Details

Parent Category: Incident Alert Archives

Category: Trenching & Excavation Alerts

Published: 10 September 2010

Trenching & Excavation Accidents #8

updated on 05/06/2010

Gas line broken; workers evacuated (a construction worker accidentally dug into and broke a 4-inch natural gas line downtown - hundreds of construction workers and downtown office workers were evacuated for more than an hour - a subcontractor working on the tower ruptured the gas line)

Construction Worker Free After 3 Hours In Trench (it took over three hours for rescue personnel to free a construction worker stuck waist-deep in the mud in a 12-foot trench - the hole opened up and trapped the worker when a mound of dirt supporting pipes collapsed in a roadside trench)

Trench collapse injures one (a man working on the septic system at his home is lucky to be alive this morning - after the trench collapsed, his wife ran out and found him completely buried - by the time firefighters arrived, she had dug around his head so that her husband could breathe and talk)

UPDATE Worker was buried in trench (a civil engineering firm, was laying storm sewers in June 2003 when a trench collapsed on a worker, who was the son-in-law of the company's owner - the victim suffered bruising to his ribs, a twisted right knee and torn ligaments)

2 workers saved from dirt burial (two construction workers were pulled from under a mound of dirt and rocks after a wooden platform collapsed and sent them falling into a mud-filled trench)

UPDATE OSHA Seeking Maximum Fine In Worker's Death (one of the company's employees was killed on July 20 when the bank of an 8-1/2 foot deep water line excavation collapsed on him - an inspection by OSHA after the accident found that the excavation did not have cave-in protection)

Construction worker rescued from collapsed trench (the foreman at a construction site was trapped for about 45 minutes after the 8-foot-deep trench he was working in collapsed around him, burying him waist-deep - was trapped between a large boulder and a backhoe bucket - was working to tie into the Water District's recyclable water main at the time of the accident)

Gas leak disrupts downtown Beloit (several businesses were evacuated after a contractor drilled into a natural gas line -  a company had been boring holes for demolition of the “superblock,” which is the parking deck and hit a 2 inch gas main - he did not know how the worker hit the pipe as it had been located)

Man's leg severed in job-site accident (a 33-year-old man's leg was severed in an industrial accident - leg got caught in a trencher, a small tractor with a chainsaw-like digger attached to the back, while a co-worker was digging a septic line - leg was severed at the knee)

Worker rescued from trench (emergency crews rescued a construction worker who injured his back after falling into a trench at a fiber optic cable work site - the worker fell into a hole that was about 7 feet square and 7 feet deep - the 21-year-old told rescuers he heard his back snap when he landed in the pit, which had been dug to install a concrete cable junction box)

Cave-In at Construction Site Buries One Worker in NE. China (a worker remained missing ten hours after a cave-in occurred at the construction site of an over bridge - accident took place when workers were digging a pit for a pile - a worker at the site fell into the five-meter deep pit when the cave-in happened and was then buried by mud and sand)

1:00 pm | Charlotte construction worker hurt (a construction worker reportedly was injured at the site - the worker was found in a hole - firefighters are working to treat and stabilize the injured worker)

Trapped Worker Jokes About Angry Wife (a worker trapped under four-feet of dirt managed to keep his sense of humor as rescuers dug him and another man out of the ground - the two became trapped when a trench wall collapsed - the two were working on a 20-inch pipeline at a water tower when the accident occurred)

600 Residents Without Gas Service After Gas Line Accident (a contractor was excavating, where a traffic signal will soon be placed, when a gas line was struck and punctured)

Miami construction worker stuck in a trench (a 38-year-old construction worker fell into trench - it was considered a long fall, which means the trench was more than 10 feet below ground - no other details)

Train Service Resumes After Construction Accident (a construction worker in his 50s suffered non-life-threatening injuries when he fell 10 to 12 feet into the unshored trench - train service was stopped because officials feared vibrations from the rail traffic would cause the ditch to collapse)

6:15 pm | Man's arm nearly severed in accident (a worker at a construction site was taken to Carolinas Medical Center after his right arm was almost severed in an accident - arm was trapped in a boring machine in a trench - the man's clothing had been caught in the machine, pulling his right hand and arm into the machinery)

Four workers die as earth caves in at building site (four workers were killed when the earth caved in where a compound wall for a housing project was being built - at least four others were injured in the accident)

Worker killed in Reno construction accident identified (a construction worker killed when a pipeline trench collapsed was identified as a 20-year-old man who had worked for the company only two weeks - another man trapped by the cave-in remained hospitalized in critical condition - worker, 40, was buried up his chest for almost four hours before being rescued from the muddy trench - they were installing a pipeline when the banks of the trench gave way, burying them around 2:30 p.m.)

Worker killed as trench collapses at golf course (a collapsed construction trench trapped three workers at a golf course, leaving one dead and two injured - four men were in the 10-foot-deep trench installing a storm sewer drain -- part of routine maintenance -- near the second hole of the Country Club golf course when the dirt gave way, burying three of the workers)

2 Die in Public Works Accident (two workers died and one was badly injured when a piece of heavy earthmoving equipment fell into the trench where they were working)

UPDATE Reno man becomes second person to die in trench collapse (a man died at a hospital, four days after he was buried in a trench collapse at a golf course - the 39-year-old worker became the second person to die in the accident - crew was installing a storm drain pipeline when the sides of the trench gave way)

UPDATE Company Cited In Trench Collapse (a construction company has been issued a citation in the collapse of a trench that buried one worker and trapped another - neither worker was seriously injured - accident happened Jan. 27 where the two men were working on a 20-inch pipeline - OSHA says one worker was able to breath during the collapse only because he was wearing a welding mask)

2 injured in construction accident (Worker said to have been buried alive - no other details)

Construction worker falls in 18 foot trench (a construction worker is recovering after falling 18 feet into a trench - the man was walking near the trench when he fell in)

Worker buried alive in Free State (one worker was buried alive and his colleague injured when a trench collapsed - the trench, about three metres deep, was being dug to lay water pipes)

2 Workers Rescued After Trench Collapse (firefighters rescued two men trapped in a trench collapse - one construction worker was buried completely while the other had mud up to his chest - a city fire official says the accident happened at a new home site where an excavating company was digging a sewer connection)

Worker dies after pit collapses (a construction worker died when a hole being excavated collapsed around him - the worker was trapped in about 4 feet of dirt in a hole - two workers were installing trench boxes about 30 feet down in a hole wider than a tractor-trailer when the north side of the hole collapsed - one worker escaped, but the other was buried)

Man buried alive in trench (one worker was buried alive and a colleague injured when a trench collapsed - the accident happened while the men were working in the trench - the trench, about three metres deep, was being dug to lay water pipes)

Details

Parent Category: Incident Alert Archives

Category: Trenching & Excavation Alerts

Published: 10 September 2010

Trenching & Excavation Accidents #7

updated on 05/06/2010

Trapped worker dies despite emergency response
By RYAN GILLIS, Journal Staff Writer 8/29/2003
WELLSVILLE — Emergency crews from around the area converged on Wellsville Thursday after a worker became trapped while digging near a gym on Wells Avenue extension. Despite the number of people responding to the accident scene, the victim did not survive. The county coroner’s investigator was at the accident scene and is investigating. Wellsville police deferred questions about the accident to the coroner’s office, but no one from that office could be reached for comment Thursday night. Investigators were releasing no details at the accident scene, but the man apparently was installing pipe near the Curves For Women gym at 557 Wells Avenue, when, according to unconfirmed reports, the hole he was working in collapsed around him. It is not clear if the man was working alone or as part of a team when the accident occurred. Unofficial reports at the scene suggested the man already was dead as firefighters worked to dig him out of the hole. Some could be seen lifting 5-gallon buckets of earth from the accident site. There was no sense of urgency in their actions. Drivers on state Route 7, which runs parallel to the Wells Avenue extension, were pulling over and stretching to get a better look across the highway at the group of police, firefighters and ambulance crews swarming between the gym and the Riverside Roadhouse. After what was at least two hours of digging, the victim’s body was removed from the hole and loaded into an ambulance. Almost simultaneously, calls went out for a medic as one of the firefighters at the scene succumbed to the heat and collapsed. Men and equipment from the Wellsville police and fire departments, Liverpool Township Fire Department, Follansbee Fire Rescue, Highlandtown and Irondale volunteer fire departments were working at the accident scene. 

Man saved from fallen ditch; Public safety officials seek criminal charges against injured worker
By Sasha Talcott, Globe Correspondent, 8/23/2003 
As the construction worker sank deeper into a quicksand-like mixture of muddy water and silt, he spoke desperately of two things: his pregnant wife and his young daughter. Buried up to his chest in khaki-colored sludge, he struggled to pull himself out of the 11-foot-deep trench, begging firefighters to help him. But every time he moved, he slipped down deeper. Boston sewer workers started vaccuuming the liquid out of the trench and two firefighters leapt into it, digging at the sludge around him, which was thick and glue-like. Finally they were able to free him. ''We told him we weren't going to get out of that hole unless we took him with us,'' said firefighter Kevin Ranahan. ''The water was burying him.'' The painstaking, nerve-wracking rescue near Dudley and Vine streets in Roxbury required 20 firefighters, emergency, and Boston Water and Sewer workers and took 2 1/2 hours. But the state Executive Office of Public Safety said the accident should never have happened. Commissioner Joseph Lalli said the offie plans to seek criminal charges against the injured worker, who they said was operating excavating machinery at the site without a license. The department is also weighing charges against the company in charge of the project, Free Flow Plumbing and Drain King, which was apparently replacing a sewer line at the scene. ''We have a man who was taken to the hospital with serious injuries,'' Lalli said. ''There are going to be penalties all the way down the road. In today's day and age, when we have made trench safety so important, there is no excuse.'' Four Free Flow Plumbing and Drain King employees at the trench declined comment. A worker in the company's office referred calls back to employees at the scene. It was about 11 a.m. yesterday when the worker, whose name has not been released, was digging near a sewer line at private property near the corner of Dudley and Vine streets in Roxbury. Suddenly, the trench began to sink, filling with water and sludge. Firefighters at the scene said they thought the injured worker or another employee ruptured the sewer line, though investigators are still determining what caused the collapse. When 24 emergency workers arrived, they found three workers in the rapidly filling trench, two attempting to pull the trapped worker to safety. The firefighters instructed two workers who were in a shallow part of the trench to get out, then fitted the trapped worker with an oxygen mask and attached him to a safety harness to prevent him from falling deeper. Even with the harness, the worker was practically glued to the bottom the trench, and firefighters feared they would tear his body into two if they tried to pull him out right away. ''He kept telling me, `Just get me out of here,' '' said firefighter Bob Kilduff. A firefighter said the injured worker had been taken to Boston Medical Center. His condition was not available, but his injuries are not life-threatening, he said. Late yesterday afternoon, officials at the state's public safety office were still trying to determine what had caused the accident. The office will also probe whether the trench, which firefighters said was about 4 feet deep before it sunk, should have had reinforcements to keep it from collapsing. Aaron Peterson, a trench specialist who works with the company United Rentals, said that the men should have reinforced the trench if they were going to be ducking down below ground level. Massachusetts law requires trenches deeper than 5 feet to have some kind of reinforcement, he said. ''It obviously wasn't done, or else they wouldn't have gotten hurt,'' he said. 

Worker rescued from hole
By LEN MANIACE THE JOURNAL NEWS (Original publication: August 21, 2003)
RYE — Emergency crews yesterday rescued a masonry worker who was trapped in a nearly 9-foot-deep hole for more than 2 1/2 hours after the excavation walls collapsed. Joseph Malone of Port Chester was hoisted from the hole at 12:40 p.m. alongside a home at 140 Soundview Ave., where he had been making waterproofing repairs to a foundation, Police Commissioner Williams Connors said. Malone, said to be in his 60s, is employed by Ox Masonry of Greenwich, Conn. Malone was buried only to his waist, but the rescue was a painstaking one because officials feared the narrow hole, which measured approximately 2 feet by 5 feet, would collapse further. "All he said was 'Get me out' and 'Be careful,' " said police Officer Julio Rossi, among the first emergency workers to arrive. Malone was taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, but a report on his condition was not available; a spokeswoman cited the new federal medical privacy law. Malone appeared to be in good condition when he was removed from the hole, Connors said. Dozens of emergency workers from Rye, Port Chester, New Rochelle and Greenburgh participated in the elaborate effort. Malone was quickly placed in a harness that hung from the end of a firetruck ladder that extended over the hole, while workers used wood planks to shore up the hole against further collapse. Malone was given an air mask to help with his breathing, a fan blew fresh, cooling air into the hole and he was later given intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration. Various pumps, excavation equipment and additional rescue workers stood ready in a front yard, where black-eyed Susans, phlox and marigolds bloomed. Emergency trucks waited on Soundview Avenue, a dead-end street off Boston Post Road adjacent to the Rye Golf Club. Overhead, three helicopters from television stations hovered. Because the hole was so small, Malone had to help with his own rescue, using a small shovel to remove some of the soil that pinned him. The mishap is under investigation by the federal Occupation, Safety, and Health Administration and the Rye Building Department, Connors said. The accident might have been prevented, Connors said, if the sides of the deep and narrow hole had been shored up before Malone and another worker began the waterproofing job. The other worker was not in the hole at the time of the collapse. "That's how these things happen," Connors said. "They take a chance; they don't think about the danger."

Cave-in Accidents Kill 4,Injure 13 in NE Province 
Four people were confirmed dead Sunday as a result of cave-in accidents at two construction sites in this capital of the northeastern province of Heilongjiang Saturday. The accidents, which occurred almost simultaneously around 19:30 Saturday, also injured 13 people and trapping more. Quite a few builders were working in the subbasement of Renhe Century Square project when an accident occurred, killing three people and injuring eight. Witnesses heard a rolling sound before the ground with an area of some 50 square meters suddenly caved in and saw some passers-byfalling into the sunken area. The exact number of people trapped underground and causes for the accident are still under investigation. The other accident in Harbin Engineering University killed one person and injured five. Officials from the Heilongjiang Provincial Government and Harbin City Government are coordinating rescue efforts at the accident sites. 

GAS LEAK QUICKLY CONTAINED; AFTER WORKERS SNAG LINE
STAFF August 15, 2003 
A gas leak on North Grand Street, caused when workers moved a construction refuse bin was quickly contained, city officials said. The accident occurred around noon when Tyler Solid Waste workers were removing a temporary construction container, or roll-off box, from 1010 N. Grand St., where PSC Construction was working on a house. "When we pulled the roll-off box it hung up on the gas line," said Todd Lestage, Tyler Solid Waste special projects coordinator. "We immediately called the gas company and the fire department got there and everything got taken care of." Lestage said the city places the container where the contractor wants, and the gas line was only about 8 to 10 inches underground at that location. No injuries were reported. 

Two rescued from Commerce trench collapse 
(Commerce-AP) -- Two men were rescued in Commerce Thursday morning after a trench they were working in collapsed. The men's names were immediately released. Commerce Police say the two were repairing sewer lines in a 10-foot trench behind a bank when the walls caved in. Commerce is located in the Tar Creek area where sink holes and mine collapses have occurred after years of lead and zinc mining. 

Gas line accident Portland forces evacuations 
By SOPHIA TAREEN The Courier-Journal 
More than two dozen people were evacuated from their homes this morning after construction workers hit a gas line in the Portland neighborhood, according to Capt. Ronel Brown of Louisville Fire & Rescue. About 9:30 a.m. workers for Tom Brown Construction Inc., who were working on 19th Street near Duncan Street, accidentally hit a two-inch plastic gas line, said Doug Bennett, a spokesman for Louisville Gas and Electric Co. The contractor, working for Louisville Water Co., was putting in a new water service for an apartment building in the area, said Barbara Crow a spokeswoman for the water company. Louisville Fire and Rescue evacuated homes within a block of the gas line break, Brown said. Residents, many in their pajamas, waited outside for about an hour and half while LG&E worked on installing a replacement gas line. Dominique Miller, who lives in a house at 303 N. 19th St., adjacent to the site of the break, said that she was sleeping when she heard a loud noise about 9:30 a.m. She said she evacuated a couple of minutes later. 

Trench accident
WALTHAM -- Richard A. Kelly, 22 of Faribault, was injured Monday evening in a drainage trench accident. According to a Mower County Sheriff's Office report, Kelly was part of a crew working for Hodgman Drainage at the new municipal sanitary sewer project at Waltham. The mishap occurred while the workers were digging a trench near 8 p.m. Monday, according to the report. He was first attended at the scene by a Hayfield Ambulance Service crew and then flown by Mayo One to Saint Mary's Hospital, Rochester. 

Workers Rescued From Collapsed Trench; Two Men Trapped As Trench Walls Cave In
CHICAGO -- A trench collapse on the city's north side Tuesday afternoon trapped two city workers. Emergency workers succeeded in pulling both men from the trench in a methodical rescue effort, according to Tom LaPorte, with the Chicago Water Department. Both rescued workers were taken by ambulance to Illinois Masonic Hospital. Three ambulances were initially called to a construction site near Wilson and Kedzie avenues following the collapse of the walls of the trench in which the men were working. The workers were reportedly buried up to their waists and unable to remove themselves from the trench. Firefighters trained in subterrain rescue have begun working to extract the workers. NBC5 reported that the effort was complicated by the threat of further collapse of the already compromised trench walls. 

Gas Main Leaking, Local Roads Closed
A ruptured gas line along Highway 124 in Gwinnett County shut down traffic between Lenora Church Road and Ashworth Lake Road Monday afternoon. A construction crew severed the line about 10 a.m. Monday, authorities say. The accident resulted in the evacuation of about 200 people at a nearby medical complex. A 300 foot hotzone is being maintained, while authorities have yet to confirm when the leak will be repaired and the closed roads reopened. Gwinnett Fire, Hazmat, and Atlanta Light and Gas crews were called to the scene.

Gas leak forces Miromar evacuation 
reported by Jessica Ritter
ESTERO, August 8, 2003 — Thousands of people doing some rainy-day shopping at the Miromar Outlets had to be evacuated just before 11:30 a.m. Friday after a construction crew ruptured a natural gas line. Business returned to normal by early afternoon, thanks to crews that controlled the leak and Mother Nature, whose strong winds helped dissipate the gas. A worker from an electric company broke through the pip with a backhoe. Greg Hughes was cooking inside Wallaby Joe's when he says he smelled the leak. "The restaurant filled up immediately. We had the back door open and the gas leak's 20 feet away," Hughes said. Construction worker Steve Denton was even closer. "You just hear it rushing out of the pipe," Denton said. "It was under the ground when he put its forks in and hit it. He ran and I ran and just told everybody to get out of the building." The 16,000 square foot expansion project is about half way complete. But all work came to a halt as firefighters evacuated the entire complex. Mall managers say nasty weather early Friday pulled thousands of people indoors to shop. And although it hurt business, they say the evacuation was necessary. Shopper Claire Merchant agreed. "I think it's better to be safe than sorry, especially when you've got children," she said. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is reportedly investigating the incident. The electric company, Current Electric, had no comment on the accident. 

Man freed from collapsed trench
By Associated Press Saturday, August 09, 2003 - ANCHORAGE 
An industrial accident Thursday night left a man trapped in a trench for about three hours Thursday near Eagle River. Homeowner Forest Crane was working a 9-deep trench behind his mobile home about six miles up Eagle River Road when the trench collapsed. "He was covered up to about mid-thigh. There were a lot of rocks and stuff around him. He just couldn't move," said firefighter and paramedic Ward Hepper told KTUU-TV. About 20 firefighters from the Anchorage Fire department's special trench rescue unit responded. They used plywood to stabilize the sides of the banks before they climbed down to rescue the man. "They used the air system in the trench rescue, shored everything up, made everything safe and clean, got down in the bottom and just had to keep digging. Finally got him loose," Hepper said. "There was a lot of water in the bottom of the trench, along with the dirt, so it was kind of like an Inlet-mud rescue inside a trench rescue." Hepper said one part of the bank had a crack in it. "When the cars were driving, or the heavy trucks were driving on Eagle River Road, it was making the crack move. That's why we had to stabilize everything so it didn't cave in." 

UPDATE Contractor Fined For Deadly Trench Accident; OSHA Says Company Failed To Train Workers
A Warwick-based contractor is facing almost $90,000 in fines stemming from a February trench collapse that killed a worker. Walter Gorski, 33, of East Providence, was working on an 11-foot-deep sewer line in Woonsocket when the walls collapsed. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the accident could have been prevented had Gorski's employer supplied proper protection against cave-ins. OSHA said the workers had not been trained to recognize trenching hazards. Gorski worked for Greenwood Plumbing, Heating and Solar Inc. The plumbing contractor did business as Mr. Rooter. 

