Trench collapse leads to $448,000 fine
A trenching accident that killed one worker and seriously injured two others has led to the third highest fine ever related to trenching, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in Washington, DC, announced recently.
OSHA cited Richard E. Fowler Inc., for six willful and four serious violations that allegedly caused the cave-in on Nov. 7, 1996, in Margate, FL. The company is based in Pompano Beach, FL. The fines total $448,000, but the company can appeal.
The accident occurred as four workers were laying water and sewer lines in the 10-foot deep trench that was filled with 12 to 18 inches of water. The walls of the trench collapsed, burying three workers under a heavy portion of compacted soil and gravel. One of those workers died, and the other two suffered serious injuries. The fourth worker was trapped by sandy soil from the sides of the trench and debris that had been dumped close to the trench edge.
The federal investigators claim that the dangerous condition of the trench was brought to the employer’s attention, and several small cave-ins had happened earlier in the day. Nevertheless, the design of the trench was not altered to slope the walls, and no trench box was used. OSHA standards require sloping or shoring for trenches, or protective shields such as trench boxes, which are large bottomless metal boxes that are lowered into the trench to prevent the walls from collapsing.
OSHA offers a free consultation program to help construction companies avoid trenching accidents. Local OSHA offices can help determine the best way to comply with trenching standards. The agency also offers Excavations, a 24-page guide, for $1.25 from the Government Printing Office at (202) 512-1800. Ask for order No. 029-016-00167-1.
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