On May 5, 2016, a 29-year-old construction worker employed by a small excavation contractor was killed when the trench he was working in collapsed and buried him in approximately 6 feet of dirt. The worker was part of a crew installing a sewer pipe at a residential property. The trench was 10 feet deep and approximately 3 feet wide in the area where the collapse occurred. The collapse occurred in an unprotected area of the trench, between two pieces of shoring that were spaced 15 feet apart. When the trench collapsed, co-workers called 911 and attempted unsuccessfully to locate and dig the worker out. When emergency responders arrived, their first task before commencing rescue and recovery efforts was to shore up the trench to prevent risk of additional collapse and injuries. Emergency responders spent several hours recovering the worker's body. Key factors identified in this investigation included an inadequate trench protective system

no ladder available for entry or egress

and a spoils pile being placed too close to the edge of the trench. Underlying contributing factors were the lack of oversight by a competent person

and insufficient employee training on recognizing and reporting hazards. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Employers who have employees working in trenches that are 5 feet deep or deeper must select and install appropriate protection systems for the conditions present to protect workers from cave-ins. For trenches less than 5 feet deep, examination by a competent person for potential cave-in indicators is required. 2. Excavation work requires a designated competent person on site who has both the knowledge and authority to identify and promptly correct hazards

this includes daily inspections prior to the start of work and as needed throughout the work shift, and any time site conditions change. 3. To select appropriate trench protective systems for a given jobsite, the competent person should visually and manually test the soils, and also consult the shoring or shielding manufacturer's tabulated data or OR-OSHA's tables and charts designed for this purpose. 4. Employers must provide sufficient means of safe access and egress for workers in any trench excavation of 4 feet deep or deeper, which may include ladders, ramps, or stairs. 5. Keep excavated soil (spoils) and other materials and tools at least 2 feet from the edge of any trench. 6. Before working in and around trenches, employees should receive training on trenching safe practices, and on recognizing and reporting hazards. 7. Employers should develop and maintain a safety culture where employees are encouraged to voice concerns about unsafe work conditions.