Worker finally freed after 5 hours in mud
By Robert Perez Sentinel Staff Writer August 6, 2003
SANFORD -- Kelly Gibson probably didn't think twice about climbing out of the hole he and his co-workers had dug in the alley behind Dorothy Brazzell's house. He had climbed out of hundreds of holes and trenches during his 15 years with the Sanford utility department. But Tuesday he found his leg stuck fast in the trench. The wet, heavy mud at the bottom clung to him like a leech, and there was little the 39-year-old could do to free himself. When Gibson's co-workers jumped in to dig him out, they accidentally broke a line that began to fill the hole with water and quickly turned what was an embarrassing situation into a five-hour rescue drama. Dozens of firefighters from Sanford and Seminole County worked against time and the elements to free Gibson. Victims in trench collapses can die from compression injuries caused by tons of dirt and sand pressing on their extremities. The longer they're trapped, the greater the danger. But this situation was different. Rescuers were faced with pumping out hundreds of gallons of mud from around Gibson, who was buried up to his waist. But the more they pumped out, the more mud filled the hole, said Stan Human, Seminole County battalion chief. Crews who worked in and around the hole behind 807 Rosalia Drive made little progress against the thick, black muck that held Gibson captive about 6 feet below the surrounding dirt and grass of the alleyway. Even after three hours of feverish work by rescuers using shovels, 5-gallon buckets, a backhoe and a truck with a giant vacuum cleaner, Gibson was no closer to being free. Efrem Session, who looked on from a fenced yard about 20 feet from the trench, pleaded with firefighters. "Hey boss man, make sure you get him out," he called out. "That's my brother man." Session said he has known Gibson for 10 years, about as long as his sister, Felicia, has dated Gibson. "I know he's scared and probably anxious to get out of there," he said. As the rescue wore on into its fourth hour, the weather began to work against firefighters. Dark clouds moved in from the northwest, and heavy rain and lightning came down by 4:30 p.m. That's when rescuers changed their tactics. Instead of continuing the losing battle to pump the mud out, they decided to dig a deeper hole next to Gibson and let the mud fall away from him. Felicia Session looked on nervously and complained of a pounding headache as a backhoe dug deep into the wet ground next to her fiancé. She tried to joke with friends and family but admitted she was scared and anxious. "I just want to see him," she said. But she didn't worry as much about how Gibson was handling himself. Two years ago, Gibson nearly lost part of his foot in a lawn mower accident, but he remained calm throughout the incident, Felicia Session said. "He's a hero because he doesn't panic," she said. Shortly after 6 p.m., a light rain resumed over the rescue, then suddenly Gibson was being pulled out. A cheer erupted from the crowd of onlookers as his arms, then head, came into view. Soon Gibson's nearly limp body was being put onto a medical stretcher for the trip to Central Florida Regional Hospital. He showed little emotion, but his face was a portrait of exhaustion and relief. Calls of, "God is good" came from the crowd with the refrain, "All the time." Dr. Todd Husty, Seminole County's medical director, said Gibson was doing remarkably well. Gibson's vital signs were monitored throughout the five-hour ordeal and remained steady. "If I were his doctor, I'd send him home tonight," Husty said. 

Worker stuck in chest-high mud rescued 
By MARCIA LANGHENRY Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer 
A construction worker stuck in chest-high mud was rescued by firefighters at noon today. The man's identity was not released but he was not injured, said Forsyth County Fire Chief Danny Bowman. The construction site is behind Lowe's on Peachtree Parkway in the Johns Creek area of south Forsyth County near the Fulton County border. Bowman said he was not certain how the accident happened. There was a large backhoe in the area, he said, and he guessed it appeared to the construction worker that the ground was more stable than it was. When he stepped off the backhoe, he became trapped when he sunk in the thick mud up to his chest. The rescue took 35 minutes and involved 15 firefighters. Bowman said they laid out an extension ladder to form a solid base to work from, then surrounded the man with plywood. Firefighters then stood on the plywood and manually pulled the man upward and free of the suction created by the mud and water. The ground is saturated from recent rains, Bowman said. On Sunday, the county received 2 inches and recently set a record for rainfall in July. 

Man Killed When Trench Collapses
(LOUISVILLE, July 29th, 2003, 2:30 p.m.) -- A Senninger Plumbing Company employee was killed Tuesday in a trench cave-in on Dixie Highway. Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Chief Doug Atwell says the man never had a chance when the dirt walls fell just after noon. Atwell says the man was repairing a water line under a Circuit City parking lot. Crews were still trying to unearth the man's body from more than a ton of dirt late Tuesday afternoon, and were expected to continue working well into the evening. 
It's the first fatal trench collapse in Jefferson County in the past 10 years.

Construction work ruptures gas line; No evacuations at any Eisenhower Drive businesses.
By NANCY POSTER Evening Sun Reporter 
Friday, July 25, 2003 - An unsuspecting worker digging a post hole behind the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Eisenhower Drive struck a natural gas line Thursday morning, sending a hissing rush of vapors into the air. The gas leak did not force the evacuation of the department store, said assistant manager Ron Kerlin. The line that was struck feeds the south side of Eisenhower Drive westward to the Rex TV store at 381 Eisenhower Drive, said Hanover firefighter Jeff Spielman. Officials at Giant Food Store and the Wendy's and the Red Lobster restaurants said they experienced no problems related to the gas outage. Because the line is fed from two sources, workers had to dig in two locations to finally shut off the flow of gas, he said. That was accomplished by 11:30 a.m., nearly an hour and a half after the 9:53 a.m. accident. Columbia Gas workers arrived at 10:14 a.m. and had the leak stopped by 11:30 a.m., said company spokesman Rob Boulware Thursday night. There was no interruption of gas service to any other customers in the vicinity, he said. An easterly wind carried the gas plume away from the store where it dissipated over Broadway, Spielman said. "There was great concern over the necessity of it," Spielman said of the possibility of an evacuation of the retailer. While the leak occurred at the rear of the store, behind a storage area, meters were set up inside the store to monitor the air. Part of the store's air handling system was shut down to prevent gas from seeping into the store, Spielman said.  "We were sent out here to fix damage done by an 18-wheeler truck to the fence," said Ivan King, a worker with the contractor, which he declined to identify. The workers were using a Bobcat tractor to install a post that had held a "do not enter" sign, he said. "While digging the hole, we happened to find a gas main," King said. Immediately, the workers saw a plume of vapors rise and heard the hissing of gas. They found the store's manager and called 911. "It was just a tough situation," King said. Despite the presence of emergency officials outside, it was business as usual inside the Wal-Mart. "The store was not affected in any way, shape or form," Kerlin said, adding the store's concern was for its sales associates and customers. Two or three store managers monitored the situation outside the store throughout the emergency, he said.

Trench-digging yields gusher on Willamette campus
TARA MCLAIN Statesman Journal July 23, 2003
Marigolds at Willamette University got more than a sprinkle Tuesday when a facilities worker hit a city water main while digging a trench. A geyser of muddy water erupted from a 6-inch pipe running under the lawns between Waller Hall and State Street, just south of the state Capitol. The hourlong gusher caused no damage, although two nearby university buildings lost water service for a short time. Tom Neal, Willamette’s facilities director, said the work crew knew the location of the pipe but thought it was buried deeper. The crew was digging shallow trenches for an irrigation system near the Star Trees with a trencher machine. The trencher’s rotating blades clipped off an old, capped connection that was closer to the surface than the rest of the pipe, which was not damaged, said Bud Armstrong, a maintenance foreman with the city’s Public Works Department. Armstrong estimated that the pipe was installed between 1910 and 1920. The city had recently surveyed the area for other construction work nearby and had marked where the pipe was, Armstrong said. “It’s one of those where they knew it was here, but they were hoping it wasn’t that shallow,” he said. Although there was no estimate of the water loss, it was nothing compared with the 2 million gallons that spewed from a broken 24-inch main downtown in late May. That break caused thousands of dollars in damage to vehicles and businesses near Liberty and Ferry streets SE. Tara McLain can be reached at (503) 399-6705. 

Worker dies after Santee Cooper trench collapse
(Georgetown-AP) July 18, 2003 - A man who had been on a construction job for two weeks was killed when dirt collapsed on him while he was digging a trench at Santee Cooper's Winyah Generating Station. Georgetown County Coroner Kenny Johnson said 30-year-old Scott May was suffocated Wednesday. He had been working with North Charleston-based Landmark Construction after being laid off from Georgetown Steel on June 29th. The crew was building a foundation for a structure at the power plant on US Highway 17. May became the fifth person killed in a construction accident since December in Horry and Georgetown counties and the second person working construction to die this week. 

Construction digging creates 2 gas leaks; Pipes shifting over time may have contributed to the accident, officials say.
By Ebony M. Moore Contributor to The Shorthorn by Kateryna Ivanova The Shorthorn staff
Two gas leaks caused fire fighters to block off a segment of Cooper Street from UTA Boulevard to Division Street Tuesday afternoon. An eight-inch gap in the major gas line that goes through the city was discovered at the corner of Cooper and Main streets, said Battalion Chief David Stapp of Arlington Fire Department. The second, smaller leak occurred at Cooper and Abram streets and was much easier to repair, he added. The Arlington Fire Department evacuated several businesses in the area, including the Diamond Shamrock gas station at Cooper and Abram streets and the Parks and Recreation Building and Bobby Davis Bail Bonds at Cooper and Main streets. Officials said the accident was caused by a road construction crew working on the street. Workers were digging at the intersection of Cooper and Main streets when they cut the line for the first time, Stapp said. When it became impossible to work at the site due to the smell, they moved a block up the street, where they dug into the pipes again, he said. Stapp said he did not know what company hired the construction workers or who made the report about the gas leaks. Road maps distributed to the workers are not always accurate and can be up to 10 years old, said Lieutenant Randy Ingram, Arlington Fire Department public information officer. Ground tends to shift over the years and pipes are slowly displaced in one direction or another, he explained. “Obviously, they don’t have X-ray vision — they have to assume that there’s nothing below them, so they just start digging,” he said. Oncor Gas Company was in charge of the repair. Workers planned to expose the gas line, fit a clamp around and tighten it to stop the leak, Ingram said. They will come back later to mend the hole in the pipe. The line runs through the major parts of the city, providing gas to a number of businesses and households, he added, which is why the company does not want to shut it down. It would also take a long time to start the system back up — and that is too much work, he said. “Oncor has no idea how long it’s going to take,” Stapp said. “We have crews who are monitoring the surrounding area for accumulation of gas using gas monitors.” Stapp said the major issue facing repair crews is heat. The firemen have to be rotated every few minutes because they are wearing full fire gear, he explained. Hot weather, however, will not affect the gas, he added. Sergeant Richard Grimmett of the Arlington Police Department said traffic is usually light for the intersections, so no major road problems are expected. “Everything is pretty well-contained right now, and the repair crew is doing their job. [Oncor] does it all the time — they’re very professional,” he said. “But if they cause a spark while they’re trying to repair it, it can be catastrophic.”

Ditch cave-in claims worker; Limestone man killed; probe under way 
Tamara Sharman , The Daily Journal July 15, 2003 
Emergency personnel labored for more than seven hours to free the body of a young worker who became entombed when a ditch collapsed at the Kankakee Roper plant Monday. "Almost always these cases are asphyxia cases," Kankakee County Coroner James Kelly said. "I think that he died very quickly, probably within minutes," Kelly stated. An autopsy will be performed today, but Kelly expects the results will confirm that Barber asphyxiated when his body was compressed by the heavy, wet clay. OSHA is investigating the incident. At presstime it was unclear whom Barber was working for at the time of the deadly accident. But he was part of a crew that was tending to a leaking water or sewer pipe beneath the floor at the plant at 2207 W. Court St. The workers had removed concrete and dug a trench approximately eight to 10 feet deep, three feet wide and 12 feet long. "It appears that they did not shore the trench at all," Kelly said of the workers. Barber was trapped when the trench collapsed. "He was 90 percent buried," recalled Assistant Chief Ron Young of the Kankakee Fire Department. Firefighters were summoned to the old factory at 1:22 p.m. and arrived four minutes later, Capt. David Harmon said. Help also came from the Kankakee County Tactical Rescue Team, which consists of firefighters from area departments. Barber's co-workers tried unsuccessfully to save him. The initial rescue efforts by Kankakee police and Kankakee firefighters also failed. Rescue workers were at risk from further collapse of the unstable trench, Harmon said. A concrete slab was then cut away and the sides of the trench were shored up to stabilize the area, according to firefighters. Then came the hours-long effort to free Barber. "It's a very tedious, time-consuming effort," Young said. The accident highlights the dangers inherent in trench labor. "An unprotected trench can collapse in under a second," Harmon noted. Emergency personnel from Aroma Park, Bradley, Bourbonnais, Limestone, Kankakee Township and Limestone Township fire departments assisted. Kankakee County Sheriff's Police also were at the scene. Young believes the response to the tragic accident shows the ability of area firefighters to work together in times of crisis. "It definitely demonstrates the need to have a well-trained tactical rescue team," Young said. None of Barber's co-workers was injured. A firefighter received a minor eye injury. Funeral arrangements for Nathan Barber are pending at the Kankakee chapel of Schreffler Funeral Homes. "Our sympathies and condolences go out to the family of the victim," Young stated. 

Injured worker pulled from trench at KSU
By Abby Slutsky Special to the Beacon Journal
KENT - A construction worker installing underground pipe at Kent State University injured his back and had to be rescued from a trench at least 20 feet deep Friday. Police and fire departments from Kent and Ravenna worked quickly to get the man out of the trench. Rescue workers started an intravenous drip before securing him to a backboard that was attached to a backhoe by several ropes. At the top of the trench, the man was transferred to a gurney and wheeled to a waiting ambulance, which took him to Akron City Hospital. He was not immediately identified. The accident occurred shortly before 1 p.m. near Kent Hall by the university's front campus. It was not known how the man was injured. Initially, rescue workers thought mud had fallen on the worker. However, Tom Euclid, director of architecture and engineering at the university, said that didn't happen. Euclid said that the man twisted his back either while using a wheelbarrow or after being startled by a mudslide that occurred outside the trench. The injury occurred while the man was working in a safety box, which prevents the walls of the trench from caving in. 

Gas line broken by contractor snarls traffic 
Friday, July 11, 2003 By PRECIOUS PETTY The Express-Times 
BETHLEHEM -- Downtown traffic slowed to a crawl for several hours Thursday after construction workers ruptured a high-pressure gas line at West Union Boulevard and Monocacy Street about 9:30 a.m. Emergency crews blocked part of West Union Boulevard between Third Avenue and New Street and part of Main Street between West Broad and Goepp streets while a UGI Corp. crew worked to repair the gas main. Homes and businesses along Monocacy Street between West Union Boulevard and Goepp Street and along West Union Boulevard between Conestoga and Main streets were evacuated from 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. as a safety precaution, said Fire Marshall Eugene Novak. A city contracted crew accidentally hit the main while digging trenches to install conduits for a traffic light at the intersection, said Director of Public Works Michael Alkhal. AJ Trunzo, Inc., the contractor working at the site, "did everything by the book," Alkhal said. "They did what they could ahead of time to avoid hitting the gas main," he said. A firefighter responding to another call saw a plume of gas rise from the main when he drove by the scene and immediately began isolating the intersection, Novak said. UGI spokesman Barry Wentzel said 28 area customers were left without service for a time after the gas main break. Service was expected to be restored by 3 p.m., Wentzel said early Thursday afternoon. Nearly 60 employees evacuated from Cigars International on Monocacy Street gathered at Monocacy and Goepp while they waited to find out if it was safe to return to work. "We've had power outages from storms before, but never an evacuation because of a gas leak," said Victoria Esterly of Bethlehem, a Cigars International worker. Normally, workers package 2,000 boxes of cigars a day, but productivity is likely to suffer because of the nearly three-hour break in the work day, Esterly said. City Firefighter Ray Alpha was treated for a cut hand at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg and released, Novak said. A police officer overcome by gas fumes was taken to a local hospital for treatment and released, officials said. 

Worker rescued from trench 
By K. Manikandan 
CHENNAI JULY 12. Fire Service personnel today struggled to rescue a worker who was trapped after the mud caved in and fell on him while he was working to lay sewer lines at M.G.R. Nagar in K. K. Nagar this evening. The personnel rescued 25-year-old S. Maari, who got trapped when he stepped into the 20-foot ditch this afternoon, after a 90-minute effort. Maari, along with his younger brother, Muthu, and younger sister, Devi, and scores of other labourers, was working to lay the main 1200-mm diameter sewer lines on K.K.Salai, as part of Metrowater's Clean Rivers Conservation Project. Maari entered the huge trench that was dug up to lay the main pipelines. He got down along with six others to measure the width of the levelled area, when mud from the western side of the trench caved in all of a sudden. While four of them managed to claw their way out and climb up the trench, Maari and two others still lay trapped. Noticing this, a local shopowner alerted the Fire Service personnel. While two others were immediatey pulled out of the trench, they found it difficult to retrieve Maari, as the wooden and iron beams placed on either sides to prevent the earth from falling into the trench, had also fallen on him, along with the mud. The Fire Service personnel from Ashok Nagar, who actually pulled out Maari, said that at first sight, they were able to notice Maari buried under the mud only till the waist. "He responded to our querries and even drank water", one of the Firemen said. They first pulled out the wooden slabs and iron beams manually and also using cranes before clearing the mud gradually. Devi, the younger sister of Maari, said the family belonged to Tindivanam and that they had settled down in Chennai some years ago. Along with her two elder brothers, she too was working on this project for the past two weeks. She and her father, Subramani, a cobbler, having a shop near the accident spot, had to be consoled by other workers even as the rescue attempt was on. It was a relief for the personnel, policemen, other labourers and hundreds of on-lookers, when Maari was finally pulled out of the mud and taken in an ambulance. Scores of local residents who had gathered atop terraces cheered as the Firemen took away Maari on a stretcher. According to police officers, who confirmed that Maari was out of danger, investigations would be taken up and the contractor penalised for negligence if found guilty. The trench, dug up for a depth of 20-foot and a distance of 100-feet was barricaded and made out of bounds. Police used lathis to prevent curious youth from venturing close to the trench. This road with the trench is used by thousands of school students everyday, causing worry to the parents who send them by vans and autorickshaws.

Construction accident causes break in gas main 
The Associated Press 7/8/03 11:39 AM
IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (AP) -- A crew worked Tuesday to fix a natural gas main that ruptured the previous day, prompting authorities to evacuate 10 businesses. Construction workers using earth-moving equipment accidentally broke open the gas main Monday morning, said John Austerberry, spokesman for Michigan Consolidated Gas Co., which owns the line. The eight-inch pipe carries gas that is pressurized to 150 pounds per square inch, making it a high-capacity main, Austerberry said. But enough gas remained in the system to prevent service interruptions, he said. Despite its pungent odor, the gas presented no health dangers to people in the area, he said. The evacuations were ordered to reduce risk of igniting the gas. The MichCon crew, based in Grand Rapids, was expected to finish repairs Tuesday afternoon. The evacuated businesses were to remain off-limits until then, Austerberry said.

Trench accident sends two to hospital
ORANGEDALE,N.S. (CP) - The collapse of a trench near Orangedale, Nova Scotia late Monday afternoon sent two construction workers to hospital with serious injuries. The mishap occurred on the Orangedale road, a short distance from the Trans Canada Highway in Inverness County. The two workers, employed by Blair S. Francis Construction, were initially taken to hospital in Baddeck and then air-lifted to Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Hospital spokesperson, Greg Boone, says they suffered multiple injuries, including fractures, and are now in fair condition. A spokesperson for the Department of Labour, Penny McCormick, says the department is investigating and ordered the contractor to backfill the trench to prevent any further accidents. 

Water Main Break Leaves Atchison Without Water
Damage to a water main left Atchison residents without drinking water for nearly 24 hours. Workers for an excavating company were installing a six-inch water main Monday when they accidentally cut into a 24-inch water main pipe. The accident prompted the city to immediately close down its water plant. The pipe is the only water source for Atchison from the Missouri River. The damage was repaired by early Tuesday, but residents weren't able to use the water until about noon. They also were told to boil the water before consuming it because it will have extra chlorine for several hours. City Engineer Joe Drimmel says the excavators were using outdated maps of the water lines that don't show the water main that was cut. 

Man trapped in mud: Franklin worker in hospital after ordeal on Northbridge project 
By Sara Withee / News Staff Writer Wednesday, July 2, 2003
NORTHBRIDGE -- A Franklin construction worker whose legs were stuck in mud for nearly three hours yesterday was under medical evaluation for possible hypothermia last night, rescue officials said. Robert Giordano, 22, of 13 Skyline Drive, was taken to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester yesterday morning after firefighters freed his legs from two feet of mud on the Riverdale Mills property, firefighters said. Giordano, employed by Lewis Concrete of Franklin, was laying a cement foundation for a 118,000-square-foot expansion of Riverdale Mills Corp. Giordano was working along a wall near the basement ceiling when he climbed down a ladder to the ground to retrieve some tools, Northbridge Fire Chief Gary Nestor said. The wall Giordano was working along borders a man-made water stream called a tailrace that serves an on-site hydropower operation, said property owner James Knott Sr. It reconnects with the Blackstone River about 500 feet from where Giordano was stuck in the mud. Giordano's legs got stuck when when he stepped in a muddy area created by water spillover from the hydropower operation, Nestor said. Employees spent an hour trying to help Giordano negotiate his legs out of the mud, Nestor said. They then called Northbridge Fire Department for assistance at 8:10 a.m. Pulling Giordano's legs free did little good except to cause him pain because the mud had created a strong suction, Nestor said. Other firefighter efforts, such as digging and trying to drain water from the ground with a Northbridge Public Works Sewer pump, were equally unsuccessful, Nestor said. "The thing just kept filling up with water, more and more and more so that's what made it difficult," Nestor said. Nestor finally called in the Southern District 14 Technical Rescue Team. The group of firefighters from Southborough, Ashland, Milford and Hopkinton is trained for rescues in trenches and small spaces. About 16 members of the group responded around 10 a.m., said Ashland Fire Lt. Scott Boothby, the district's team coordinator. They found Giordano with one leg knee-deep in mud and the other leg covered up to the thigh. The rescue team stabilized the ground around the mud, then freed Giordano's legs from the mud with a compressor and a soil pick -- a tool that pushes air through a pipe, Boothby said. "Within ten minutes of us getting there, the patient was extricated from the mud and taken to the hospital," Boothby said. By that time he was freed, Giordano was visibly bothered by the cool water temperature, Boothby said, though officials say he did not lose consciousness. "He was getting to the point that he was getting a little hypothermic," Boothby said. Knott, who purchased the mill in 1979, is acting as general contractor for his company's expansion, which started in May 2002 and scheduled for completion next September. He is expanding because his company, Riverdale Mills Corp., which manufactures wire-mesh lobster traps, has been growing since beginning production of "Wire Wall" security fences several years ago. Knott has clashed with the town over the expansion several times over the past year, first over a tax break the Board of Selectmen denied because it was requested after Knott began construction and over a $33,000 building permit fee. Knott has filed a lawsuit against the town over the fee, saying it is nearly 10 times the amount he was charged for a 1996 expansion approximately half the size of the current project. The Harvard graduate has powered his mill with hydrolectric turbines, feeding off the Blackstone River, since 1985. "It saves me about $100,000 a year (in electricity) that I don't have to buy," Knott said. Knott said he recently shut the turbines down for several months during construction. The construction site was completely dry before he turned off the operation. Yesterday's accident gives him no reason to turn the operation off again, he said. Giordano could have avoided problems by simply relaxing and slowly pulling his legs from the mud, Knott said. "Every one in the world does know or should know your body is only half the density of quicksand," Knott said. "You float in it." 

