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807 Focus Four: Caught-In/Between Hazards
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807 Focus Four: Caught-In/Between Hazards

Buried-in/by

The greatest hazard associated with unprotected trenches and excavations is being buried by soil from a cave-in. Cave-ins can quickly crush or suffocate workers.

Excavation in Construction

Workers may also be injured or killed by buried-in/by accidents in the following situations:

  • working in silos filled with grain;
  • working under suspended loads; and
  • working under construction or demolition operations

Workers who are working underneath large scaffolds may also be buried if the scaffolds collapse. Workers may be buried and crushed by walls that collapse during demolition.

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Description of Accident

Unguarded miter saw
Worker must not be in this trench without protection from cave-in hazards.

An employee was installing a small diameter pipe in a trench 3 feet wide, 12-15 feet deep and 90 feet long. The trench was not shored or sloped nor was there a box or shield to protect the employee. Further, there was evidence of a previous cave-in. The employee apparently reentered the trench, and a second cave-in occurred, burying him. He was found face down at the bottom of the trench.

Inspection Results

OSHA issued a citation for three serious violations of its construction standards. If the required support had been provided for the trench, it might not have collapsed.

What would you recommend?

Recommendations

  • Employers must shore, slope, or otherwise support the sides of trenches to prevent their collapse (29 CFR 1926.652(a)(1)).
  • Employers must protect employees with adequate personal protective equipment (29 CFR 1926.95(a)).
  • Employers must provide an adequate means of exit from trenches (29 CFR 1926.651(c)(2)).
  • Employees must be instructed to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions associated with their work (29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2)).
Unguarded miter saw
Worker must not be in this trench when heavy equipment is being used.

Description of Accident

An employee was working in a trench 4 feet wide and 7 feet deep. About 30 feet away a backhoe was straddling the trench when the backhoe operator noticed a large chunk of dirt falling from the side wall behind the worker in the trench; he called out a warning. Before the worker could climb out, 6 to 8 feet of the trench wall had collapsed on him and covered his body up to his neck. He suffocated before the backhoe operator could dig him out. There were no exit ladders. No sloping, shoring or other protective system had been used in the trench.

Inspection Results

As a result of its investigation, OSHA issued citations alleging three serious violations. OSHA's construction standards include several requirements that, if they had been followed here, might have prevented this fatality.

What would you recommend?

Recommendations

  • Instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to the work environment [29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2)].
  • Provide protection from cave-ins by an adequate protective system [29 CFR 1926.652(a)(1)].
  • Provide a means of egress within 25 feet of employees in a trench 4 feet or more deep, such as a ladder or stairway [29 CFR 1926.651(c)(2)].

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

1-4. The major excavation and trench hazard related to buried-in or -by is _____.

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