covering construction.
- Excavation and Trenching Operations (OSHA 2226), is a 20-page booklet describing pertinent OSHA standards in detail.
- Safety and Health Excavation and Trenching Operations, available from the National Audio Visual Center (NAC) (Order No. 689601, $60) an instructional program designed to increase awareness and understanding of the problems and hazards in excavation and trenching operations. It includes an instructor's guide and 139 slides.
- Trenching, also available from NAC (Order No. 007516, $40), a slide-tape hazard recognition program including 96 slides, instructor's guide, workbook and course outline.
- Sloping, Shoring and Shielding, a one-day instructional program with classroom sessions and hands-on workshop. Available from NAC (Order No. 009863, $30), the package includes an instructor's manual, outline for field exercise/workshop and 60 slides.
NOTE: The case here described was selected as being representative of fatalities caused by improper work practices. No special emphasis or priority is implied nor is the case necessarily a recent occurrence. The legal aspects of the incident have been resolved, and the case is now closed.