N.C. firefighters rescue worker buried in ditch; Labor officials investigating site incident
The Associated Press
GOLDSBORO, N.C. - A man helping to install a sewer tap was buried for 20 minutes Friday morning when the ditch in which he was working collapsed. Firefighters who answered the call for help found only an arm sticking out of the mud when they arrived at the construction site. Fire Chief Bobby Greenfield said rescuers slid an oxygen mask to the trapped worker, so he could breathe while they dug him out. The trapped man's arm was numb because of the pressure on it from the dirt, assistant fire chief Jerry Langston said. But he was breathing fine when he was unearthed. "I feel like he will be OK," he said. "The guys did a great job getting him out." The man was taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital. The hospital and the fire department did not release his name or condition. The worker was installing pipe to a private residence, Greenfield said. A sewer tap is where pipes from a house line connect with a city sewer line. No one else was in the ditch when it collapsed. Greenfield said the area around the ditch was damp, and that could have caused the walls to cave in. City plumbing inspector Russell Lawrence said the contractor working on the site was Mark Burlingame. Efforts to find a telephone number for him were unsuccessful. Greenfield said officials from the N.C. Department of Labor were investigating the accident, and he didn't know if charges would be filed. Labor spokeswoman Dolores Quesenberry said the department would not comment until it finishes investigating. 

Excavating Crew Causes Manchester Gas Leak
BY KRISTA PRIMROSE, Times-Union Staff Writer
NORTH MANCHESTER – Natural gas clouded North Manchester when a Bunn Inc. excavating crew accidentally hit an 8-inch steel gas main line around 3 p.m. Monday. The gas main, which provides service to a large section of North Manchester, began releasing gas after a bulldozer struck a service “T” at the corner of Main and Mill streets. Gas rushed out of the hole, sounding like a waterfall, until 9 p.m., when a properly equipped NIPSCO crew arrived on the scene. North Manchester Fire Department was notified of the leak about 3 p.m. and contacted NIPSCO immediately. At 3:17 p.m. a second call requesting immediate assistance was made and minutes later, homes and businesses within four blocks of the leak were evacuated. NIPSCO service trucks arrived at 5 p.m. but found that, due to the size of the leak, special equipment was needed. A welding crew from Monticello was needed to stop gas flow to the line in both directions. The gas flow was finally stopped around 9:30 p.m. and workers finished repairing the main about :30 a.m. today. Larry Graham, NIPSCO spokesman, said isolating the gas flow and shutting off only the damaged section was in the town’s best interest. Though the leak could have been stopped immediately, by disconnecting service to the line, a large portion of North Manchester would have been without gas services until the line was fixed. The Bunn excavating site superintendent, who declined to give his name, said the line was supposed to be abandoned, thus accommodating his team’s work. He declined to state whose responsibility it was to ensure the line was inactive. According to Graham, the gas line was on NIPSCO’s schedule for lowering next week. This change in depth was planned to accommodate digging for the CVS construction. Estimates regarding how much gas escaped are not yet available. No long-term effects are expected from the leak. 

Punctured gas line leaves many without 
June 21, 2003
Two major Camarillo retail centers and hundreds of residents were without gas Friday as Southern California Gas Co. employees worked to restore service to about 1,000 customers after a line was struck by a construction worker. The stores of Target Center, Camarillo Outlets and Old Town Camarillo were among those whose gas was cut off when the worker hit a 6-inch line while installing a storm drain at 21 Lewis Road, near Highway 101, in conjunction with a highway project. Shortly before 1 p.m., fire officials got a call about the break. While workers tried to isolate where the line was damaged, the company shut off gas south of the freeway from Lewis Road west to Las Posas Road. Traffic on Ventura Boulevard was redirected. Gas Co. officials expected employees to work all night Friday repairing the line. Tags with a phone number to call to have service restored were left on doors where occupants were not home. Anyone who still doesn't have gas service today should call (800) 427-2200. 

Water main ruptures in city of Shasta Lake 
Scott Mobley Record Searchlight June 20, 2003 — 2:12 a.m.
Shasta Lake officials asked residents to squelch their water use Thursday while crews fixed a ruptured main. Some 30 households around the Montana Street leak went without water much of the day. Workers had to cut them off to replace about a foot of severed steel pipe. The leak hit the city's 50-year-old main transmission line, which brings in water from the west, said Chuck Robinson, water treatment supervisor. "It was kind of a fluke," Robinson said. "We get leaks all the time. This one just happened to be in a bad spot." The Bella Vista Water District shipped Shasta Lake some water to help it survive until crews finished repairing the line around 3 p.m. The two jurisdictions help each other out in emergencies under an agreement inked during the early-1990s drought. The pipe ruptured shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday. The city lost about 120,000 gallons of water over the next 12 hours, Robinson estimates. The city of Shasta Lake typically consumes 4 million to 5 million gallons of water per day. Jose Castro, a lead worker for the city's public works department, blamed the leak on construction damage. A grader had scratched the pipe where it burst, he said.

Workers survive cave-in 
By Barb Ickes 
A dramatic rescue that enlisted some 30 workers from a nearby bridge construction project ended with one victim helping save the other. Two workers from Peoria-based Custom Underground were standing above a hole in a ditch just south of the Rock River bridge in Moline while laying cable Wednesday afternoon when the ground suddenly gave way. Both were sent tumbling into the hole with dirt pouring in behind them. One of the men was buried only to his knees and was able to quickly escape, but the soil completely buried the second man. Neither victim was immediately identified by police. The 2:15 p.m. accident occurred at precisely the right place, though — just yards from an Interstate 74 bridge construction site where a crew of workers, trained in excavation rescue, heard screams for help and rushed to the collapsed hole. As workers from Civil Contractors dug furiously at the dirt with shovels and hoes, the victim who had escaped the hole climbed into a track hoe and began removing dirt with the precision of a tablespoon. Meanwhile, workers from Civil Contractors laid plywood on the roadway and began cutting pieces to fit into the hole, creating walls to hold back the dirt. Others held a sheet over the hole to protect the victim from the afternoon sun while employees of the nearby Montana Jacks restaurant kept the rescuers supplied with cold water. Portions of 27th Street were barricaded by police during the nearly three-hour rescue effort, fearing the weight and vibration of passing vehicles would cause further collapse. The street closing forced drivers to find alternate routes in an area already heavily congested by the I-74 construction project near the Quad-City International Airport. At one point, Civil Contractors workers rushed a power saw into the hole when they realized the victim’s foot was stuck in an underground pipe. Nearby, a MedForce helicopter landed on a dime at the Interstate 280 overpass, waiting to transport the victim to a nearby hospital. Throughout the ordeal, the victim reportedly continued to communicate with his rescuers, who took turns holding an intravenous fluids bag over the hole. Bradley Forret, the president of Laborers’ Local 309 in Rock Island, rushed to the scene after hearing about the accident. He initially feared the victims were from Civil Contractors, many of whom are members of his union. “This is what all that training paid for,” he said, his voice trembling. “We get to send two guys home to their wives and kids today. “All these men just jumped in, no questions asked,” he said. “They heard them calling out for help and dropped everything they were doing.” As firefighters and paramedics stood ready with a stretcher, Forret crossed himself and looked to the ominous clouds moving toward the rescue site. “It’s truly amazing, these workers standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the rain coming,” he said, the emotion obvious in his voice. “It makes you want to get up again in the morning, doesn’t it? “Rain could really cause some problems here,” he said nervously. “But they’re getting close, got to be getting close.” As the helicopter fired up its engines, a body board was lowered into the hole. Moments later, the board and the victim emerged. And as the chopper rose from the roadway, the first raindrops fell. 

Work crews strike gas line
News Herald reports
CLAY TOWNSHIP -- A construction crew broke a gas line on Smith Drive north of Genoa city limits Monday afternoon. Bergman Paving was working in the 1500 block of Smith Drive, and about 1:30 p.m. Clay Township police received a call that workers struck a gas line, according to police reports. The Allen-Clay Joint Fire District was called and checked out the scene. No one was evacuated, and the gas company was called to repair the damage, police reported. 

Worker Trapped In Sewer Pipe 
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A dramatic rescue to free a construction worker trapped in a sewer pipe ended well Wednesday and the victim could be out of the hospital later today. The construction worker was working on a sewer line on Northwest 6th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale when his foot was sucked into the sand. Rescue crews and coworkers spent nearly two hours digging him out, at times digging by hand. For some coworkers the accident serves as a reminder of how dangerous the job can be. "Everyday we come to work and you know you think about it -- it's safety. Safety first man. It's got to be safety first and this is something that just happened in the spur of the moment and you think it's not such a deep hole -- that it won't happen and it happens," said one worker. Once freed, the man was taken to Broward General Medical Center for treatment. Luckily he suffered only a sore back. 

Construction Mishap Traps 2 Workers in Pit 
By Karl B. Hille The Winchester Star 
Two workmen were trapped in a hole by the boom of a 4-ton industrial forklift Wednesday when the vehicle’s body slipped into an adjacent pit. Lt. Kevin Yost of the Winchester Fire and Rescue Department said the men were freed by quick-thinking coworkers and escaped serious harm. “They were unpinned when we got here,” he said. “A couple of other workers raised the arm a little on the lift and freed them.” The men, who have not been identified, were taken to Winchester Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Yost said they were conscious and talking when they were transported. A worker who declined to give his name walks away from the scene of a construction accident Wednesday on Jubal Early Drive. This 4-ton industrial forklift slipped into a trench, causing the front lift to tilt down and trap two men in an adjacent pit. The men were spared from serious injuries thanks to the quick-thinking rescue efforts of their coworkers. A WMC nursing supervisor would not comment on their condition, citing a federal patient confidentiality law. The law allows hospitals to provide information about patients who sign confidentiality waivers. However, Valley Health System, which operates WMC, enacted a stricter policy denying all patient information to representatives of the media. The men were working around the foundation of the future Children of America building, a child day-care and learning center in the 600 block of West Jubal Early Drive. John Reines, a foreman with Melco Inc., said they were setting a 6-inch pipe through the foundation to feed the building’s sprinkler system. “As far as how all this happened, the only people that know are the two people that were in there,” Reines said, pointing to the hole where they were trapped. The men work for subcontractor John Morrison Excavation, he said. A John Morrison manager at the scene said he could not identify the men unless authorized by his supervisor.

Worker rescued from Lauderdale trench cave-in
BY ASHLEY 
After a massive, 90-minute rescue effort, a construction worker was freed from a sewer trench that collapsed on him Wednesday morning as he worked to lay a new sewer pipe in Fort Lauderdale. The worker, whose name has not been released, apparently suffered a broken ankle, and was taken by ambulance to Broward General Medical Center for treatment. An employee of Miami-based Astaldi Construction, the worker was inside a trench at the 800 block of Northwest Sixth Avenue at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday when mid-morning rain caused the trench to cave in, trapping him, said Fire Rescue Battalion Chief William Findlan. He tried to push the sand back, creating a vacuum that sucked him deeper into the four-foot-deep hole, eventually covering him waist-deep in wet sand. ''It was a bad situation, but he was never in any danger,'' said Findlan. ``The water wasn't going to rise above his head. But there was a lot of pressure on his body.'' Within five minutes of receiving a 911 call from other construction workers on site, Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue dispatched 21 paramedics and rescue specialists. Fire-Rescue water pumps sucked the water from the trench while a front-end loader dug a deeper hole nearby to help drain the water. ''The pumps and hole helped because for a while the mud would slide back into the trench, which just made our job harder,'' Findlan said. Covered in mud and sweating profusely, rescuers hooked up an intravenous line and separately administered nitrous oxide. ''He was in a great deal of pain, so we gave him something to ease that,'' said Findlan. When the man was finally pulled from the hole and placed on a stretcher, cheers erupted among emergency workers and a crowd of onlookers. ''He wasn't saying a whole lot,'' said Shawn Levine, a Fire-Rescue paramedic who had been on the scene since the 911 dispatch. ``He looked like he was going to be all right though.'' Tom McCormick, the program director of the Fort Lauderdale utility unit on the scene said trench collapses are not unusual. Astaldi stopped operations for the day, he added, to emphasize to its workers the importance of following safety rules while performing trench work. ''To be caught by the rain is something that is part of the job,'' he said. ``We make sure everyone knows the rules and are quick to respond if things look dangerous.'' McCormick said he is unsure if there was anything specific the worker could have done to avoid getting trapped. Bobby Day, an Astaldi construction worker who witnessed the accident, said he and his co-workers fear accidents like this. ''You wake up every morning and hope that it doesn't happen and then it happens,'' he said. ``It was bad. When you come in you've got to think, safety first. Always.'' 

Co-workers free man trapped in trench 
A 22-year-old West Virginia man was injured Tuesday when he was trapped in a ditch on Old National Pike in Donegal Township. Richard Charnock of Valley Grove was taken by helicopter to UPMC-Presbyterian hospital, Pittsburgh, where he was in good condition Tuesday, according to a hospital spokesman. Donegal Township police said Charnock was trapped in the ditch about 10 a.m. while he was installing a sewer line along the road. It was Charnock's second day on the job with Terra Excavating Inc., which was installing the line for Interstate Trailer Park. Charnock had been removed from the ditch by co-workers before rescue workers arrived. 

Trench Collapses, Kills Worker; Man Dies At Scene
POSTED: 12:20 p.m. PDT June 9, 2003
DIAMOND BAR, Calif. -- A trench collapsed and buried a worker Monday as crews were building a retaining wall at a gated community in Diamond Bar, authorities said. The man died at the scene of the accident that occurred in the 2600 block of Rocky Trail Road about 8 a.m., said Capt. Mark Savage of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Construction crews were working in the yard of a home when the excavation collapsed upon the man, trapping him, Savage said. Emergency crews, including an Urban Search and Rescue Team, worked to remove the body from the trench. 

Construction Accident May Delay I-40/West Hills Interchange
T-Dot Officials say construction on the I-40/West Hills Interchange could be delayed after a construction accident stopped work at Kingston Pike and Buckingham Road. About 8:00 Tuesday morning, workers from Tri-State drilling were installing utility poles when their machinery hit some sort of contaminated material. State agencies are investigating and have halted operations at this site until further notice. A Tri-State employee is being treated for minor burns to his eyes and face.

Explosion shuts I-74
Star report June 11, 2003
Indiana State Police temporarily closed off a portion of I-74 on the Southeastside today after a piece of highway construction equipment struck a gas pipeline and set off an explosion. Police said the accident occurred about 11:30 a.m. west of Post Road. No injuries were reported. However, a 16-mile stretch of I-74 between Ind. 9 and I-465 was closed to traffic until about 1:30 p.m. while emergency workers worked to shut down the gas line. Gas had continued to feed a fire that was centered on the construction equipment, which one neighbor and State Police described as similar to a trenching machine. "At about 300 or 400 feet, you could feel the warmth of the fire," said Brian Neary, who lives in the 3100 block of South Franklin Road. Neary said the trencher appeared to be a machine being used in the reconstruction of the eastbound lanes of I-74. "They were digging probably four or five feet below the surface level," he said. Joy Heath, a 79-year-old retiree who lives in the 3100 block of South Franklin Road, said she heard a series of booms punctuated by the loudest blast. “When that explosion happened there wasn’t no mistaking that,” said Heath. “It was big around and solid red, that orangey red. It was solid flames, just solid flames.” She said she called her son for help, but it was a Franklin Township firefighter who came to her door and evacuated her to a safer location a few doors down. Heath, who uses a cane, said she would have driven herself to safety - but the electricity went off and her garage door wouldn’t open for her to use her car. “It was quite scary, yes. The flames were shooting so high in the air it was frightening.” Indiana Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jessica Stevens said she did not know what type of machinery was involved. State Police Sgt. Ray Poole said the gas line was an older line that apparently wasn't detected by construction workers. Traffic already was restricted to two-way travel on the westbound lanes during the reconstruction. Stevens said westbound traffic was diverted north on Ind. 9 through Greenfield to I-70.

Construction worker injured by 1,800 lbs. bucket
6/3/2003 3:20 PM By: Associated Press
(THOMASVILLE) -- A Burlington man was critically injured at a construction site when an 1800 lbs. bucket fell on him. Officials say Felix Ortiz was installing new sewer lines for the area on Monday as part of a crew with Carl Norris Construction of Burlington. A worker noticed that a bucket had swung loose from an excavator and was falling into the trench. Ortiz was unable to move out of the way, and the bucket hit him in the head, fell onto his legs and pinned him in the trench. When EMS workers arrived, the construction crew had lifted the bucket off Ortiz, but rescuers weren't able to remove him without the trench collapsing. Rescuers spent two hours bracing the trench before Ortiz could be removed. Ortiz was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Rescue workers say he had injuries to his head and both legs, including a fracture near his ankle. 

Worker found dead after trench collapses
Associated Press
RIO GRANDE CITY -- A 24-year-old worker installing water lines died after the trench he was in collapsed, trapping him under an 8-foot-deep pile of dirt and rock for nearly 10 hours. Noe Cepeda Vela was alone in the trench along U.S. 83 just east of Rio Grande City when the 10-foot-high walls collapsed about 3 p.m. today, authorities said. His co-workers called 911. Justice of the Peace Dela Cruz pronounced Vela dead at about 7:15 p.m, after the body was unearthed enough for paramedics to check for vital signs. Crews with the Starr County Sheriff's Department and the Rio Grande City Fire Department finally pulled Vela from the rubble about 11:30 p.m. Monday. The search was delayed while rescuers tried to reinforce the trench walls to prevent them from collapsing again. Vela, of Rio Grande City, was working for MF Site Construction when the trench collapsed. MF Site Construction did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press. Rio Grande City is 70 miles northwest of Harlingen. 

Trench collapses, buries construction worker; Emergency teams on scene into the evening
By Shanna McCord and Moshay Simpson UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS May 29, 2003
RAMONA – A construction worker apparently suffocated yesterday afternoon when a trench collapsed and buried him while he was working on a sewer line, authorities said. The accident happened about 2 p.m. on a vacant lot between two homes on 11th Street near San Vicente Road. Rescue crews from the California Department of Forestry and the Santee Fire Department late yesterday were hoping to find the man alive. All of the digging was being done by hand, CDF Capt. Tom MacPherson said. "We've been filling up little buckets." The man's body was recovered around 9 p.m. The victim, an employee of Waples Backhoe, was with a crew digging a sewer line that is to extend from 11th Street to 10th Street, McPherson said. The trench is 14 feet deep. A representative from the Ramona Municipal Water District said the contractor had recently obtained the permits to begin construction on the line that is to join the public sewer system. The private line is being built to district standards," said Tom Brammel, a spokesman for the district. A boy, 13, walking home from Olive Pierce Middle School said he saw "a bunch of cops, a few fire trucks and ambulances and a bunch of people trying to calm" a woman at the scene. Other agencies involved in the attempted rescue included the Ramona Fire Department, the Sheriff's Department and a crisis management team from Poway. 

Construction workers hurt in blast; Explosion forces evacuation of homes 
By Peggy Breister the reporter 
A natural gas explosion and fire Tuesday afternoon in the Town of Taycheedah sent two Green Bay construction workers to the hospital and forced an evacuation of several homes in a nearby subdivision. The men, Todd C. Degeneffe, 35, of Green Bay and James S. Herman, 54, of Gillett work for Ronet Construction of Green Bay. They were transported by Mount Calvary Ambulance and Fond du Lac Fire Department Ambulance to St. Agnes Hospital with significant burns, said Lt. Rick Olig of the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department. Both men were listed in fair condition this morning at St. Agnes Hospital. A back hoe operated by an employee of the sewer utility company struck and broke a 2-inch gas main about 1 p.m. on Abler Road near Park Ridge Court, Olig said. The company is installing a new sanitary sewer line for St. Peter Sanitary District. Ronet is a subcontractor working for the project’s main contractor, Kruczek of Green Bay. “As construction workers at ground level were attempting to clamp it off, the gas ignit ed and there was an explosion,” Olig said. Two other workers in the trench were not injured. About 120 homes were without natural gas for about two hours while the line was repaired by Alliant Energy crews. When Town of Calumet firefighters arrived, flames were leaping 8 to 10 feet out of the four-foot wide by 12-foot deep trench, said Fire Chief Lee Gilgenbach. The injured men had already been removed, he said. “From our standpoint, the gas flames coming out of the trench were a good thing because then we know exactly where the gas is coming from,” Gilgenbach said. “If it hadn’t touched off and started on fire, we’d never know where the gas is and then any little spark anywhere could start an explosion,” he said. “The two individuals in the trench that were injured were unlucky. We were lucky because we were able to identify the source.” Firefighters were on the scene until about 3:30 p.m. Gilgenbach said he doesn’t know what ignited the gas from the line that was about 30 inches below ground. “It could be something very little, next to nothing,” he said. Town of Calumet was assisted by Mount Calvary firefighters. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is expected to inspect the site today and investigate the accident. 

