this just happened today

[imported_OWDouglas]

the details are sketchy... Mar 22, 2005 - A construction accident took the life of a man near 3 p.m.in the town of Hamburg. A plumber doing work in front of a home on Marlow Street was killed when tons of mud fell on him as he worked in a trench. The work was being done in front of a house on the corner of Marlow and Fairview Parkway.

One of the workers was trapped in a trench when its walls collapsed. Plumbers working with him frantically tried to dig him out when firefighters arrived on the scene. Buffalo Fire Department's Rescue One unit was called in to help build platforms so that it would be easier to dig. Some even when to Home Depot to get supplies like plywood, four-by-fours, and nail guns.

"He's covered up to his chest," said Asst. Chief Chris Zak of the Big Tree Fire Company. "We obviously have access to his head. The thing that is remarkable is the weight of the dirt and clay. We estimate that there are thousands of pounds of dirt around him to be dug out by hand."

 

[penokee]

Sad. A Trenchbox may have prevented this. We had a similar situation a few years back, the individual was buried up to the waist. Laying pipe in an area that had been excavated and backfilled a few weeks prior. Copper water service line was damaged during backfilling and had to be re-dug. Backhoe too small, couldn't properly slope sides of trench or place spoils far enough away from edge of trench. Started to rain. Everything came together adversely and the trench caved in. Had he been bending over, it may have been fatal. Suffered leg damage and trauma, had to retire on a disability and still suffering today - all because of lack of a trench box. Granted the project goes slower with a trench box. but management has to insist on it. No substitute for safety.
penokee /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Tollster]

I concur, there are many unscrupulous employers out there that take shortcuts in the name of safety. Often if I am presented with an unsafe task from a higher authority, I request it via e-mail. It soon goes away. I hope OSHA gets to the bottom of it and the poor guys family benefits from it in a large monetary way.

 

[Syncro]

Thanks for posting this. What most people don't realize is how easy it can happen even in a small trench. I think the impression is that these things only happen in huge very deep trenches, not so! Even a shallow 3' trench can become fatal if the sides fall in on a kneeling worker, I know because I almost lost my own life that way. Trust me, any trench can become a killer. Best to take the time required and slope the side walls or use trench boxes, a small investment of time could prevent a slow suffacating death.

 

[Catmando]

This is one of those where everyone has to be educated!

It is too late for that worker, sad to say. How many of these accidents have to happen before people wake up? If the worker had insisted then either the employer would have provided the necessary equipment, or the plumber would have been dismissed. But if all plumbers would insist then the employers would have to comply. If the employer insists, then the worker will lose his job if he doesn't comply. Thus both are protected.

I have seen two law suits because of accidents. One fatality and one injury. Neither of the accidents were forseeable under normal rules, but under a good what if, they could have been prevented. Cost the employer millions.

My brother as a forman took the safety stance. A person chose not to wear safety glasses. My brother informed the employee either wear the glasses starting right now or loose your job.

Safety is everyones job!

 

[Syncro]

<font color="blue"> "If the worker had insisted then either the employer would have provided the necessary equipment" </font>

The problem is that nobody thinks it will happen to them, and in a way its true as these things really don't happen all the time, of course its that one in a thousand time when it DOES happen that can kill you.

Another thing is we're all in a hurry, and really most people don't give it a thought to just bend down and screw in a pipe fitting, after all it'll only take a few seconds, right? Thats what happened to me on a nice warm June day, I just reached down for a water shut off valve when the end came off in my hand shooting a 100 PSI jet of water into the ditch wall. It happened so fast and was totally unexpected. Seriously guys, treat any trench with respect even if the walls look solid.

 

[keeney]

There is also the impression that if it does cave in that with enough help handy there will be the possibility to dig the person out. From reading many of these types of reports, it is clear that this is rarely the case. Even in the case of only being buried to the waist, significant injury can occur as was reported.

The excavator who dug and installed my water line told me that they like to have an extra guy on the site if they will be working in the trench. He said that its not so much that they think they would be able to dig the person out, but so as to supervise each other from doing something stupid. He said its too tempting when you think it will "only take a few minutes".

Plus, he said jokingly, at least there will be somebody there to turn off the machine before it wastes a full tank of fuel.

- Rick

 

[KiotiJohn]

A cave in like that doesn't have to be too high up on your body to interfere with your diaphram's ability to bring air into the lungs either. I think some people think that if a cave in occurs, they'll only be covered on the bottom part of their bodies. Like you said, a lot of damage can be done with only that. A little bit higher, and you can't breathe. John

 

[frank_f15]

I was on vac. and just saw that article. seems to me they should have benn using a trench box, in this day and age absoulty no justification for that kind of accident.

 

[Tollster]

Where I work we have accepted there is NO such thing as an accident, no mater how small or how big there is always a root cause. Human error is a primary factor in many instances. Below is a list of items that we ask ourselves befour any task we perform :
FOUR KEY QUESTIONS
1:What are the critical steps of the task?
2: How can I make a mistake at that point?
3: What is the worse thing that can go wrong?
4: What barriers or defenses are needed? (See below)
Human Performance addresses these 4 questions, here is a brief list of a human performance toolkit

Pre job walkdown: this can include the tractor safety check, the area your working in, and the implement your using. Identify potential hazards or problems

Pre job review: Identify error precurrors, the 4 key questions above

STAR: Stop/Think/ACT/Review. Prior to taking on any task

Question attitude:Assume Nothing, if unsure, ask.

STOP/Timeout: If it doesn't seem right, stop and get help

Flagging: Temporarily mark the device or item of concern. This could be a missing safety device, or even a chuck hole in the field identifeid during a walkdown.
Post job critique: Improve your job and skills for the next time. Review at the end of the day what went well and what didn't. How can I do better next time?

List of Error precursors you can identify

TASK DEMANDS
* Time pressure (in a hurry)
* High Workload (Memory requirements)
*Simultaneous, multiple tasks
*Repetitive actions/monotony
*Irrecoverable actions\
*Unclear goals, roles,actions
*Lack of a clear standard of operation

INDIVIDUAL CAPABILITIES
*Unfamiliarity with task/ first time
*Lack of knowledge
*New technique not used before
*Lack of proficiency/inexperience
*Indestinct problem solving skills
*Can do attitude for crutial task
*Illness or Fatique

WORK ENVIRONMENT
*Distractions/interruptions
*Changes?departure from routine
*Hidden system or tool response
*Unexpected equipment conditions

HUMAN NATURE
*Stress
*Habit patterns
*Assumptions
*Complacency/Overconfidence
*Mind Set (intentions)
*Inaccurate risk perception
*Mental shortcuts (Biases)
*Limited short term memory.


While this may seem like allot, try to implement just a few at a time, and after awhile it will become second knowledge. Once you learn the error prone areas, you are more apt to identify them. It just may save your life or the life of someone your really love.
By the way, these tools are being taught through out most major industries as most large companies, organizations, and industries ask more and more from their workers.
Such as me, as I have not had one day off in over 5 weeks, working 70 hour weeks, my aging body is starting to disapprove, but my creditors love me. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif