OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #892232
GLEN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.
GAITHERSBURG, MD·
Event description
TRENCH COLLAPSES KILLING ONE EMPLOYEE
Investigation abstract
Employee #1 and Employee #2 were installing components of a waterproofing system little if any trench excavation hazard recognition training, company had a full time safety officer and a written safety program with only 47 words concerning trench safety. in a trench 54 ft long by 8 ft wide by 10 ft deep formed by concrete and dirt w alls. A portion of the dirt wall (630 cubic ft) collapsed, which completely buri ed Employee #1 and buried Employee #2 up to his knees. Employee #1 died due to a sphyxiation and Employee #2 received minor injuries. Company officials felt the trench was safe due to its width. Causal factors: water in trench bottom, which allowed undermining of toe; previous excavation adjacent to collapse site; vibra tions from a loader; several feet of gravel and backfill added to the top of tre nch on that day. Inadequate ladder access; employees wearing protective helmets;
Victims (2)
-
#1 Fatality Age 26 Male
- Nature of injury
- Asphyxia (2)
- Part of body
- MULTIPLE (19)
- Accident type
- STRUCK BY (1)
- Source of injury
- DIRT/SAND/STONE (12)
- Occupation
- Construction trades, n.e.c. (599)
- Human factor
- MISJUDGMENT, HAZ. SITUATION (1)
- Environmental factor
- OTHER (18)
- Task assigned
- Task regularly assigned (1)
-
#2 Non-hospitalized injury Age 45 Male
- Nature of injury
- Bruise/Contus/Abras (3)
- Part of body
- LEGS (16)
- Accident type
- CAUGHT IN OR BETWEEN (2)
- Source of injury
- DIRT/SAND/STONE (12)
- Occupation
- Construction trades, n.e.c. (599)
- Human factor
- MISJUDGMENT, HAZ. SITUATION (1)
- Environmental factor
- OTHER (18)
- Task assigned
- Task regularly assigned (1)
Labels are OSHA's own, from the code dictionary published with the accident-investigation file. The raw code is shown beside each one so this page can be reconciled against OSHA's bulk data. OSHA notes that nature of injury, part of body, source of injury and accident type in this file are not coded to the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System, and that the occupation titles are not standardised — so these values are not directly comparable with the OIICS-coded severe injury reports.