Worker is buried alive when dirt caves in; Burton man killed when walls collapsed
By Taryn Asher
Burton — (05/21/03)--An 18-year-old Burton man died in a construction site accident. Michael Meshraky was killed in Owosso Tuesday when the ground caved in on him. ABC12's Taryn Asher had more of the details. Meshraky works for his family business, S&M Building and Remodeling. Around 3 p.m. Tuesday, he was at a site, working to dig a sewer line when the dirt walls collapsed, burying him alive. Mershaky's coworker quickly directed emergency crews to his construction site on Arrow head Lane in Owosso. Firefighters worked to dig Mershaky out and rushed him to the hospital, but it was too late. Mershaky's grandmother and the rest of his family want to know what caused the cave in. "Becasue of the depth of the trench, which was approximatley 9 feet, my understanding there is a box safety device lowered into the trench to protect a worker from a cave-in such as this and there were no such devices in the trench," said Shiawassww County Sheriff Jon Wilson. That's why Wilson says state workplace safety investigators has been called in. S&M Building and Remodeling in Burton and Reiner Wedel Custom Homes out of Corunna are being investigated. With 25 years experience, Shiawassee County Drain Commissioner Bernard Butcher says in his opinion the dirt slopes at the site were too steep. "There's certain areas you need to be very careful of that could break lose with little notice," he said. MIOSHA is investigationg the incident to find out what happened and what laws may have been violated. We're told that investigation could take several weeks. 

OSHA investigates death of worker at Millbrook construction site 
The Associated Press 5/20/03 12:41 PM
MILLBROOK, Ala. (AP) -- The Occupational Health and Safety Administration is investigating a Millbrook construction site where a worker died last week when a trench collapsed on him. Steve Owens, 40, of Tyler died Friday while working in a subdivision, police reports said. Owens was working for Liberty Construction of Montgomery. Company officials could not be reached for comment. Police reports said crews weren't using a trench box at the time of the accident. Federal regulations require the sides of a trench be supported when workers are in place, or that a trench box be used to protect the workers in case of a collapse. 

Davis Commuters Hit Unpleasant Suprise
May. 15, 2003 Sandra Yi reporting 
Davis County commuters get their patience tested when a big construction project hits an unexpected roadblock. Highway 89 was closed all morning, much to the surprise of commuters. And parts of highway 89 are still closed. Part of the problem is construction crews were installing a sewer line and dug a trench, only to see it begin to collapse. It looked like rush hour-- at noon. Chris Lloyd/Driver: "NOBODY LIKES TO GET STUCK IN TRAFFIC FOR A LONG TIME, THAT'S FOR SURE." But drivers in Davis County had a tough morning commute as a construction project on highway 89 hit a roadblock. Tom Hudachko/UDOT: "AND THIS IS REALLY WHERE WE HAD THE MAJORITY OF OUR PROBLEMS THIS MORNING. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE ASPHALT STOPS AND THE ROAD BASE BEGINS. ABOUT 20 FEET WIDE." Crews installing a sewer line ran into trouble when a 10 foot trench sloughed on some unstable soil and expanded. Workers would have to tear up the asphalt and repave. Tom Hudachko/UDOT: "WE'RE STILL HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE TRENCH HERE WHERE YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE PRESSURE IS RELIEVED AND WE'VE GOT SOME CRACKING IN THE ASPHALT HERE." The problem, though unexpected, caused major headaches and delays for drivers who had no idea the highway was shut down. It was supposed to reopen at 5 am. Chris Lloyd/Driver: "OH, IT WAS ABOUT A HALF HOUR DELAY." By 10:00 this morning only one southbound lane would open to traffic. Jennifer Cate/Traffic Specialist: "UP IN DAVIS COUNTY, WE STILL HAVE THAT DETOUR." All northbound lanes are still closed, leaving commuters to think again about the drive home. Trever Breuhn/Driver: "THEY HAVEN'T POSTED IT OR ANYTHING SO I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS CLOSED OFF UNTIL JUST NOW WHEN I GOT HERE. SO I'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET HOME COMING THE BACK WAY." Gary Birell/Driver: "NOBODY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON." "SO WAS IT FRUSTRATING?" "VERY FRUSTRATING, VERY FRUSTRATING." Chris Lloyd/Driver: "I'M NOT GOING TO BE TAKING IT TONIGHT." Highway 89 northbound lanes will be closed until tomorrow morning at 5. The detour is at the Farmington exit. If you take Main Street, you can get back on 89 at Cherry Hill. If you're heading north, you can stay on I-15 and take the Kaysville exit. A reminder that Lagoon Drive is also closed. UDOT says this project will help ease traffic in Davis County, so the headaches now will be worth it in the long run. 

Backhoe accident cuts Boston Net service 
By Hiawatha Bray, Globe Staff, 5/14/2003 
An errant backhoe blade wrought havoc on Internet service throughout Boston yesterday, and The Boston Globe's Internet site, Boston.com, was among the victims, as was the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority. Workers accidentally sliced through a fiber-optic data cable used by Dallas-based Allegiance Telecom Inc., a telecommunications company that hosts the server computers of Boston.com and other local businesses. The accident, which occurred at about 6:45 a.m., disrupted Internet services throughout the day. ''In the Boston area, all of our data customers are affected,'' said Allegiance spokesman Michael Caputo. ''They have no service to the public Internet.'' Other customers who used Allegiance to carry their telephone traffic also lost voice communications, but Caputo wouldn't identify the customers. Allegiance began to restore service by late afternoon, with the help of Veroxity Technology Partners Inc., a Boston-based Internet provider, which shared some of its Internet capacity with Allegiance. ''It was a unique situation where we could lend a hand,'' said Michael Papell, Veroxity's director of business development. Randy Brandenburg, Boston.com vice president of product and technology, said the website actually never lost contact with the Internet because it has a secondary data connection. Unfortunately, the domain name service (DNS) computer for the site was still operated by Allegiance, and was knocked offline. A DNS computer is part of a global network of machines that direct visitors to the correct Web servers. If DNS is down, it doesn't matter whether the Web server is working, because Internet users will have no way of reaching the server. Brandenburg said that Boston.com was aware of the danger before the outage occurred. Next month the site was to adopt a new system that included its own DNS computer. But the cable cut ''got in 16 or 17 days ahead of us,'' said Brandenburg. Boston.com moved quickly yesterday to set up a new DNS computer, but Brandenburg said that it wouldn't do any good until some time today. That's because the Internet's entire DNS network must be told how to contact the new DNS computer, and the worldwide directory is updated only once a day. Fortunately, Veroxity came to the rescue, lending 100 megabits of data-carrying capacity to Allegiance. This put the Allegiance DNS computer back on line and restored service to Boston.com at around 5:30 p.m. yesterday. 

Gas explosion destroys home
By Town Crier staff
Santa Clara County firefighters extinguish flames at a Cupertino home that exploded after utility workers accidentally punctured a gas line while working on a home down the street near the Los Altos border May 6. Gas from the damaged gas line filled the house and ignited when it came into contact with a lit pilot light, authorities said. The explosion nearly leveled the home. Nobody was injured in the explosion. The owner told local news stations that he had left for the store to purchase a box of screws for a project he was working on just before the disaster occurred. 

Buildings evacuated after gas line break
News Herald reports 
PORT CLINTON -- A construction crew restoring West Perry Street broke a 3-inch gas main Monday, causing about two dozen people to be evacuated from local stores for more than 40 minutes. Workers and shoppers at Great Scot grocery and Goodyear-Fanmark Tire & Auto Service were asked to leave the stores until the gas was shut off, said Port Clinton Fire Chief Chuck O'Neal this morning. "We checked the buildings afterwards once they did come in and shut the main off," the chief said. "It was at lunch time so it affected the businesses." Construction crews broke the main right at noon, and it took a little more than an hour for Columbia Gas to get the line shut off and repaired. Since the break was closer to Jackson Street than to Monroe Street, authorities shut down Jackson until the gas flow was stopped. No one was injured in the hour-long ordeal. It could not be determined this morning which construction crew caused the break. 

Construction Accident Costs Man Part of Leg
5/9/2003 by Stephanie Scurlock 
Memphis,TN- A day after a construction worker amputates part of his leg in a construction accident he is listed in good condition at the Med's trauma unit. The construction crew were he worked continues its job replacing a city of Memphis sewer line. They are working in a tunnel underneath railroad tracks near Wells Station Road and Chelsea. The injured construction worker is identified as 48 year old Gldino Santiana. The owner of White Contracting, where he worked says Santiana stepped in a hole and got his leg caught on a auger. The auger is used to clear dirt out of the tunnel. "It looks like a drill bit inside a tube. And, that's what it is. When he stepped off in it. The drill bit or auger pressed his leg against the exterior tube or casing and that's what cut his foot off,"says Charlie White. White says santiana worked for his company for about 5 months and knew his job well. This he says is just a horrible accident. "He's used to it. Everybody knows the auger is there. They know it's dangerous. We try to watch these people and unfortunately it just happened,"says White. White says those who continue to work on the job a day after the accident know the job can sometimes be dangerous. accident. "They understand accidents. Unfortunately, in our business we're around a lot of heavy machinery and equipment. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes it does happen,"says White. Doctors had hoped to reattach the part of Santiana's severed leg but they couldn't. However according to physicians, it is better for him that he amputated his leg below the knee than above it. It's makes the fitting of a prosthesis a little easier. 

Worker buried alive as mud wall collapses 
By Karthik Subramanian CHENNAI MAY 11. 
A casual labourer who was digging a well inside a candy factory in Old Washermanpet on Sunday was buried alive when the sand wall collapsed on him, due to the lack of proper safety procedures. The mishap, reported to have occurred at around 2.15 p.m., when the labourer, V. Ramakrishnan, dug the well with three others including his wife, Shanti, inside a candy factory on Telugu Chetty Street to a depth of around 15 feet. Another labourer, Janardhanan, was also caught when the sand caved in but he was rescued as he was above Ramakrishnan. The Fire and Rescue services said they received the rescue call at 2.29 p.m. and a unit from Old Washermanpet station was rushed to the spot. Even while Janardanan was rescued immediately with the help of the locals, Ramakrishnan was already buried under four feet of sand. A police team headed by the Deputy Commissioner (Washermanpet), A.G.Maurya, said the owner of the factory, A.P. Natarajan, had not acquired proper permission with Metrowater to sink the well nside the factory premises. Mr. Natarajan has been arrested. The police were not willing to accept the statement that the well was being dug for rainwater harvesting purposes. Clearly, the well was being dug inside a roofed factory premises, the officer added. The Fire and rescue services headed by the Divisional Fire Officer (North), K.Bakthavatchalam, determined that the well was dug up without placing concrete sleeves along the circumference of the well to prevent the sand from sliding in. "We could not risk letting anyone else enter the well as there was a possibility that they too would get stuck," the officer said. In effect, the rescue operation was reduced to a `recovery' operation and dragged for nearly four hours with five rescue units working together. Meanwhile, tension was building on the street outside with a large crowd gathering to witness what was going on. For the public, it was almost a replay of the accident in another North Chennai locality, Mannadi in August 2001 when six-year-old Tamilmani died after falling into an incomplete open bore well. The wife of the labourer, Shanti, who was a witness to the `rescue' operations was getting hysterical with every passing hour, even while the Fire Service personnel struggled to get the hardware needed for the rescue operation, such as `S-shaped' hooks. The police tried to pacify the crowd and even prevented some of Ramakrishnan's relatives and colleagues who were willing to risk an accident and get into the well. "We cannot risk more lives as we fear that he is already dead," an officer said. By 6-30 p.m., when the body of Ramakrishnan was removed from the well by dragging the rope with a clamp fixed to his body, the streets outside were near empty resembling a curfew of sorts. The public were not allowed to pass through the street. Only a few political volunteers and the local councillor, Vannai Ganapathy (ward 9) were present. The body was transferred to a waiting ambulance and taken to the Stanley Hospital for post mortem. Meanwhile, the local residents pointed out that the acute water scarcity was prevailing in the region and wondered what precautions would need to be taken, as more wells would be sunk in the coming months.

Construction Worker Rescued From Collapsed Trench 
A Tri-state construction worker who became trapped in a collapsed trench Friday morning has been rescued after more than two and a half hours. Nita Lunsford, 32, of New Lebanon, was working at the De Sales Plaza construction site, at the intersection of Madison and Woodburn in Walnut Hills, when an old foundation collapsed around her. Lunsford, who works for Reece-Campbell Construction Company, was stuck in between two walls 12 feet below ground while rescuers worked to dig her out. The rescue took more than two and a half hours because Urban Search and Rescue crews had to shore up the ground around Lunsford to keep the old foundation from collapsing more. Lunsford's main injury was to her left leg, which was the only part of her body that had become trapped. She was alert and talking with emergency crews during the entire rescue which ended at 1:45 p.m. Friday. Lunsford's sister was on the scene during the rescue and called her a 'strong woman who has been through a tough ordeal.' DeSales Plaza in East Walnut Hills will include shops and apartments when it is completed. 

Workers Trapped In Southern Iowa Trench Collapse; Investigators Blame Rain, Soft Soil For Accident
May 8, 2003
MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa -- Officials in Mount Pleasant said Thursday all the rain may have been a factor in a trench collapse Wednesday, which trapped two city utility workers for about 15 minutes. Randy Carver, of Mount Pleasant, and Jake Syfert, of Salem, were working in the trench when it caved in. Lori Glanzman, of Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities, said Syfert was buried up to his hips and Carver was buried above his chest. Other utility workers quickly dug the men out. Glanzman said the hole was dug correctly, with the sides shored up and reinforced. She said the ground in the area had been dug up before, and combined with the rain, made the ground soft.

Construction Site Accident Causes Explosion
May 7 — A bizarre accident at a construction site in Cupertino ended with an explosion and a fire that burned down the house next door. It happened at Imperial and Granada avenues around 2:45 Wednesday afternoon. The fire department says a construction worker hit a gas main with a backhoe and vapors drifted to the house next door. The explosion was a shock to everyone. One woman was injured with minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital. A male with minor injuries was treated at the scene. 

Ruptured gas main closes two Lansing schools
By James McCurtis Jr. Lansing State Journal
The Beekman Center and Forest View Elementary School were shut down Wednesday after workers ruptured a gas main at the south Lansing center. Lansing School District employees were installing playground equipment at Beekman, 2901 Wabash Road, when they broke the 2-inch pipe about 8:21 a.m. Beekman students were on buses when the accident happened and never entered the school, said district spokesman Mark Mayes. Beekman students were taken to Forest View about a quarter mile from the center, but officials detected gas there as well. Forest View students were then taken to the Hill Center for Academics & Technology for the remainder of the day. Beekman students were taken home, but if a parent wasn't home they were taken to the Hill Center. Both schools are expected to re-open Thursday, Mayes said.

Details

Parent Category: Incident Alert Archives

Category: Trenching & Excavation Alerts

Published: 10 September 2010

Trenching & Excavation Accidents #6

updated on 05/06/2010

UPDATE OSHA: Lack Of Shoring Could Have Contributed To Deadly Cave-In
May 2, 2003 
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A man died Thursday when he was trapped for more than an hour underground after a cave-in at a construction site in the western part of the city. Marvin Young, 30, was helping connect a new sewer line to the city sewer line in a 12-foot-deep, 6-foot-wide ditch about 1 1/2 miles south of Interstate 40. Young was in the trench when it started to cave in about 11 a.m., said Maj. Brian Stanaland, a spokesman for the Oklahoma City Fire Department. "He jumped to another area and was completely buried over his head, about 9- to 10-feet deep," Stanaland said. Rescuers reached Young's body about 12:15 p.m., but were unable to remove it from the trench for several hours, Stanaland said. Workers used hand shovels and could only remove 5-pound buckets of dirt at a time or risk another collapse, Stanaland said. Young's body was removed from the ditch about 3:30 p.m. Ron Watkins, a safety specialist for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said that large of a trench should have some kind of shoring. "At this moment, it looks like there was none," Watkins said. Dirt samples removed from the ditch will be analyzed, he said. Young was part of a crew from HMS Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning that was installing the sewer line for a building under construction, Stanaland said.

Construction Cave In
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Tense moments at a local construction site,as rescue workers are called to assist an injured man. A contruction worker was rescued from a trench after a cave-in at a construction site this morning. The site was located near north St. Louis and Zora Avenue in Joplin. Med flight airlifted the injured worker to St. John`s Regional Medical Center in Joplin after he was rescued by local firefighters. Officials say a 15 foot trench collapsed around the worker just after 8 this morning. The construction crew was installing a sewer line for a new housing addition when the accident happened. "While they were doing some excavation one of the workers stepped outside of the trench box which is a box that helps protect against any fall down and the side of the trench actually collapsed in on him,"said Steve Lea, Joplin Fire Department. Authorities say a trench collapse in our area with the type of soil found here, can exert up to 700 pounds per square inch of pressure. Officials say the worker was in quite a bit of pain after being rescued, but his exact condition is not know at this time. Reported By: Jim Jackson

TRENCH COLLAPSE
Thursday, May 01, 2003
A construction worker is dead, after a trench collapsed on top of him. The accident happened about eleven this morning in Oklahoma City, just South of Interstate Forty. The construction crew was working to connect two sewer lines. When the twelve foot trench he was working in collapsed. 30 Year old Marvin Young had been buried by nine to ten feet of dirt. Crews worked for nearly an hour trying to reach him. But by the time they pulled him out, he was dead. The accident will be investigated. 

Construction workers buried alive 
Posted Wed, 30 Apr 2003 
The bodies of two construction workers who died after they were buried under tons of rock, sand and clay when the trench they were digging collapsed, were recovered by rescue workers on Wednesday afternoon. The men were part of a 20-man team laying stormwater pipes for a new shopping centre in Okavango Road in Kraaifontein when the accident happened around noon. Metro rescue spokesman Dr Hitesh Bhoola, who was on the scene, said rescue workers including the fire department and construction workers had dug away furiously to reach the two men but their efforts were in vain. Bhoola said the identities of the two workers, whose bodies were being taken to the mortuary, would only be released once their families had been notified. "This incident now becomes a crime scene because the workers died an unnatural death," Bhoola said. 

UPDATE Firm has history of violations; Safety officials investigate accident scene
By SYDNEY B. LEAVENS Monitor staff
PEMBROKE - The Pembroke-based company that employed the construction worker who died last Friday afternoon in an excavating accident has been cited for more than 40 violations of federal worker safety standards over the past decade. Randy Twombly, 39, of Deerfield was killed Friday afternoon when the excavator he was operating on F.L. Merrill Construction Inc.'s North Pembroke Road sand pit tipped and rolled down into the ditch below, landing on the roof and crushing the cab. Twombly had worked for the company for two years. Mine Safety and Health Administration officials were on the scene yesterday investigating the cause of the accident. Twombly's death was the first the construction company has reported in at least 10 years. (Companies are required to report to inspectors fatalities or accidents in which three or more workers are injured; F.L. Merrill Construction has reported neither.) But during that time, the company was cited for violating safety codes at its roadside sites as well as its gravel and sand pits, according to inspections conducted by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, both divisions of the U.S. Department of Labor. F.L. Merrill Construction has received 28 citations from the Mine Safety and Health Administration for its two Merrimack gravel pits since 1998, the first year for which records are available. Three 2003 violations are still pending. Between 1994 and 2000, OSHA found 17 violations at the company's roadside excavation sites, at least nine of which officials called "serious," or likely to cause injuries that would require more than on-the-job first-aid care, from partial disabilities to death. The Pembroke company has paid about $38,000 in fines since 1994, the two administrations' records indicate. Company officials could not be reached for comment. F.L. Merrill Construction's long record of violations is not necessarily unusual for an excavating company, said David May, OSHA's area director. Because construction has a higher injury and fatality rate than other lines of work, government officials inspect construction companies more than most. "Just being in construction creates more of an opportunity for violation if (the company) is not paying attention," May said. Excavation, one of the more dangerous types of construction, is under particularly close scrutiny, May added. Under a special excavation program, inspectors are required to stop and inspect any excavation sites that are at least five feet deep and do not look adequately secured. As a result, many of the excavation companies the administration inspects are cited for violations, May said. (In all, inspectors find some violations at about 70 percent of all sites, he said). F.L. Merrill Construction has paid about $3,500 for the 28 violations at its sand and gravel pits. Those violations included, in 2000 and last December, failing to correct defects to safety equipment in a "timely manner to prevent creation of a hazard to persons." The company was cited in both 2000 and 2001 for not properly guarding machines so that workers did not come in contact with moving parts. (Mine Safety and Health Administration could not be reached yesterday to comment on the particular circumstances of each citation.) At roadside excavation sites, OSHA inspectors fined the company on several occasions for inadequately protecting its workers. In 1998, for example, inspectors found that a trench in which two F.L. Merrill Construction employees worked was not shored against the collapse of its walls. Initially, inspectors alleged that the company had prior knowledge of the violation and proposed a $35,000 fine. But on reviewing the matter with company officials, however, they determined the offense, though serious, was not willful and settled on a $2,550 fine. F.L. Merrill Construction has not been cited - or inspected - by OSHA since 2000. Twombly's is the seventh death nationwide to take place on the job at a sand or gravel pit this year, according to the Mine Safety Health Administration's Web site. Inspectors hope to conclude their investigation of the accident this week. 

Gas Line Capped at Evacuated School
Web Editor: Sean Rowe Last Modified: 4/29/2003 11:13:48 AM 
A ruptured gas line that forced the evacuation of Redan Elementary School Tuesday morning has since been capped. Students and school staff should be able to return to the building by noon, according to DeKalb Schools spokesman Spencer Ragsdale. Students were temporarily taken to New Covenant Ministries, located less than a mile away from the school. DeKalb fire Lt. Eric Jackson said a contractor working in the area struck and broke the line. Authorities have not reported any injuries due to the accident. More details as they become available. 

Worker falls into trench
Firemen pulled an unidentified Asian worker to safety and rushed him to the Adan Hospital after he allegedly slipped and fell into a 15-meter deep trench in Martyr Fahd Al-Ahmad Area. A medical source at Adan Hospital was quoted by Al-Qabas daily as saying the condition of the worker, who is seriously injured, is stable.

Downtown gas leak leads to evacuation 
April 16, 2003 By Jeremy Craig Staff Writer 
A gas-line breach on Ellis Street on Tuesday morning caused the evacuation of an entire downtown block, including more than 300 pupils at Curtis Baptist School. Emergency workers responded to the accident, caused when construction crews on Ellis Street hit the gas line at about 11 a.m., said Battalion Chief J.E. Clark, of the Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department. No one was injured, he said. 

