Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/335762
Don't enter unprotected trenches Following proper procedure when trenching minimizes cave-in risk Information for this Safety Watch was taken from an accident report, the Center for Disease Control's NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program and the U.S. Department of Labor's Fair Labor Standards Act. It is meant for general information only. The accident: An excavator operator working on a sewer system installation struck two sections of pipe and broke them with the bucket of the excavator as he com- pacted material over a completed section of the line. To access the pipe to remove it, the operator removed the trench shield. The next day, two workers en- tered the unprotected trench to set new pipe sections. The trench wall caved in, burying one worker to his knees and one to his chest. After being freed from the trench, they were transported to the emergency room, where the worker who had been buried up to his chest suffered a cardiac arrest and died. The bottom line: A post-accident investigation determined the de- ceased worker was a minor who was assigned to the company via a job placement program. Child labor laws prohibit youth work- ers to work in hazardous occupa- tions. Furthermore, he was new to the company and had not yet participated in safety training. Also, although the excavator operator had to remove the trench shield to access the pipe sections, no one should have entered the 11-foot- deep trench until the shield was replaced. Skipped steps Like many accidents, this one was preventable. Had the excavator operator replaced the shield, the workers would have been pro- tected from the trench walls. Had the untrained worker known not to proceed without shoring or shielding, he would not have been in the trench when it collapsed. Here's what you should remember to prevent these situations: New task = new training. If you're asked to perform new or unfamiliar work, complete the re- quired training that applies specifi- cally to that job beforehand. You can't work safely if you haven't been trained on the hazards unique to the situation. If you see fellow crew members working un- safely – such as in an unshielded trench – alert them to the potential dangers and advise them to stop until the proper protective mea- sures are in place. Leave things better than you found them. Since the excavator operator removed the shield, he should have replaced after remov- ing the broken pipe. It was his responsibility to leave the trench in a safe condition, which he failed to do. Make it a priority that, once you finish operating a piece of equipment, you leave each work area as clean and safe as possible. Realize an inexperienced crew member can hurt you. New employees may have minimal construction experience. Although it's your supervisor's job to train them, you have a vested interest in their developing safe work habits. Mentoring workers who need guid- ance can help keep your entire crew safe. safety watch | by Amy Materson | AMaterson@randallreilly.com EquipmentWorld.com | July 2014 39 Date of safety talk: Leader: _____________________ Attending: Illustration by Don Lomax