Plumbing subcontractor rescued from trench
By JENNIFER DONATELLI Staff Writer
A Glen Burnie man was trapped for about three hours yesterday when a trench he was helping to dig in north county partially collapsed. Antonio Loverde, 23, a subcontractor for Linthicum Plumbing, was pulled from the hole after a coordinated effort by scores of emergency workers who flocked to the scene. Mr. Loverde was taken to the Shock-Trauma Center at University Hospital in Baltimore as a precaution. He was in fair condition this morning. Paramedics said he suffered injuries to his right hip, thigh and ankle. He also sustained injuries related to the compression in the trench and exposure to the cold, said Division Chief John Scholz, a county Fire Department spokesman. Despite yesterday's relatively warm weather, moisture in the soil could have caused hypothermia. Mr. Loverde and Chris Milan, who both work for Suburban Contracting Co. of Kingsville, were repairing the sewer line at the home of Jennifer and Jeff Hodges at 311 Cheddington Road in Linthicum. They had dug a trench measuring 16 feet long, 4 or 5 feet wide and 8 feet deep in some parts, and had removed the shoring to find the gas line when it collapsed, Mr. Milan said. "We walked to the edge of the hole to see what our next move was and the bank gave way," he said. Linthicum Plumbing owner Timothy Young said this was the first time something like this has happened in his company's history. The workers followed all the procedures for inserting shoring, or a trench box, in the hole, he said. Firefighters and paramedics from Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties, as well as the Howard County Special Operations Unit, the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Administration and surgeons from Shock-Trauma's Go Team arrived to help Mr. Loverde, who was trapped up to his thighs and was conscious. Rescue personnel inserted large boards into the trench to shore up the walls. Emergency personnel blocked off Cheddington Road because they were concerned about vehicles causing vibrations and disrupting the trench more, Chief Scholz said. With darkening clouds and sporadic rain, they also were concerned about any moisture that could have hindered the rescue, he said. Rescuers also pumped heat into the trench - moisture in the soil could have caused hypothermia - and oxygen to help Mr. Loverde breathe and an intravenous line, Chief Scholz said. Mr. Loverde also was at risk for crush syndrome, which Chief Scholz described as what happens when toxins build up because of a lack of circulation. When the circulation returns suddenly, septic contaminants could course through the body rapidly, he said. Mr. Loverde's fiancee, Kristina Miller, and his brother, Phil, looked on anxiously as rescue efforts progressed. "I'm just hoping he's all right," Ms. Miller said. Rescuers finally pulled him out using a basket at 4:50 p.m., to the applause of dozens of residents of Crestwood, a neighborhood of about 200 homes. OSHA officials will handle the investigation of what happened. 

Gas leak forces elementary school evacuation
By JEANNA CUNY , Staff writer 04/23/2003 
About 750 students from Wyatt Elementary School at 8900 Coit Road were evacuated Tuesday morning after a gas leak in the area. 'The kids looked on it as an adventure and we made the best of it," Principal Nancy Roberts said. "I think our system worked quite well in keeping all the kids safe. That's our No. 1 priority." Plano Fire Department officials received a report of a gas odor at 10:02 a.m. The leak occurred when workers damaged a 3-inch gas main on the southwest corner of McDermott and Gifford, while doing construction work on the McDermott Road Church of Christ building, 200 yards east of Wyatt Elementary, she said. Officials with the Oncor gas company were notified of the damage and were on the scene to repair the line. "When our crews went to the school, Plano ISD maintenance officials had already initiated evacuation of the school," said Fire Department spokeswoman Monique Cardwell. s a precautionary measure, elementary school students, teachers, parents and administrators walked to Rice Middle School at 8500 Gifford until the area was declared safe at 11:17 a.m., she said. No other buildings were evacuated as a result of the accident, Cardwell said. Students returned to class about 12:30 p.m., district spokeswoman Nancy Long said. 

Gas explosion levels home, Nicor employee injured
April 23, 2003 — A construction accident in Blue Island led to an explosion that destroyed one home and damaged at least two others. There are reports that one person was injured. Officials say Nicor was called to the scene after workers struck a gas line in the area. The explosion occurred just after they arrived in the 3100-block of 141st Street in Blue Island. A Nicor worker was reportedly injured in the explosion. His condition is not known at this time.

Battle to save man trapped in mud 
Emergency services are battling to rescue a workman trapped in 6ft of mud after a trench collapsed on him. The man, in his 50s, had climbed into the trench he and colleagues had been digging only for the sides to fall in, Gwent Police said. "The sides appear to have collapsed on him, burying him in a depth of 6ft of mud," a spokesman added. About 30 firefighters are at the scene in Malthouse Road, Llantarnam, Cwmbran, and an ambulance is standing by to take the man to hospital if necessary. The man was working for Bristol-based contractors MJ O'Connor Ltd when the accident happened shortly after 4pm. Firefighters began trying to extricate him shortly before 6pm.

Trench collapse kills construction worker 
09/04/2003 - 12:17:31 pm 
An Italian man has died after a trench collapsed on top of him at a construction site near Ennis, Co Clare, this morning. The man was working on a Bord Gais pipeline in Clarecastle at the time of the accident. Health and safety officials have been notified and gardai are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. 

UPDATE Company Cited For Alleged Willful Violation In Trench Collapse Federal OSHA issues citations for cave-in that buried workers
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Lompoc-based excavation company for serious and willful violations of federal safety standards following an investigation into the death of an employee when a trench collapsed. R. Williams Construction Company received three citations dated March 17, 2003, that carry proposed penalties of $91,000, for violating federal laws which require specific precautions to prevent cave-ins. The federal OSHA investigation of R. Williams was prompted by the Sept. 19, 2002 death of an employee working at the Chumash Casino Project near Santa Ynez. The employee was working at the bottom of a 70-foot long, ten-foot deep trench being prepared for a new sewer line. The employee and a co-worker were buried when the trench collapsed on top of them. The co-worker was rescued quickly, and survived with serious injuries. The violations are particularly egregious because the employer was hired based upon its expertise with underground construction. "OSHA excavation and trenching standards clearly state what safeguards must be in place to protect workers in this type of construction," said Chris Lee, OSHA deputy regional administrator in San Francisco. "This employer knowingly placed workers at significant risk by failing to take the most basic precautions against trench collapse." According to OSHA investigators, several workers claimed the employer asked them to sign a statement that they had received training in trenching work when, in fact, they had not. The workers also reported that the statement was in English although some employees, including the injured employee, could not speak, read or write English. R Williams received a citation for one alleged willful violation, with penalties of $70,000, for failing to comply with requirements that trench walls be sloped at an angle of no more than 34 degrees. According to OSHA investigators, the trench that failed had vertical walls from the bottom of the excavation to a height of about five feet, and then sloped back from the trench at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. The company received a citation for three alleged serious violations, with fines of $7,000 each. The alleged serious violations were failure to provide a stairway, ramp or other means of escape; failure to have a qualified person inspect the excavation and all protective systems on an ongoing basis during the work shift; and for not instructing employees in how to spot and avoid unsafe conditions in the hazardous excavation environment. R. Williams also received a citation for a single violation, without penalty, for failing to protect workers from being injured by lose rock or soil falling into the excavation. The company 15 working days from the date of the citations to submit an appeal. OSHA is dedicated to saving lives, preventing injuries and illnesses and protecting America's workers. Safety and health add value to business, the workplace and life. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

UPDATE State fines Grand Ledge company
Lansing State Journal
The state has ordered a Grand Ledge construction company to pay $5,100 in fines after a trench accident in January killed a Portland man. The state Department of Consumer and Industry Services' Bureau of Safety and Regulation cited Precision Plumbing for four serious violations under construction safety standards. The company must pay and correct the problems. It can appeal within 15 days. Arthur Krass, 43, was trapped 15 feet below ground when a ditch's dirt walls collapsed while he was installing plumbing at a home under construction in a Holt subdivision. Neither Krass' family nor the company could be reached for comment Thursday. The violations are: No accident prevention program was developed, maintained or coordinated with employees. Fine: $1,050 No ladder or other type of proper access or egress was provided to employees. Fine: $1,050 The excavation was not properly sloped for safely making a sewer and water tap. Fine: $1,500 Precision failed to report the death of an employee within the required eight hours. Fine: $1,500 

Worker's Leg Caught In Trenching Equipment 
Friday April 04, 2003 1:53pm 
Oklahoma City (AP) - A man suffered serious injuries this morning when his leg became caught in a trencher in Oklahoma City. The man's name was not immediately released. Fire Major Brian Stanaland says the man was working to install a conduit for underground electrical lines at a construction site. Stanaland says the man's leg became caught in the digging chain nearly up to his thigh. Stanaland says rescuers unbolted the belts to the chain and cut through a safety bar to free the man's leg. 

Cedartown man killed in construction accident 
04/03/03 By Matt Tuck, Copy Editor 
A 25-year-old Cedartown resident was fatally injured in a construction accident on Monday, March 31. The Cedartown Fire Department reported that the victim, Joaquin T. Domingo, was part of the construction crew charged with widening US 27. At approximately 2:27 p.m., members of Bruce Albea Contracting of Rockmart were burying what is being called “large water runoff pipes.” Fire Department officials said that normally when installing the pipes, one of the workers will stand inside the section as it is being placed into the ground. A Track Hoe is then used to position the pipe after the worker is at a safe distance. It is believed that Domingo was guiding the section of pipe as it was lowered, but was not out of harm’s way before the Track Hoe was used. “The Hitachi EX230LC operator was backing the machine after pipe alignment,” the report said. “He was given the ‘all clear.’” No one was aware that Domingo was still in the pipe when the “bucket” or “scoop” of the Track Hoe was lowered into the work site. The ictim was accidentally struck across the head and upper body. EMS and police officials were quickly on the scene. When they arrived, Domingo was lying unconscious in the trench with severe head injuries. Sgt. Joy Nolen said that the victim was breathing when EMS officials arrived. “We secured the area and directed traffic,” she said. “Pretty much, we got out of the way and allowed emergency personnel to work on [Domingo].” Initially, Nolen said, a helicopter was dispatched to the accident scene; emergency officials soon felt it was too late. “We secured the Kroger parking lot for a Life Flight, but it was cancelled,” the officer stated. Domingo was later pronounced dead. 

Gas Fumes Float Into Local School, Students Hospitalized; Trench Collapse Damaged Gas Line Near Building
CINCINNATI -- Several children were hospitalized after natural gas fumes wafted into a local school Thursday afternoon. Five students at White Oak Middle School on Jessup Road in Green Township were taken to local hospitals just after noon after complaining of illness, WLWT Eyewitness News 5 reported. The gas fumes were traced to a construction site near the school. A spokesman for Cinergy said that a trench collapsed at the site and damaged a gas main. The school's principal said that the windy, warm weather prompted some teachers to open classroom windows Thursday afternoon, and the wind blew the fumes into the school. Cinergy shut off the gas flow to the line, leaving about nearby 15 homes without power. Crews from Cinergy checked out the school, but no leaks were found in the building. Additional details are not available. Stay tuned to WLWT Eyewitness News 5 and refresh your ChannelCincinnati.com page for updates.

Landslide kills road worker
HANAYAMA, Miyagi -- A worker died and another was injured after being hit by a landslide during road repair works here Tuesday morning, police said. At around 9:50 a.m., a landslide occurred along the Honsawaaki Dori street in Hanayama where road repair works were under way and buried a man and a woman working at the site, police said. One of them, Mitsuo Honda, 56, died after being rushed to hospital with serious injuries. The other, 61-year-old Satako Sato, suffered serious injuries but her condition is not life threatening, police said. (Mainichi Shimbun, March 25, 2003) 

UPDATE Trenching Fatality at a Denham Springs, La., Worksite Brings OSHA Citations Alleging Willful Violations Of Safety Standards 
DALLAS -- A Watson, La., homebuilder's alleged failure to protect employees from a trench cave-in that allegedly caused the death of one employee has resulted in proposed penalties of $76,750 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor. Atlas Corp. was cited with two alleged willful and four alleged serious safety violations following an OSHA inspection that began Jan. 7 after a trenching fatality that occurred at the company's worksite in Denham Springs, La. The company, which employs about 21 workers, was installing sewer pipes in a developing subdivision. The alleged willful violations were for failing to protect employees working inside trenches from cave-ins and failing to properly slope or shore trenches and take appropriate action when a cave-in hazard is recognized. A willful violation is defined as an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The alleged serious violations were issued for failure to perform daily excavation inspections, failure to provide trained personnel in first aid response, and failure to instruct employees on how to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions. A serious violation is one that could cause death or serious physical harm to employees from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. The company has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the Baton Rouge area director, or to contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health standards can call the Baton Rouge OSHA area office at (225) 298-5458. Or, OSHA's toll-free hotline number may be used to report workplace accidents, fatalities, or situations posing imminent danger to workers. The number is 1-800-321-6742. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is dedicated to saving lives, preventing injuries and illnesses, and protecting America's workers. Safety and health add value to business, the workplace and life. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

UPDATE Contractor fined $50,000 for death of worker 
A CONTRACTOR has been fined the maximum $50,000 for causing the death of a worker through a worksite soil slide last December. Chinese national Tian Zhi Kuan, 35, was buried waist-deep in soil when the side of a 2.9m-deep excavation collapsed suddenly. He died in hospital from multiple injuries. Caravelle Construction and Development, the main contractor at the Jalan Bukit Merah worksite, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to failing to provide adequate piling and bracing against the side of an excavation that was more than 1.5m deep. The contractor was also fined $10,000 for failing to place excavated material at least 61cm away from the edge of the excavation. The court heard that Mr Tian and a co-worker were trimming the side of the excavation with shovels on Dec 4 last year, when the soil from the side slid down suddenly and trapped Mr Tian. Caravelle had been awarded a Housing Board contract for major upgrading works at the site, and it had sub-contracted the building of a multi-storey carpark to IRE Corporation, Mr Tian's employer. Investigations showed that at the time of the accident, the sides of the excavation were not protected by shorings, bracings or pilings to prevent the soil from collapsing on the workers who were inside. Also, excavated soil was placed too close to the edge, which could have resulted in soil falling on the workers. The Ministry of Manpower yesterday reminded factory occupiers and contractors to ensure the safety of employees working inside an excavation. It added that it would take legal action against any factory occupier or contractor found flouting safety rules.

Contractor fined S$50,000 under Factories Act for death of worker 
A contractor, Caravelle Construction and Development Pte Ltd, pleaded guilty in court on March 18 for causing the death of a worker under the Factories Act. The Manpower Ministry says the contractor was fined the maximum penalty of S$50,000 for failing to provide adequate piling against the side of an excavation of more than 1.5m deep. Workers were exposed to the hazard of falling or sliding materials from the excavation's side. The contractor was also fined a further S$10,000 for failing to place excavated material at least 610mm back from the edge of the excavation. The accident happened in December last year.

Worker electrocuted after hitting power line
Associated Press 
Published March 21, 2003 ELEC22 
KENOSHA, Wis. -- A man was electrocuted and a co-worker was hurt when they hit a buried power line while sinking a well. The 20-year-old Union Grove man was operating equipment for Hoover Well Drilling Co. Inc. when the gear touched the 4,800-volt power line Thursday morning in Trevor, authorities said. His name was not released. A 28-year-old co-worker suffered a shock while trying to help the victim. The co-worker was hospitalized in satisfactory condition late Thursday.

Vineyard collapses into tunnel at local winery; No one hurt in roof collapse at winery under construction near La Honda
By Marion Softky Almanac Staff Writer 
A peaceful Friday afternoon in the hills above La Honda. A big explosion, followed by a roar. And a large patch of baby vineyard sinks into the ground, where miners were excavating a tunnel for a new winery 25 feet below. No one was hurt in the failure of the ceiling of one of three tunnels that workers are drilling 300 feet into the greening hills. The tunnels will house the Clos de la Tech winery, being built by T.J. Rodgers and Valeta Massey of Woodside, whose stated goal is to produce the best pinot noir in the world. "I panicked," admitted Ms. Massey, who is directing the excavation. Then the miners told her this type of accident is not unusual in mining, she said. They foresaw it and took precautions. As the miners were drilling the 34-foot-wide central tunnel into the hillside, occasionally dynamiting basalt, they encountered a large boulder wedged into the ceiling of the tunnel. "They call it a widow-maker," Ms. Massey said. To remove the rock, workers used a piece of dynamite, and withdrew from the tnnel, as required by state and federal regulations. Ms. Massey explained. The explosion broke the rock and allowed the loose soil above the hole to pour through the hole into the tunnel. The process is like an hour glass plugged in the neck, Ms. Massey explained. When you remove the plug, the sand runs down. The result was a sink hole up to 30 feet in diameter, where the new vineyard, including about 100 newly planted grape vines, sank into the tunnel, which will some day house barrels of aging pinot noir. The project will be delayed about two weeks to allow workers to remove the soil and shore up the roof, Ms. Massey said. The owners notified state and federal agencies that oversee mining, and San Mateo County, which approved the grading permit. "This is tunneling, and that sort of thing happens," said Terry Burnes, planning administrator for San Mateo County. "They followed procedures. No people or equipment were in there. "When all is said and done, no one will know the difference." 

Victim of Overland Park construction accident identified
The Kansas City Star
A worker who died Monday when a trench collapsed at 129th Place and Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, was identified today as Samuel Mera, 29. Mera, who lived in Kansas City, Kan., was waterproofing the foundation of a town house that was under construction when a wall of earth caved in. Rescuers think the man died immediately when the earth slammed him against the concrete foundation. Two other workers who were in the trench escaped. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration began investigating the accident Tuesday. 

Trench Collapse Kills 1 Person; 2 Workers Taken To Hospital
5:18 p.m. CST March 17, 2003
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Emergency crews responded to a trench collapse that killed one person Monday. The collapse was reported around 2 p.m. near 129th Place and Metcalf Avenue. Crews were working on basement foundations for a new townhome in the Deer Creek Reserve subdivision, KMBC's Bob Werly reported. Three workers were preparing to waterproof the foundation when one of the trench walls gave way. Crews immediately began working to shore up the collapsed wall, and the Overland Park Fire Department was called to the scene. Emergency crews found a worker who was buried in dirt up to his knees. The worker apparently died of a head injury, Werly said. "It appears that there was part of the shore, the ditch, approx 10 to 15 feet long gave way, and pretty much slammed him up against the concrete basement wall," said chief Dennis Meyers of the Overland Park Fire Department. Two other workers were taken to a hospital with minor injuries, Werly reported.

Gas line rupture sickens 21 at Lemon Grove school
By Mark Arner UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER March 15, 2003
Nineteen children and two adult workers from a Catholic school in Lemon Grove suffered minor respiratory problems yesterday after construction workers severed a nearby natural gas line. The accident at 11:45 a.m. prompted evacuation of St. John of the Cross Catholic School on Lemon Grove Way, which has 422 students in preschool through eighth grade. It also halted natural gas service to 20 homes for an hour before it was restored by San Diego Gas and Electric, a utility spokeswoman said. Kaiser Zion and Alvarado hospitals in San Diego and Sharp Grossmont hospital in La Mesa treated 16 children and one adult for minor respiratory problems ranging from headaches and dizziness to nausea. Representatives of the hospitals said they expected to release all the patients last night in good condition. It was not known immediately where the other three children and adult received treatment. The accident was being investigated by SDG&E yesterday, and it was not clear if the gas line had been properly identified on a utility map. The line was severed by J. Fletcher Creamer and Sons, a contractor hired by Helix Water District to install a 10-inch water main near the school, said Helix General Manager Mark Weston. Sister Marilupe Mier-y-Teran, a school spokeswoman, praised adults from the school and neighborhood, who quickly moved students away from the gas leak. "Thank you to every single adult who helped," Sister Marilupe said. "They all did an excellent job." 

Accident traps man in mud two hours
By PEGGY O'HARE Houston Chronicle
A man was trapped chest-high in mud for more than two hours Friday before firefighters freed him. Robert Sauseda, 55, of Bryan was taken from the southeast Houston construction site where the accident occurred to Memorial Hermann Hospital. He was listed in good condition later Friday. Sauseda was trapped after the ground gave way while he and other workers were measuring grades and elevations for pipes to be installed around underground storage tanks at a new Shell station at Reed Road near the South Freeway. Despite his predicament, Sauseda remained calm throughout the ordeal. The accident happened at 1 p.m., when Sauseda stepped back and the ground caved in beneath him, trapping one of his legs. The situation soon became desperate as he continued sinking in the mud. "At first, it was just one leg stuck in sand. I ran to get some boards to help him out," said Sauseda's nephew Joe Samarrippas, 39, who was also working at the construction site. But Sauseda could not budge from the wet sand -- then the underground tanks gave way and began to roll, his nephew said. Fortunately, the tanks rolled away from the trapped man. "If the tanks had rolled toward him, it probably would have sucked him under," said Samarrippas. After calling 911, Samarrippas, also of Bryan, threw a chain down to his flailing uncle and hooked one end of it up to a truck so the man would not sink any farther. Because Sauseda was only 50 to 75 feet away from Reed Road, emergency officials diverted traffic to keep the ground from shifting even more. About 35 firefighters used ladders, ropes and a life preserver to free the man and gave him an oxygen mask to wear during the ordeal. They pulled him to safety around 3:15 p.m. and loaded him into an ambulance. Emergency personnel said Sauseda appeared to have suffered no major injuries, his nephew said. Sauseda was expected to be kept overnight at the hospital for observation.

Midlands excavation collapse kills worker
A construction worker employed by Westbury Homes on a housing development in Leicester Road, Brownsover near Rugby, has died as a result of an accident. The man was buried at the bottom of a four-metre deep drainage excavation. A fellow worker tried frantically to dig him free but to no avail, emergency services later recovered his body.

Hot Springs Accident Kills One 
Story by News 4 Arkansas Posted 3/5/2003 12:02:54 PM 
A construction worker is dead after a trench collapse. It happened about 10:45 AM Wednesday in downtown Hot Springs at the construction site for the new district court. Hot Springs police say there was a heating and air conditioning trench in front of the building site that collapsed. Two workers fell in. One got out, the other died. The men worked for a heating and air company out of Benton. We have a crew on the scene and will bring you the latest tonight on News 4 Arkansas at 5:00 and 6:00. Watch KARK News 4 for more on this story! 

Gas leak a near disaster 
By KYLIE MUNRO AND KRISTY GRANT
Workers and shoppers were evacuated after the accident. Public school, workers told to clear the area. A MAJOR gas leak in central Albury yesterday forced the evacuation of Olive St and kept emergency services in overdrive for two hours. More than 15 businesses and Albury Public School were evacuated as clouds of gas erupted from a burst pipe on the footpath between Baker Motors and the school about 1pm. The pipe was ruptured when a Wagga drilling company, contracted to lay cabling for Telstra, hit the pipe with a horizontal boring machine. Police and fire authorities sealed off the Dean St and Smollett St entrances to the accident site as fears of an explosion grew. Traffic was diverted past Dean St from Kiewa St and Country Energy reacted quickly by turning off the electricity supply to the affected area. Country Energy also temporarily suspended service to surrounding residential areas as a safety precaution. Fire officials ordered mobile phones, two-way radios and anything that could emit a spark to be shut down. Albury Central fire brigade station officer, Mr John Todd, said the leak had the potential to create a disaster. He said fire crews saw dust billowing into the air from a high-powered gas vapour cloud at the scene. “A 450kpa high pressure main had been hit and to avoid a possible explosion we had to use fob nozzles to disperse the gas,” Mr Todd said. “Anything that could throw a spark was switched off and we began to monitor the lowest levels of explosive gas. “We know that when the level of gas in the air drops to a certain level then it cannot explode.” Mr Todd said the situation worsened after gas seeped into electrical conduit cables and tracked to the opposite side of Olive St. Origin Energy spokeswoman Ms Justine Leadbetter said it took workers 33 minutes to fix the problem. “Workers repaired the pipeline and made sure there was no threat of a further leak before declaring the area safe,” Ms Leadbetter said. “The incident was reported promptly to Origin Energy by the contractor who struck the gas line, which made fixing it a lot easier. “We would like to thank everyone that was involved for their co-operation and communication in making sure that the incident was handled as quickly and efficiently as it was.” A spokesman for the Wagga Directional Drilling Company said it was an unfortunate accident. He said the company had followed plans outlining the locations of each gas line but the one they hit had not been marked. “We just didnt know it was there,” he said. Telstra Country Wide area manager for the Riverina Mr Andrew Cottrill said industrial work plans were generated by an agency, Dial Before You Dig, which gathered the locations of cabling, gas and water pipes from authorities.

UPDATE Midlands company fined in deaths of two workers
(Columbia) March 3, 2003 - A construction company has been fined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration after an accident that killed two workers, 15 and 16-years-old. Rigo Beto Xaca Sandoval and Moises Xaca Sandoval died on January 28th when a trench collapsed at the future site of the Blythewood High School. OSHA fined Burriss Electric more than $42,000 for violating six safety violations. The violations included workers not wearing helmets and not having a competent person on site to inspect the trench.

UPDATE BURIED ALIVE IN JAIL TRENCH Feb 27 2003
A WORKMAN was buried alive when he fell in a 10ft deep trench inside a jail, a court heard yesterday. Dougie Tindal, 52, of Arbroath, was dead before he could be hauled clear. Morrison Construction, of Edinburgh, face three charges of breaching Health and Safety regulations over the accident in Friarton Prison, Perth, in October 2000. Glasgow-based BD&G Projects and English firm TPS Consult also face charges. The trial continues. 

UPDATE Family members bitter over death of E.P. man in trench collapse
Russ Olivo February 26, 2003 
WOONSOCKET -- Walter "Gig" Gorski lived long enough to name his daughter, but not to see her born. Gorski, 33, is the man who died Friday in the collapse of a sewer trench on Ballou Street. Police are asking the attorney general to consider criminal charges in the matter because Gorski's employer allegedly violated state safety guidelines on the job, despite repeated warnings. Gorski's wife, Kyleen, is seven months pregnant with the East Providence couple's first child, Mrs. Gorksi said Monday. The child, whom they had named Emily, is due on May 12. "I'm extremely furious over what's been taken away from me and my family," Kyleen Gorski said. "I'm angry that we waited so long for this baby and he will never know her." Kyleen, 28, and other members of her family said they have hired a lawyer to look into the possibility of filing a wrongful-death suit against Walter Gorski's employer, Mr. Rooter. Police said the company is owned by Don Lapierre of Cranston, who did not return repeated telephone calls for comment on this story. "We know there's nothing we can do for Gig anymore," said Jane Roy, Kyleen's mother. "We have to protect Kyleen and the baby." Gorski had worked as a laborer for Mr. Rooter for about four months after 10 years with Slater Print Works in Pawtucket, family members said. Shortly after noon on Friday, police said, Gorski was working in a trench with his immediate supervisor, Shaun Rodrigues, also of East Providence, in front of the Ballou Home for the Aged, 60 Mendon Road, when he was killed. The Ballou Home had hired Mr. Rooter to excavate a sewer pipe leading from the nursing home to the main pipe in the street after problems with the plumbing a day earlier. Rodrigues had also hired a private backhoe operator to dig the trench. The crew had reached a depth of 12 feet, officials said, when the sides began tumbling in on Gorski and Rodrigues, who were both inside the hole. Rodrigues escaped and tried to dig out Gorski manually with the backhoe operator, Henry Whitford, who jumped off the vehicle to help. At one point, Whitford returned to the backhoe and tried using the bucket to remove a couple of scoops of soil and rocks from the roughly 25-by-5-foot hole -- to no avail. The state medical examiner ruled Monday that Gorski had died of "asphyxia due to obstruction of (the) airway and body compression." The ruling essentially confirmed what officials had suspected Friday when they said he had been buried alive, dying of suffocation and the crushing of his body. Officials say he probably died very quickly. Clad in his brown jumpsuit, Gorski's lifeless body was finally lifted from the hole by firefighters nearly six hours after the recovery effort began. Most of the time was devoted to locating a wood-and-steel brace to shore up the hole and prevent it from collapsing on recovery workers as they dug out the victim. After the rescue, public works officials and police said Mr. Rooter was in violation of a state law requiring such a brace -- they called it a "box" -- for trenches deeper than 6 feet. At the scene, Administration/Public Works Director Michael A. Annarummo said the company had been warned "twice, possibly three times" to abide by the regulation before the city OK’d the work, calling Gorski's death "a needless, needless tragedy." In an interview at their home on Farnum Street Monday, Gorski's relatives said they are so angry at Lapierre that they have refused to let him in their house and have forbidden him from coming to Gorski's wake on Thursday, at the Barrett Funeral Home in Warwick. Her husband talked about digging trenches as backbreaking work, but she never realized it was so dangerous, she said."He'd do anything to support his family," she said. Kyleen, who would have celebrated her third year of marriage in May, learned only a few weeks ago that she was having a girl. In anticipation of the baby, they had begun remodeling one of the rooms in the tidy ranch home in Riverside that she and Gorski bought from her parents recently. Kyleen called her doctor on Friday, worried about the impact of the emotional trauma on her pregnancy. Her doctor told her to check herself into the hospital at the slightest sign of trouble, and a cousin who is a nurse will be nearby during the wake and the funeral. She's doing fine so far, with support from family and friends. "Walter would have wanted me to be strong for the baby," she said. Besides his wife and future baby, Gorski, who grew up between two sets of fraternal twins, leaves three sisters and a brother, family members said. 

Mysterious Fumes
An investigation is underway to determine what caused a Fresno construction crew to become sick while digging a ditch. The men were installing a sewer line at Elm and North Tuesday morning when they were overcome by fumes. The intersection is open, but early Tuesday police blocked off about a two-mile area for several hours as a precaution. There were no evacuations. Now, investigators want to know what made the workers so sick they had to be taken to the hospital. Heavy machinery sat in the position workers left it. The six-man crew was installing a sewer line at the intersection of Elm and North when they all started feeling ill. Matthew Waite, a working at the scene, recalled what happened, "We just came through a line and it started smelling real bad and everyone started feeling sick." The workers thought the nausea would pass, so they waited an hour before reporting the incident. But, the sick feeling didn't go away. Soon, a hazardous material crew arrived on the scene. Paramedics checked out each of the workers. They were then put in a tent and decontaminated as a precaution. Five men were taken to UMC by ambulance. Firefighters, armed with protective gear, oxygen, and high tech equipment, gathered samples of dirt and water from the ditch. Early analysis shows the men came in contact with a substance similar to benzene, a highly flammable gas. More tests need to be done before they know an exact cause. Investigators say it's not uncommon for crews to experience unusual smells when doing this kind of work. It will be another day before a cause can be determined. Investigators say the gas could have come from a previous fuel spill or an underground storage tank. All of the workers are now recuperating at home. 

Gas line break prompts closing of Enterprise Road 
By JEANNINE GAGE STAFF WRITER Last updated: Feb 24, 10:52 PM 
ORANGE CITY -- Calling a gas main break Monday morning an "explosion hazard," officials closed a busy stretch of Enterprise Road south of Saxon Boulevard and prepared to evacuate a day-care center nearby. Workers for Progress Energy were removing a utility pole on the east side of the roadway when they hit the gas main at about 9:30 a.m., authorities said. Orange City firefighters responded, donning masks to protect themselves from the fumes, and immediately began applying a water stream to dissipate the gas. Fire and police officials blocked off the area from Saxon to Commed Boulevard. Traffic was routed through Glen Abbey for at least 90 minutes. "There is an explosion hazard," Orange City Fire Department Captain Herb Hoffman said at the scene. "We're evacuating the day-care center just so we don't take any chances." But moments after Hoffman made that decision, gas workers arrived and turned off the main gas valve . "We have over 27,000 square feet here, so we moved the children to the back of the building," said Virginia Sutthoff, director of Child's World of Learning. "Then we were told we didn't have to evacuate." A few parents picked up their children and several called but, for the most part, it was a normal day for the 120 2- to 5-year-olds, Sutthoff said. Florida Public Utilities Co. spokeswoman Laura Scotten said the break caused seven homes in the Fawn Ridge subdivision to lose gas service, but she expected it to be restored by Monday evening. Electricity service was not affected. An ambulance responded as a precaution, said EVAC ambulance spokesman Mark O'Keefe. No one was injured. 

Police investigate construction worker’s death
Donna Kenny Kirwan February 24, 2003 
EAST PROVIDENCE -- A 33-year-old East Providence man was killed Friday when the sides of a ditch he was working in outside a Woonsocket nursing home collapsed and buried him with dirt and construction debris. According to Woonsocket Police, Walter R. Gorski was helping to fix a clogged sewer pipe with aco-worker at the Ballou Home on Mendon Road when the accident occurred shortly after noon.Gorski's employer, Mr. Rooter Plumbing and Heating, of Warwick, had been hired to do the work. According to reports, Gorski and the co-worker, identified as Shaun Rodriguez, 30, of Riverdale, were inside the 12-foot hole when a backhoe operator watching the scene from above warned them that the sides were crumbling. Rodrigues reportedly was about to climb out after hearing the warning when the cave-in occurred. Rodrigues told police he was buried up to his knees, and saw that Gorski, working at the opposite end of the hole, was nearly covered by the debris.Rodrigues said that he managed to free himself and that he and the backhoe operator tried to free Gorski but were unable to, police said. More than 30 rescue workers responded to the scene, including firefighters from Providence and North Providence. It took rescue workers nearly six hours to remove Gorski's body. The job was especially difficult because the hole had to be reinforced to prevent further collapse, according to police.After several hours, workers placed a metal box into the hole to shore up the walls so firefighters could enter the hole. According to published reports, Woonsocket's director of public works said the plumbing company workers had been warned by city officials to reinforce the hole with a metal box if they dug deeper than 6 feet.Police said the incident is being investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the findings will be turned over to the Attorney General's office. After Gorski's body was removed from the hole, around 6:30 p.m., it was taken to the state medical examiner's office in Providence. Gorski's family could not be reached for comment and funeral arrangements are unknown at this time. 

MARION MAN SLIGHTLY HURT AFTER TRENCH WALL CAVES IN WHILE REPLACING WATERLINE 
BY TIM PETROWICH THE SOUTHERN [Fri Feb 21 2003] 
MARION -- A city water department worker from Marion was injured Friday morning when the wall of a trench collapsed on him. Clifford Hogue Jr. was taken to Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion after suffering a broken wrist. Marion water commissioner Robert "Dog" Connell said that Hogue and five other workers were digging trenches to lay a new 12-inch waterline along Skyline Drive north of Illinois 13. The project involves replacing the current 4-inch waterline that feeds the General Dynamics facility. "We are replacing the line because they need additional fire protection capabilities," Connell said. "The project has been going for a couple of weeks." Hogue was down in the trench when the side wall caved in, hitting him in the legs. The force of the collapse knocked him into the opposite wall and when he attempted to brace himself against the fall is when he believes he broke his wrist. "He said it popped when he hit the other side," Connell said. Workers quickly pulled Hogue from the trench without any additional injury. No other workers were injured in the incident. Connell said that Hogue was never stuck in the trench, nor was his life in danger at any time. 

Worker pinned by wall 2 hours 
John Stark, The Bellingham Herald 
A young construction worker was pinned by the arm for about two hours Wednesday morning when a concrete retaining wall collapsed behind a house at 336 N. Forest St. Christopher J. Valeri, 20, was admitted to St. Joseph Hospital with a crushing injury to his right arm. A hospital spokesman described his condition as stable. Two co-workers on the home-remodeling job who declined to be identified said Valeri was digging in the small space between the rear of the home and the retaining wall when the wall toppled and trapped him. A Bellingham Fire Department rescue team arrived and determined that Valeri's injuries were not life-threatening, spokesman Corry Morris said. But firefighters feared that a hasty attempt to extricate Valeri could trigger a new collapse of the steep slope behind the house, or even the house itself. Morris said the heavy concrete slab slammed into the rear wall of the three-story house, buckling it inward. Firefighters waited while other workers at the site improvised some supports to reduce the danger of the house collapsing, and a city engineer inspected that work before firefighters began the rescue job in earnest. North Garden Street, above the accident scene, was blocked to traffic while the rescue was under way, because firefighters feared that the vibration of passing vehicles could send more dirt falling onto them and Valeri. While the painstaking work proceeded, Morris said Valeri was given painkillers. At about 11:30 a.m., firefighters deployed heavy-duty air bags that can be filled with compressed air to support many tons of weight. The bags were used to hold up the wall so Valeri could be pulled free. The two workers at the scene said they were employed by Seymour and Sons, a firm that buys houses and refurbishes them for resale. Attempts to reach a company representative for comment were unsuccessful Wednesday. One of the workers said Valeri would probably have been killed if the wall had fallen on top of him. "Luckily, it was just his arm," he said. 

Firefighters rescue injured construction worker
By: JUDY PACK, Citizen staff February 19, 2003 
Local volunteer firefighters traded their bunker gear for ropes and pulleys Friday to rescue an injured construction worker at the bottom of a hole estimated to be 20 feet deep. "The injured man was an employee of a contractor developing some apartments at the intersection of Crenshaw and Beltway 8," Dewey Irvin, assistant fire chief for the Pasadena Volunteer Fire Department, said. The construction crew was in the process of boring a hole under Beltway 8 when a piece of pipe being lowered into the hole struck the man in the head, leaving him trapped inside the hole. When emergency crews arrived, he was alert and conscious. "Because the man had suffered head trauma and had an injured shoulder, it was a major ordeal to send six firefighters and two emergency medical technicians into the hole to start an IV and put him on a backboard," Irvin said. Eight more firemen were above ground at the same time, rigging up the pulleys to raise the injured man out of the hole using a stokes basket, he said. Once the rescue was completed, he was transported to the Medical Center in Houston by Life Flight. His injuries were not life-threatening, but any type of head trauma is automatically transported to one of two trauma centers in Houston. Both Ben Taub and Memorial Hermann Hospitals are equipped to treat injuries that cannot be detected by emergency personnel. "We had some heavy-duty equipment at the scene and two ambulance crews because we weren't quite sure what we were dealing with when the first call to 9-1-1 was received," he said. 

Worker Caught In Cave-In In South Oklahoma City; Injuries Do Not Appear Life-Threatening 
February 18, 2003 
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A construction worker on the Interstate 35 widening project escaped serious injury after being caught in a cave-in this morning in southeast Oklahoma City. The man's name and age were not immediately available. Fire Maj. Brian Stanaland said the man was working to remove water from a trench on a service road alongside I-35 when the trench began collapsing. Stanaland said the man was able to run to an incline at the end of the trench and was trapped up to his waist about 10 feet below ground level. "The situation was that they deemed it safe enough and entered the hole and dug him out by hand," Stanaland said. "He was out very quickly." Firefighters dug the man out within 20 minutes of the accident, Stanaland said. Stanaland said the man suffered possible fractured legs, but no injuries that appeared life-threatening.

BURIED ALIVE:CEMETERY RESCUE
BY FRANK C. MONTAGNE
At 0835 hours on a clear June morning, North Hudson (NJ) Regional Fire & Rescue received an alarm for 5800 Tonnelle Avenue, the Machpelah Cemetery. The alarm stated a worker was trapped in a grave. A rescue task force consisting of Ladder 1, Squad 1, Ladder 3, Engine 10, Battalion 3, Deputy 1, and a safety officer was dispatched. (Ladder 1 is in the process of being trained and equipped as a technical rescue company.) I was first to arrive on the scene and was frantically waved in by the police. What I saw next was astonishing! A grave worker was buried and trapped by several tons of dirt and granite tombstones in a hole seven feet deep and roughly 10 feet across in all directions. I established command and provided the initial size-up and radio report to dispatch. Immediately, additional resources were called: EMS, Engine 6, and mutual-aid companies from the Jersey City Fire Department. Heavy rains had blanketed the area the night before, contributing to the collapse of the saturated soil. Two workers using a backhoe were excavating an existing gravesite for an additional family burial. One worker went into the hole after the backhoe completed its digging to square off the sides; no shoring was in place. While he was digging, the walls of the hole collapsed onto him. Tons of dirt and several granite headstones, base stones, and footing stones pinned the victim to the grave floor. He was conscious but groaning in agony. We realized at that time that there was a language barrier, so a translator was provided to comfort the victim and determine the extent of his injuries.

Gas Line Break Forces School Evacuation
PANHANDLE -- Construction workers frantically try to mend a pipe broken by machinery. Within minutes of the leak, highly flammable gas had engulfed the school and homes that sit just yards away. City manager Loren Brand said, "I knew we could smell gas as far as the other side of the football field." Detection tests show vapors hadn't entered the school, but any ignition outside would have caused an immediate explosion. That's why officials were instructed to walk -- not drive -- the kids away from the school. "That was a concern that it would collect or get contained in like a hallway, a doorway, something of that nature. It could also be under a group of cars that were parked together," said Brand. Teachers and students admit it was a successful evacuation despite the seriousness of the situation. "If it had really been something, they would have told you to leave everything as is, you know, don't turn anything off, but they did tell us to turn everything down and let's go ahead and leave so I knew at that oint we needed to just get out," said Panhandle Middle School teacher Pennie Ward. So, now all that remains is figuring out why workers felt so free to dig as deep as they did. "It's just going to take an investigation of to what actually took place. Was there a miscommunication, or was there a misunderstanding, or was it just a pure accident that happened. I don't know," said Brand. As soon as Atmos Energy found out about the situation, they quickly shut off the system. City officials are confident most of gas had dissapated within a few hours. They say they're thankful the wind today was blowing north on Tuesday, otherwise, the entire city might have been engulfed by the leak. The city's was attempting to widen the highway leading from Panhandle to Borger. Contractors are only a few weeks into a project scheduled to last almost 16 months. They say as long as the leak is contained, construction will continue, but they admit workers will be a lot more careful with the machinery. City officials say all Panhand schools will start at the normal time Wednesday morning. 

Worker Dies in Trench Collapse
Tracey Christensen 2/12/2003 12:32:12 PM 
A construction worker died late Tuesday morning after a trench caved in on him in Walton County. Officials say he was not buried alive but likely was killed when he was hit by falling debris. It took three hours for rescue crews to dig him out. Monroe police investigator Diane Campbell says the man had been working on roadside sewer line, near Highway 11, when the 10-foot deep trench collapsed. Monroe police officials were investigating the accident, as well as officials from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration. OSHA officials said the contracted company -- Harrison and Harrison Incorporated -- did not have a record of violating safety regulations. The worker has not been identified.

Kerala: One killed, 4 hurt in construction site accident 
6-February-2003 
Thiruvananthapuram: One person is feared dead and four people have been injured in an accident at a construction site in the Overbridge locality of Thiruvananthapuram city. The dead has been identified as Ganesan (28), a native of West Bengal. The injured have been admitted to the Medical College Hospital. The accident occurred at 12:30 pm today when soil caved in at the site where work was on to remove earth for the foundation of a building. The workers were employed by a contractor who had taken up contract for removing soil. All the workers are reportedly from Bengal. Search and rescue operations have been launched by the police and fire force. 

UPDATE Employer Cleared In Accidental Deaths
Blythewood, S.C. -- South Carolina officials say they won't press charges in the deaths of two teenage boys, who were killed in a workplace accident last week. The brothers died on Tuesday when an eight-foot trench they were digging at a new school collapsed. Investigators say both boys gave their employer valid green cards with incorrect birth dates. The two claimed they were in their twenties, though they were actually just 15 and 16 years old, respectively. State law prohibits people younger than 18 from working on construction sites. 

Gas line rupture forces evacuation of Bloomington buildings; Construction crew hit line; firefighters called to 3rd incident this year
by Adam VanOsdol Indiana Daily Student Published Tuesday, February 4, 2003
A construction crew digging at the parking garage on the corner of Sixth and Morton streets ruptured a natural gas line Monday afternoon, forcing the evacuation of area businesses and the Monroe County Justice building. The Bloomington Fire Department said there was little danger posed by the rupture but closed off the surrounding city block while workers scrambled to shut off the pipe. The leaking gas sailed north and drifted into open windows at the Monroe County Justice Building down the street, causing nausea and dizziness to those in the building. Except for the 227 inmates, everyone inside was evacuated and went home early. In the end though, the wind actually did more to control the situation, Vectren Energy Company supervisor Mel Williams said. Monday's stiff breeze quickly dissipated the leaking gas, defusing the potentially explosive situation. "Oh, we're glad for the weather," Williams said. "The wind helped more than anything." An hour after the accident, Vectren workers had successfully blocked the leakage. Fire Department Captain Tim Richards said the city block between Sixth and Seventh streets and Walnut and Morton streets was shut down mainly to keep repair workers safe from traffic. The rupture, which was in a low-pressure line, would have been more worrisome if it had been high pressure, Richards said. "It wasn't that bad," Richards said. "It was outdoors, and it was a low pressure line." The rupture disrupted local business for an hour, but owners didn't seem too bothered. Firefighters who went around to area businesses to check for gas accumulation forced the employees of Little Zagreb's Pizza to evacuate. Manager Mark Conlin said he couldn't do prep work as a result. And owner of the Yellow Cab Company John McNeeley said, "It was an honest mistake." At the nearby law office of Kelley, Belcher and Brown, bookkeeper Deena Anderson was preparing billing statements when she smelled gas coming in from an open window. When firefighters arrived, they told her she didn't have to leave, but she did anyway. "They said we weren't in danger," Anderson said. "One of our bosses told us to go home." Williams said he could not comment on the amount of gas that leaked, the cost or whether the pipe was marked. Bloomington Fire Department Captain Roger Kerr said the pipe was unmarked. By 4 p.m. the Justice Building was unusually silent. The only person who stuck around was security guard Don Bennitt, who kept busy by telling confused people that the building was closed for the day. Monroe County resident Charles Bomgardner knocked on the locked door at 4:15 p.m., expecting to pay a small claims fine. Bennitt told him everyone had gone home.  "I work the rest of the week," a frustrated Bomgardner said. "It's going to be very difficult for me to come back." Ruptured gas lines have become a common incident for Bloomington's Fire Department. This is the third since the beginning of the year, Batallian Chief Terry Williams said. "Gas is a scary thing," he said. 

OSHA begins investigation of fatal construction accident 
By PAUL MEYER , Staff writer 02/05/2003 
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has begun its investigation into the death of a construction worker killed Monday afternoon along Spring Creek Parkway when the trench he was working in flooded with water and collapsed. Fort Worth resident Adrian Gutierrez, 22, was working in a 10-foot-deep trench when he apparently tapped into a pressurized city water main and became trapped for at least 30 minutes under water. Gutierrez was an employee of Irving-based JCM Contracting Co., hired to work on a city road-widening project along Spring Creek Parkway. "He was tapping into the city water main, and when he released the cap, the pressure was not off," Fire Department spokeswoman Monique Cardwell said. "The water shot back at him and filled the trench with water. "Because he was under water and it was so cold, once we got him out, we did initiate resuscitation efforts before transporting him to Presbyterian Hospital." Fire officials received the call for help at 3:14 p.m., arriving at the intersection of Spring Creek Parkway and Communications Parkway at 3:20 p.m., according to Cardwell. Another worker in the trench managed to escape and suffered only minor leg injuries. He was taken to Presbyterian Hospital and released. Kathryn Delaney, OSHA's area director, said Tuesday that the investigation into the worker's death will include a systematic look into both the physical circumstances and the employer's safety record. "On these matters we do not merely look at the physical conditions and circumstances," Delaney said. "We plan to study the employer's safety programs, training, and conduct a systematic investigation of the situation." Delaney, however, refused to speculate on the cause of the accident. "It's unfair to the family of the victim to speculate at this point about the cause or causes," Delaney said. "I anticipate it will be at least two months before the investigation is complete." City Engineer Alan Upchurch, who supervises contracting work throughout the city, said Tuesday that the worker was part of the road project to widen Spring Creek Parkway. Weir Brothers is the listed general contractor for the project, according to Upchurch. Officials with the company did not return calls for comment. "What occurred was a tragedy with the death of the construction worker who was working on a road widening project along Spring Creek," Upchurch said. "I'm sure there will be some investigating to determine what went wrong, but at this point in time it appears the contractor made a mistake in determining whether the water was shut off." Typically, Upchurch said, contractors will call the city Water Department to confirm that water in a construction area has been shut off. It was not known if that protocol was followed Monday. "We will typically hold preconstruction conferences before work starts to go over a list of things that need to be done," Upchurch said. Monday's events were the second time in recent memory a construction worker has been killed in the city while working on a project. It was over two years ago that a worker was killed near 2600 Central Expressway after the trench he was working in collapsed. 

UPDATE Illinois man had his doubts about surviving cave-in 
By Terry Hillig Post-Dispatch 01/30/2003 09:26 PM
The man who was buried for 20 minutes when a trench collapsed Monday in Bethalto says he wasn't sure he would make it out alive. "It was wet," Wes Smith, 19, said in an interview. "There was water in the ditch. I thought it was 3 or 4 inches from my chin." As soon as the 17-foot trench collapsed, five or six of Smith's co-workers at Design Excavating of Edwardsville began frantically digging. They were joined by eight or nine volunteer Bethalto firefighters. "I knew they would try their best to get me out," Smith said of his rescuers. "I knew they wouldn't give up but I'm sure glad I made it, though. I'm just grateful to them big time." An air pocket around Smith's face may have saved him from suffocation. But there was considerable pressure on his chest and it was increasingly difficult to breathe as the minutes passed, he said. Smith was part of a crew installing sewer lines at the Patriot's Crossing subdivision. Smith suffered bruises and a partly collapsed lung but returned to his home in Girard, Ill., 65 miles north of St. Louis, after spending Monday night at St. Louis University Hospital. He said Wednesday that he was "still sore all over" but knew he was very fortunate. Smith said he had worked for the company for four or five months. He said he liked the job and planned to return to work after Feb. 7 but wonders whether he will feel safe working in a trench. Bethalto Fire Chief John Nolte said Monday that Smith was working without any safety precautions, in apparent violation of federal regulations for sloping or shoring or use of a trench box for work in trenches 4 feet or greater in depth. Robert Plummer, owner of Design Excavating, said the company emphasizes safety and said he was "sick" about the accident but relieved that Smith's injuries were not more serious. "It's just really fortunate," Plummer said. "He is really a nice young man. We look forward to him being back." The accident is being investigated by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 

Work site cave-in kills two brothers; Trench collapse at future Blythewood High is under investigation
By LORA HINES Staff Writer 
Two brothers died Tuesday in a torrent of dirt that poured into a trench where they were working at the Blythewood High School construction site. Rigobeto Xaca Sandoval, 22, and Moises Xaca Sandoval, 22, both of 1515 Busbee Road, Gaston, probably died instantly, their skulls crushed by the soil that buried them, Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said. They were in what appeared to be an 8-foot-deep, 2-foot-wide trench, he said. The brothers were identified by resident alien cards, Watts said. He did not recall their nationality. They recently had moved in with a couple in a mobile home in Gaston in Lexington County. Before that they had lived in the town of Denmark, officials said. Neighbor Calvin Brown, 34, said they had lived there about two weeks. The brothers spoke little, if any, English, Brown said. The Latino friend they lived with, who would not give his name, said he was overwhelmed by the tragic cave-in. "They were good people," he said tearfully in Spanish. Someone at the site called for help about 8:20 a.m. as construction workers scrambled to dig the brothers out. By the time rescuers arrived the brothers had been uncovered, Watts said. At least 40 people were at the site working on different projects, said Ken Blackstone, Richland 2 School District spokesman. Crews started work about 7 a.m. The Xaca Sandovals were part of a Burriss Electrical crew that was installing an electrical conduit, Blackstone said. The trench for the conduit had been dug in a compacted area that will become the high school's foundation. The soil is mostly sandy with some clay, Blackstone said. Burriss is one of six contractors at the site. No one from Burriss Electrical in Lexington could be reached. "The Burriss Electrical family of employees send out our prayers and condolences to the families involved in today's tragic accident," company officials said in a written statement. "We are still investigating the accident and are cooperating with authorities." The state Occupational Safety and Heath Administration, part of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, is investigating, said LLR spokesman Jim Knight. Knight said the investigation could take six weeks. Investigators will interview employees and witnesses to determine what the Xaca Sandovals were doing when the trench collapsed, Knight said. Investigators also will examine equipment and look at how the task was being done to determine whether an OSHA standard had been violated. Construction will continue while investigators work, Knight said. For the last six months, crews have been preparing the site off U.S. 21 for construction, Blackstone said. A two-story, 390,000-square-foot building, costing about $50 million, should be ready for the start of school in 2005, school district officials said. "As early as we are in the construction phase, I don't know that (the cave-in) will significantly alter the schedule," Blackstone said. Burriss Electrical, which was awarded the contract to install electricity with a $3,043,400 bid, has been cited nine times in five planned inspections since January 2000, LLR records show. "They have not had an accident," Knight said. "They have a clean record as far as accidents go with OSHA." In August 2000, OSHA cited Burriss for failing to make daily inspections of excavations and protective systems to prevent cave-ins at a site at Stivers Chrysler Jeep Inc., 5215 Sunset Blvd., Lexington, LLR documents show. No one knowledgeable in soil analysis or trenching systems and analysis was on that site, records show. Burriss was not fined and the violation was not listed as serious because it involved a 4-feet deep trench, Knight said. OSHA regulates trenches 5 feet and deeper. Richland 2 school board chairman Bill McCracken said the board wants to console the victims' families. "Our concern is to make sure we do whatever we can to make sure this doesn't happen again," he said. Staff writers Clif LeBlanc and Nicole Sweeney contributed to this article.

Worker, 19, is injured when trench collapses around him 
By TERRY HILLIG Post-Dispatch 01/27/2003 10:30 PM
A 19-year-old worker survived being buried for about 20 minutes after a trench collapsed Monday morning in Bethalto. "It's a wonder he wasn't killed," Bethalto Fire Chief John Nolte said of Wes Smith, who was flown by helicopter to St. Louis University Hospital after the rescue. Smith was working at the bottom of a trench when it collapsed about 9:30 a.m. He and three co-workers were installing sewers in Patriots' Crossing, a subdivision being developed along Moreland Road about a mile north of Illinois Route 140. Nolte said Smith, of Girard, was working in a trench that appeared to be 18 to 20 feet deep without any shoring or other protection. Nolte said such protection was required for work in trenches deeper than shoulder height. The workers were joined by eight or nine Bethalto volunteer firefighters, and Nolte said they dug Smith out by hand, "one shovel at a time," in about 20 minutes. The rescuers were themselves in substantial danger, he said. Smith told his rescuers he had worried about drowning because of rising ground water. Nolte said that loose soil around Smith's face allowed him to breathe, and survive. "He's a very lucky person," the chief said. Smith was listed in fair condition later at the hospital. A spokeswoman said he had no life-threatening injuries and likely would be held for observation overnight and discharged today. Smith worked for Design Excavating of Edwardsville, owned by Robert Plummer. Plummer said Smith was in good shape when he visited the injured man in his hospital room Monday night. "He's shook up, no doubt about it," Plummer said. "But there's no broken bones, and he was walking around." Plummer wasn't at the job site when Smith was injured and said he couldn't comment on the details of the incident. "We stress safety, we stress making proper decisions," he said. "We're sick about this." An investigator from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration was dispatched to the site after OSHA personnel in Belleville learned of the mishap from a reporter. Peggy Zweer, OSHA director for 81 counties in Illinois, said the accident was not one that the employer was required to report. Zweber said federal regulations require sloping or shoring or other protection for work in trenches 4 feet or greater in depth.

Details

Parent Category: Incident Alert Archives

Category: Trenching & Excavation Alerts

Published: 10 September 2010

Trenching & Excavation Accidents #5

updated on 05/06/2010

Two labourers die as trench caves in
Express News Service Ahmedabad, January 24
TWO labourers died when the trench they were digging near Bhilwas area of Sardarnagar here, caved in on Friday afternoon. They were laying a sewerage pipeline for the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). The deceased have been identified as Suresh Bhanji (25) and Devilal (30), both hailing from Banswada in Rajasthan and residing at Majoorgam near Geeta Mandir. While, Assistant Engineer of AMC, Ashok Patel also fell in the trench, he lived as he fell on an underground electricity cable on the upper part of the trench. According to Shankar Valji Damor, a fellow labourer who is also the complainant, they were working at the spot since Thursday as they had been employed to dig an 18-feet deep trench for laying drainage pipes. ‘‘About an hour before the incident, we asked permission from the contractors to widen the trench as the earth was loose and damp. But he denied permission as this would have prolonged the work by half a day. It would also have led to an increase in our wages,’’ alleged Damor. ‘‘We knew that the earth was loose and would cave in anytime. And that is exactly what happened,’’ he added. According to Damor, the deceased were at a depth of about 10-feet which made it difficult for the other three labourers to dig them out in time. ‘‘The municipal officer was lucky but not the workers. The supervisor was quick to inform the fire brigade but by the time they arrived, it was too late,’’ said Shakra Kalyan, another labourer. Sardarnagar police have registered a case against labour contractors Jayanti Nagji and Jetha Amra for causing causing death due to negligence under Section 304 (A).

UPDATE OSHA investigates work-site death
By:B.J. O'Brien January 24, 2003 
The Bethel Police Department has deemed that the recent death of an employee of Earthmovers, Inc. at the construction site of the Old Hawleyville Road sewer last week was accidental. Bethel Police Captain Robert Cedergren said that the Occupational Safety Health Administration is still working on the case to determine whether there were any safety violations at the work site. "We investigated to the point that we found it was accidental," Capt. Cedergren noted, adding that the deparment is not pursuing the case any longer but that it would help OSHA if needed. Ricardo Silva, 25, of Division Street in Danbury was in an excavation ditch Jan. 14 when steel reinforcing plates tilted and hit him. Emergency personnel from the Stony Hill Fire Department arrived at the scene and extricated Mr. Silva. He was then brought to Danbury Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Earthmovers, Inc was unable to be reached for comment. First Selectwoman Judith Novachek said that she had been attending Siting Council hearings on the Northeast Utilities transmission line proposal that day and did not hear about the incident until she returned to her office. "I was devastated," she said. "I was heartbroken." She pointed out that Earthmovers has a very good record concerning the care of its employees. "It was something that should never happen," Mrs. Novachek said. "Nothing we can do will bring him back." The town's top official said that the Mr. Silva's family is being taken care of. "The company I know has done everything it could do for the family," she said. Mrs. Novachek said that work on the sewer line had ceased for a time following the accident. "I would imagine they were looking at a series of things," she pointed out. "I can't fault them for that."

Equipment Traps Construction Worker, Injuries Not Yet Known
January 23, 2003
HOUSTON -- Emergency crews responded to the scene of a construction accident Thursday afternoon, when a worker became trapped in a 14-foot hole that had been shored up, officials said. Authorities said that the accident happened around 3 p.m. in the 14000 block of Hillcroft near Chasewood Drive in southwest Houston. Officials said that a concrete pipe hit the 20-year-old worker, causing him to fall into the hole. He then became wedged between the pipe and concrete. It took about an hour for rescuers to free him, stabilize him and place him on a rescue basket so he could be pulled out of the trench with a crane. He was taken to Ben Taub Hospital in stable condition. His exact injuries are not yet known. 

Gas leak forces UF students out of 2 houses
About 12 University of Florida students were jostled from their morning routine on Wednesday when a construction worker operating a backhoe ruptured a gas line near their residence. The incident occurred about 10 a.m. as Gainesville Regional Utilities' Water Department workers were installing a new water main underground at the corner of SW 12th Street and SW 7th Avenue, said Thor Wishart of GRU. After the backhoe cut through the 1-inch natural gas pipe, GRU evacuated the residents of the Pilot and Badcock Scholarship houses on SW 12th Street across from UF's Norman Hall. Gainesville Fire Rescue spokesman Stuart Schwartz said the alarm of a natural gas smell first was received from UF, and firefighters deployed hoses in case of an explosion, but the morning breeze helped disperse the gas. The students were able to return home after about 2 1/2 hours of waiting for the repairs, said Valerie Wright, head resident at the Pilot Scholarship house. Two blocks of 12th Street were blocked off and bus routes were rerouted while crews worked to repair the gas pipe.

1 Dead, 1 Injured In 9th Ward Sewerage Line Accident
Wall Reportedly Collapsed Into Hole
NEW ORLEANS -- An accident Wednesday at a 9th Ward sewerage line repair site has killed one worker and injured another. The accident happened at about 2:30 p.m. in the 1300 block of Kentucky Street, where investigators said a wall collapsed into a 10-foot hole where workers were repairing the line, covering two men with dirt and debris. Brian McGee was taken to Charity Hospital, where he is listed in guarded condition with a broken leg. The name of the man who was killed has not been released pending notification of his family. Both were employed by JLJ Construction, which was contracted by the Sewerage and Water Board. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

OMI employee injured
Saturday, January 11, 2003 BY RACHEL GALLAGHER
An Operations Management International employee was injured Friday night while trying to repair a main sewer break just southeast of Atchison Casting Corp. OMI Project Manager Mike Mathews said a large rock and some soil from a wall in a trench gave way and fell on Jesse Smith. Workers had dug a trench about 50 to 75 feet wide to get to the break because raw sewage has been flowing from the area since about 5 p.m. Thursday. OMI staff members began working on the break early Friday morning. The sewer line runs parallel to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Because of the proximity of the break to the tracks, Mr. Mathews said, safety concerns prevented workers from beginning repairs until Friday morning. Mr. Mathews said OMI workers were about to finish working on the break before the incident occurred. “It’s kind of a freak thing that happened,” Mr. Mathews said. According to Mr. Mathews, the debris fell on Mr. Smith’s lower body. OMI workers called for emergency help at 5:45 p.m. but were able to dig Mr. Smith out before emergency and fire crews arrived. “He was all out before EMS got there,” Mr. Mathews said. Mr. Mathews said it looked as though Mr. Smith’s left leg was badly injured but everything else appeared to be fine. He was taken by ambulance to Atchison Hospital. Despite the accident, Mr. Mathews said his crew was going to press on to complete the repair of the sewer line Friday night. 

UPDATE, State investigating trench collapse
By Kara Richardson Lansing State Journal
State investigators are looking into whether a trench collapse that buried a man alive Tuesday in a Holt subdivision could have been prevented. Arthur Krass, 43, of Portland was trapped 15 feet below ground when a ditch's dirt walls collapsed. He was installing plumbing after sunset at a Beechnut Trail home that was under construction. Nine fellow workers tried to dig Krass out but failed. Later, it took firefighters three hours to unearth his body. Officials from the state Department of Consumer and Industry Services' Bureau of Safety and Regulation will investigate whether the company Krass worked for, Precision Plumbing of Grand Ledge, took proper safety precautions, said Lori Donlan, a department spokeswoman. The bureau reviews all fatal workplace incidents, she said. "Sometimes an accident is an accident," Donlan said. Investigators will visit the scene and interview witnesses to see if the trench was properly supported, sloped or shored up, said Maura Campbell, also a consumer and industry services department spokeswoman. The investigation, which could take several weeks, should determine whether any Michigan Occupational Safety & Health Administration regulations were violated, she said. No one from Precision Plumbing or Krass' family could be reached for comment. Precision Plumbing of Grand Ledge has not been cited for workplace violations in the past, Campbell said. If the employer knew there was a problem and didn't take steps to correct it, a citation could cost the company up to $70,000 in fines. "The penalties are not set up to equate to injury or loss of life," Campbell said. "It's to underscore the importance of safe work sites." Only one of the 24 Michigan construction-related fatalities in 2002 was trench-related, Campbell said. The Ingham County Sheriff's Office is still investigating the incident's cause, Detective J. Verhougstraete said. Contact Kara Richardson at 267-1301 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

1 Killed In Falls County Construction Accident
One person is dead and two others hospitalized after a construction accident in Falls County. It happened around one o'clock Wednesday afternoon near Highway 14 six miles South of Kosse. The three workers were digging a trench when the walls collapsed. 29 year old Jesus Torres Martinez of Waco was pronounced dead on arrival at Scott and White hospital in Temple. Pedro Pizano of Bellmead and Ledio Zuniga of waco were injured. They are both in stable condition at Limestone Medical Center in Groesbeck with internal injuries.

Gas Line Accident Forces School to Evacuate
Dozens of people in South Sioux City have been evacuated after crews hit a gas line Wednesday morning. The city's water department says crews were trying to fix a water main break along 23rd and C streets when they accidentally hit a gas line. Everyone on the block, including a nearby school, was evacuated. MidAmerican Energy was on the scene to fix the leak. City leaders didn't know how long it will take to fix the problem, or how much it will cost.

Plumber Trapped When Walls Of Trench Collapse
Firefighters Free 81-Year-Old Man
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Joe Whitlock has worked with pipes and wrenches for 44 years, but his experience didn't prepare him for what he encountered on Monday. Whitlock, owner of Joe's Plumbing, was helping to repair a sewer line in south Oklahoma City when the walls of a trench in which he was standing collapsed. Whitlock, 81, was buried up to his waist as dirt clogged the trench. A co-worker driving a trackhoe carved a snaking trench from the back of a house to the edge of the yard. The trench was about as wide as a man's shoulders. Whitlock was partially inside the trench, using an extending tool to probe for the sewer line about 1:15 p.m. when the collapse happened. "His legs are tangled up, one behind the other one," said fire Maj. Brian Stanaland about two hours into the rescue. "We have a harness on him, but there's a void beneath him. ... The area is just so small it's hard to dig. It's about the size (width) of a manhole cover." Whitlock's feet were at the original bottom of the trench, about 10 feet below ground, Stanaland said. Shovels or garden trowels were too large to work, so rescuers used their bare hands to claw earth into a coffee can that was then raised above-ground and emptied over and over. Some of the firefighters, including those trained in trench rescues, worked in 15-minute shifts. Even Whitlock, his face covered by an oxygen mask, helped with the digging. "We wanted to keep him warm because there were obvious concerns about hypothermia," Stanaland said. Whitlock was freed just before 4 p.m. He refused to be carried to a waiting ambulance and walked over to paramedics instead. After hugging his wife and daughter, Whitlock was taken to the University of Oklahoma Medical Center for a checkup and observation.

Tower worker dies in mud pit 
ST. AMANT -- Firefighters executing a "delicate and complicated operation" shored a 20-foot-deep mudhole with plywood so they could safely rappel in Friday night to recover the body of a communications tower worker crushed to death in a pool of mud. Recovery workers arrived on the scene off Laural Ridge Road just before 1:30 p.m., but the first recovery worker did not descend into the hole until 7 p.m., Gonzales Fire Chief Butch Browning said. "This is an extremely delicate and complicated operation. That's why it's taking so long. We have to shore up the hole first before any of our guys go in," Browning said late Friday afternoon. When the first firefighter went in, a cave-in occurred, so recovery workers pulled out and started over. "We're going to use some new, more stable ground and do some more shoring," Browning said at 8 p.m. Friday. "It might be at least another two hours." Firefighters received a call that two men working down in a guy wire anchor hole of a nearby cell phone tower were trapped by wet mud at the bottom of the pit. One of the men managed to escape from the mud by the time firefighters arrived. But a second workman apparently died before recovery workers could get to him. Browning said the preliminary investigation showed that the weight of the wet mud and soil, which was reportedly waist to chest deep, forced the victim to stop breathing. "He probably suffocated because of the weight of the soil," Browning said. The body of Pat Acker, 32, of Abilene, Texas, was recovered Friday night. Mike Wetzel, 27, also of Abilene, was flown on by paramedics Friday afternoon to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Wetzel remained under treatment at the hospital Friday night, said Col. Tony Bacala of the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office. Acker and Wetzel both worked for Sky High Towers of Abilene, the company hired by the owners of the tower, Pinnacle Towers Inc. of Sarasota, Fla. Firefighters from the Gonzales Fire Department, the St. Amant Volunteer Fire Department, the 7th District Fire Department, the Sorrento Volunteer Fire Department and the Prairieville Fire Department worked together in an effort to recover the body trapped by wet mud from the cave-in. St. Amant Fire Chief James LeBlanc said one of the biggest problems facing the recovery operation was water that constantly flooded into the hole. "We must have pumped out more than 200 gallons of water so far," LeBlanc said around 5:30 p.m. Seven of Browning's firefighters recently were trained in trench rescue and recovery techniques two months ago at the LSU Fire and Emergency Training Institute. "It's been exactly like in class. Textbook so far," Gonzales District Fire Chief Dwayne Gipson said. Gipson said he and his classmates went through a very similar exercise involving a victim trapped in a water hole on the last day of class. "Nobody is nervous about going in. Everyone here is rescue-certified," Gipson said. The Gonzales firefighters also had the comfort of working with their LSU instructor from the class, Chris Browning, who went to the scene with extra equipment. Chris Browning is Butch Browning's brother. Firefighters used more than 40 sheets of quarter-inch plywood to line the inside of the hole to ensure the mud would not cave in again while firefighters were inside to recover the body. Jack Jones, a member of the Sorrento Volunteer Fire Department, said there were two collapses, or cave-ins, while firefighters tried to shore up the walls of the pit before the first firefighter went inside. Two safety inspectors with the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration arrived at the scene of the emergency after 5 p.m. to look into what kind of safety precautions could have been taken to protect the workers in the pit. The inspectors said they plan to return to the site Monday for further investigation.

Cave-in claims 1: Bluefield city worker killed in trench collapse
By CHARLES OWENS of the Daily Telegraph staff January 04, 2003 
BLUEFIELD - A city employee died Friday after being buried under several feet of dirt, mud and rock in a tragic construction accident on Rogers Street. The veteran employee of the Bluefield Sanitary Board was trapped in the trench collapse shortly af-ter 3 p.m. Doz-ens of rescue workers braved frigid temperatures and snow for more than four hours in the desperate rescue mission. "He was completely buried with a large amount of dirt, mud, water and very heavy pieces of concrete," Bluefield Rescue Squad Chief Robert Youther said. "It was a cave-in of the walls and the structural integrity of the ditch." It took rescue crews until 7:20 p.m. to remove the man's body from the site. Youther said the trench was 6 to 8 feet long and 2 to 3 feet wide, "It's just a sad day when a construction worker dies in an accident like this," Chandler Swope, president of Swope Construction Company of Bluefield, said. "It just breaks my heart when an accident like this happens, and I hope it will never happen to any of my people." outher said officials knew almost immediately that the man didn't survive the accident. The collapse occurred just above McDonald's on Bluefield Avenue, which prompted officials to order an evacuation and closure of the restaurant for safety reasons. The man's identity wasn't released late Friday pending a notification of next of kin. "We haven't found his wife yet, and we need to contact his next of kin," Bluefield Sanitary Board President Terry Honaker said. "We've already notified OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration)." Honaker said the crew was asked to repair a sewer line on Rogers Street damaged by a recent slide in the area. Honaker said he had just ordered the construction site closed prior to the accident. "I don't know at this point why he (the victim) went back into the ditch," Honaker said. "I just know we had made a decision to shut it down. We had already made up our minds about this, and we were going to go home for the weekend." Because the construction site was closed, a trench box- or device used to prevent the sides of a ditch from collapsing - wasn't immediately utilized at the time of the accident. Honaker said he didn't know why the man went back into the ditch. "For one reason or another, he stepped back in the ditch," Honaker said. "This crew is really close. It's been together for a long time." Honaker said the victim was a 16-year veteran of the Sanitary Board, and the backhoe operator was a 26-year veteran employee. He said a crew of four men were working on the sewer line at the time of the collapse. Swope said his crews responded to the accident as soon as they learned of the tragedy. "It's my understanding that the city Sanitary Board was relocating a broken sewer line below the McDonald's building," Swope said. "There was some type of problem in the ditch. I'm certain OSHA will come in and investigate very promptly." The Bluefield Rescue Squad, Bluefield Fire Department and Bluefield Police Department also assisted in the recovery. "A rescue of this type is extremely dangerous," Swope said. "The rescue workers have to be very cautious." Honaker said the OSHA investigators are expected to arrive at the site of the accident today.

UPDATE, Trench collapse fatality probed; Warm temperatures may have contributed to Highland cave-in
By Mike Martindale / The Detroit News
HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP -- A worker's death in a trench cave-in this week is under investigation by the state of Michigan and the Oakland County Sheriff's Department. William C. Amolsch, 43, of Novi was working in a 15-foot hole outside Aqua Marine Pools and Spa on Highland Road about 3:30 p.m. when the walls collapsed. "They had set one pipe in the ground and had just set the second one when he went down in the hole to unhook the chain from a backhoe," said Lt. Mike Sutton of the Sheriff's township substation. "He was bent over working on the pipe when there was a cave-in, and he was forced against a concrete pipe, buried to the waist." Sutton said co-workers and bystanders tried to dig Amolsch out, and the township fire department was called. Amolsch was pronounced dead at the scene. Amolsch's co-workers were interviewed by investigators, and a preliminary investigation indicated that Monday's warming temperatures may have contributed to the walls' collapse, Sutton said. An autopsy Tuesday by the Oakland County Medical Examiner found that Amolsch died from a blunt-force injury to his head. In January 2001, a man working on a sewer line in Huntington Woods died after being buried under 20 feet of dirt, just one month after a similar death in Detroit involving a Redford Township sewer worker. Two workers in Warren were injured that same month in yet another trench cave-in but survived. In 1999 four Michigan workers died in cave-ins, including a Wayne County death in which a company was charged for having workers inside an 11-foot-deep trench without the appropriate support walls. Lt. Sutton said Amolsch was married with four children, ages 7, 8, 17 and 18. "It's my understanding the family had no insurance, and contributions would be appreciated," said Sutton. Anyone wishing to contribute to the family can do so through the William Amolsch Fund c/o Fifth Third Bank, 411 Town Center Drive, Highland, MI 48356.

Construction workers hit natural gas line
From staff reports
Construction workers digging a trench behind Boonsboro Shopping Center punctured a gas line Wednesday morning, spreading natural gas fumes through the neighborhood. The Lynchburg Fire & EMS Department cordoned off the affected area behind the shopping center but didn't close traffic on adjacent Boonsboro Road. Two nearby stores were evacuated but most were allowed to stay open, including Food Lion. "We just told the workers not to go out back," said Anthony V. Smith, battalion chief of the Lynchburg Fire & EMS Department. "You don't really want someone stepping out for a cigarette." Natural gas rises into the atmosphere, Smith said, making it less dangerous than a propane gas leak. He said propane gas is heavier than air and stays low to the ground, increasing the odds for an explosion or fire. "Propane really scares me more than natural gas," Smith said. "Natural gas is lighter than air and it rises." Humidity prevented the natural gas from rising, though, so fire department workers remained on the scene, monitoring gas levels throughout the afternoon. Gas could be heard escaping from the pipe as Columbia Gas of Virginia workers fixed the leak. The leak was sealed at 2:30 p.m. The construction workers were doing sewage work for Forehand Inc. Property Management, which owns the shopping center. There were no injuries, Smith said. Phone calls to Columbia Gas of Virginia representatives were not returned.

Gas line break cuts service to Mannford
2002-12-31 By The Associated Press
MANNFORD -- Hundreds of households and businesses in Mannford will likely be without natural gas service until Wednesday after a construction crew broke the town's supply line, the city manager said. The crew digging for a new activity center in the town about 15 miles east of Tulsa snapped the 4-inch line about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, city manager Jim Whitlock said. About 500 to 600 households and businesses will not have natural gas, which they use for heat and cooking, until Wednesday afternoon, Whitlock said. Workers are repairing the line, he said. "We regret it happened, and obviously we have had a lot of calls, some understanding and some not so understanding," Whitlock said. "We're doing what we can to fix it, but its an unavoidable construction accident." The city is the natural gas provider for the 2,600 residents who live in the Creek County town, buying gas from Oklahoma Gas and Electric and distributing to its roughly 800 to 900 households and businesses. Whitlock said the natural gas line is typically buried 4-feet under the ground but was only about 2 1/2-feet below at the construction site because of shallow dirt over a bed of rock.

Local Father Dies In Construction Accident; Crews Were Repairing Parking Lot
December 31, 2002
HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich.-- A local father was reportedly killed in a construction accident in Highland Township Monday afternoon. Construction crews were repairing the parking lot in front of Aquamarine Fiberglass Pools on West Highland Road, according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Department. As workers placed cement pipes into a large hole, witnesses said that the 43-year-old victim jumped into the hole. The pit then collapsed, according to the Sheriff's Department. The worker was then reportedly crushed by one of the mammoth pipes. ther workers reportedly jumped in to save the man, but it was too late. The man was pronounced dead at Huron Valley Hospital, the station reported. The Sheriff's Department is coordinating a fund to help the family get through the tragedy, Local 4 reported.

Worker drowns, 2 hurt as construction ditch caves in
By Essam Al-Ghalib, Arab News Staff JEDDAH, 29 December 2002 
An expatriate worker was killed in an accident at a construction site in the Al-Ruwais district of Jeddah yesterday evening. Shukun Mia, a 28-year-old Bangladeshi, was pumping water out of a ditch in this working class residential area with two others when its sides collapsed, burying them all. While two of the victims were able to keep their heads above the three-feet-deep water, Mia became completely submerged and remained stuck underneath a landslide of mud and rocks. The sewage project on which the three workers were engaged is being undertaken by the Bin Samar Construction Company. Civil Defense personnel quickly arrived on the scene to free the two men who survived the accident, and they were transported to King Fahd Hospital with minor injuries. However, it took rescuers one and a half hours to remove the dead man's body using heavy lifting equipment. Rescue efforts were complicated by a continuous flow of water into the ditch. Majid Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, a civil defense officer, was lowered into the ditch and used his hands to remove the rocks that were on top of the victim. He then tied a rope under the dead man's shoulders, and a crane was used to lift the victim's body out. Almaz Hussein, a co-worker of the dead man, told Arab News at the scene: When the ditch collapsed, we tried to get the men out. We were able to keep the heads of the two workers above water until the rescuers arrived. But we could not get Shukun out. He struggled to free himself for almost two minutes, but then lost consciousness. Mia has been a construction worker in the Kingdom for five years, and had just returned from vacation after visiting his family in Bangladesh. Over 300 people gathered to watch the rescue efforts and extra police personnel were called in to control the crowd. There was a danger of further landslide conditions being created by the crowd trying to peer into the ditch to watch the rescue efforts. Police officers used wooden sticks and threw stones to keep the crowd back. Police took in five people, including the project manager and an engineer, for questioning. There are more than a million Third World immigrants in the Kingdom who work in the construction industry, and they earn as little as SR150 a month. Safety standards on construction sites are often poorly enforced.

Workers dig up triple trouble; Phone, gas, water lines broken in day of errors
By MARDEE ROBERTS The Leaf-Chronicle 
A trio of errors resulted in the intersection of Madison and 10th streets being blocked to traffic for hours Thursday while gas, water and telephone crews worked to fix a cascading set of problems. Clarksville Gas and Water Department and BellSouth workers faced the triple threat of a leaking gas main, a broken water main and a severed telephone fiber optic cable that serves businesses along Madison Street and Memorial Drive. Utility officials on the scene Thursday afternoon were still trying to sort out what happened. Initial reports indicated a Murfreesboro company installing a new traffic signal pole for the city hit the fiber cable in front of Kiddieland with an auger sometime before noon. Jeffrey Reed, foreman for S&W Contractors, said when BellSouth employees arrived, his crews moved across the street toward the front of a car wash to continue their work. "Then we hit the water line," Reed said. "It wasn't marked." Complicating matters, all the Gas and Water service telephone lines were out because of the fiber optic problem. Employees had to work out a communications plan, including using cellular phones to dispatch water crews to fix the leak. Meanwhile, BellSouth brought in a contractor to dig around the cable break, and the contractor may have hit a gas line. "It's possible. We had a contractor digging a hole for us and then we started smelling gas," said Pat Hooper, a BellSouth network manager. Firefighters and police blocked Madison and 10th streets while gas crews worked to stop the leak. Traffic was rerouted down Greenwood Avenue and down Commerce and 11th streets. Clarksville Fire Rescue Assistant Chief David Clinard said officials could smell a strong odor of natural gas when they arrived. Also, rerouting traffic and blocking the road is department protocol whenever natural gas leaks are present, Clinard said. The fiber cable problems knocked out phone lines and checkout debit card readers to some businesses on Madison Street. Crews hoped to have the problems fixed Thursday night, but were still on the scene with the road blocked at 11 p.m.

Two Hurt in Trench Collapse
At least two men were hurt when the trench they were working in apparently collapsed. It happened at a Penelec power substation off Route 267 near Meshoppen in Susquehanna County. Emergency crews said two men were stuck in the trench for 10-to-15 minutes. Their co-workers got them out before emergency crews arrived. They were flown to Community Medical Center in Scranton for treatment. Their names and conditions were not released. Investigators from Occupational Health and Safety Administration, or OSHA, said they will check out the collapse in Susquehanna County.

UPDATE, Lack of Cave-in Protection Cited in Savannah, Ga., Fatal Accident
OSHA Proposes $51,550 in Penalties for Thomaston Company
SAVANNAH, Ga. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today cited Pitts Plumbing for failing to protect workers from trenching and excavation hazards at an Abercorn Street construction site. Proposed penalties total $51,550. OSHA began an investigation Oct. 8, after a Pitts Plumbing employee died from injuries sustained in a trench cave-in. Workers had dug a 40-foot long, 9-foot deep trench, approximately 7-feet wide that the victim entered to take measurements in preparation for the installation of two 2,500-gallon tanks. Another worker assisting him at ground level noticed that asphalt around the trench opening was beginning to crack. He called to his co-worker who tried to run to safety but was hit by the collapsing trench wall. "This employer was aware of excavation safety requirements, but chose not to use protective devices," said Kurt Petermeyer, OSHA's acting area director in Savannah. "That decision ended in tragedy." The company received one willful citation with a proposed penalty of $49,000 for failing to protect employees working in an excavation by using a trench box or by properly sloping the trench walls to prevent cave-ins. The agency issues a willful citation when an employer has shown an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations. OSHA also issued two citations for alleged serious violations with penalties totaling $2,550 for failing to provide workers with hard hats while working in the trench and for failing to provide a ladder long enough to allow employees to safely enter and exit the trench. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. Petermeyer noted that employers might not comply with trenching and excavation standards because of time and cost concerns. He said OSHA has a national trenching and excavation emphasis program aimed at preventing unsafe conditions. Employers may request individual compliance assistance from local OSHA offices and attend agency-sponsored workshops. This part of the program is separate from the agency's strong enforcement effort, which allows OSHA staff to stop and inspect any trench or excavation that appears hazardous. The company has 15 working days to contest the OSHA citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Staff from the Savannah OSHA office located at 450 Mall Blvd., Suite J, conducted the investigation; phone: (912) 652-4393.

Trench cave-in injures man
A man working on a Metropolitan Flood Control District project in Clovis was injured Friday morning when the side of a 10-foot trench caved in on him, burying him to his chest for about 10 minutes, Clovis Fire Department officials reported. The man, Joseph Stubbs, 37, complained of pain to his right leg and was taken to University Medical Center for treatment. Dan Guice, a fire battalion chief, applauded Stubbs' co-workers for immediately starting to dig him out. When firefighters arrived, he said, Stubbs had already been uncovered to about his knees. An employee of Fresno contractor Scheidt, Hayden & Hall Inc., Stubbs was part of a crew working on storm drain project when the accident happened.

UPDATE, State investigating death of construction worker
Associated Press
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - State labor officials are investigating the death of a construction worker who died when an embankment collapsed on him at the Mall of South Carolina construction site. Juan Vazquez, 31, of Tabor City, N.C., was inside a 9-foot deep trench installing drainage pipe Wednesday when a side of the ditch collapsed, officials said. Vazquez, who worked for A.O. Hardee and Sons Inc., was trapped under 4 feet of dirt before fellow workers could pull him out, officials said. The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation is investigating, spokesman Jim Knight said. He said it has been about two years since a construction worker was killed in a similar accident in the state. There were 27 construction deaths in the state last year, he said.

Gas line ruptures; officials close Spring Hill Drive
DAVE SHELTON
SPRING HILL - Spring Hill Drive was closed more than an hour Thursday morning after a contractor broke through a natural gas main. Although emergency officials discussed it, no homes were evacuated in the vicinity as firefighters determined that a gusty breeze was dissipating the explosive gas. Many parents called two nearby schools, Deltona and Westside elementary, voicing concern for their children's safety. School officials said they left the decision on whether to evacuate up to Spring Hill Fire and Rescue District which had command of the scene. According to emergency personnel at the scene, a construction crew was digging a trench for installation of underground fiber optic cables when the gas line was broken. The line is owned by Heritage Propane. It wasn't immediately determined if the equipment operator missed the colored flag markers or if the markers had been wrongly located or moved. Natural gas immediately began spewing from the trench and could be smelled for blocks, according to witnesses. The first call was received by Spring Hill Fire at 8:48 a.m. The first firefighters on the scene closed Spring Hill Drive, diverting traffic to Pinehurst Drive. The busy four-lane thoroughfare remained closed for nearly two hours, until after a crew from Heritage had capped off both ends of the broken gas main. It took nearly an hour for emergency equipment from the gas company to get to the scene. With its special equipment, the crew was able to crimp-off one end of the gas line and stopped the flow at the other end at a shut-off valve. The county Emergency Management office said Heritage estimated about 1,370 cubic feet of gas had escaped before the line was capped. Traffic was diverted around the area by volunteers from the Spring Hill Fire Police and sheriff's deputies.

UPDATE, Contractor investigated in fatality; Trench fell in on worker; 2nd man out of hospital
By Valarie Honeycutt Spears
State labor officials began an investigation yesterday of the Lexington contractor who employed one man who died and another who was injured after they were trapped Tuesday in a narrow trench. State Labor Cabinet spokesman Eddie Jacobs identified the contractor as Gary Wise of Lexington and said officials opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Tuesday's cave-in at a home on Woodley Circle. Wise could not be reached for comment yesterday. The man who died, Carmel Angel Isiodoro-Mayo, 30, and the injured man, identified as Gregorio Reyes, 35, were part of a construction crew waterproofing a basement and installing drain lines. Reyes, who was trapped for two hours, was released yesterday from the University of Kentucky Medical Center, where he was treated for leg injuries. The city's immigrant coordinator said that because both victims had immigrated to Lexington from Mexico, he will ask the local panel that helps migrant workers to tackle the broader issue of Hispanic worker safety. "After we take care of any immediate needs involving the victims, it will be something we'll want to look into," said Abdon Ibarra, the Urban County Government official. Jacobs said he could not discuss any specifics about the state investigation, but he described what investigators look for in similar cases. Occupational Safety and Health regulations require that ditches deeper than 5 feet be properly shored up and have exits and entrances. The ditch involved in the accident was 8 feet deep, fire officials said. Workers must be specifically trained to work in the trench. Jacobs would not say whether the Cabinet had taken any immediate action. The investigation could take eight to 10 weeks. Ibarra said that advocates who work with Hispanics were trying to piece together information about the men yesterday. He said that the men apparently knew each other, but it was not immediately known where they lived. Isiodoro-Mayo died from asphyxiation when the dirt fell on him, a Fayette County coroner's report said. Lexington Police Lt. James Curless said that as a matter of course, his department will review the accidental death along with the coroner's office. Lexington Fire Chief William Halloran said it took firefighters more than four hours to remove the body. The homeowner, Charles Hill, has declined to comment, except to call the death a "tragic accident."

Ditch collapses, kills worker at mall site, 31-year-old's death remains under investigation
By Tonya Root
A 31-year-old Tabor City, N.C., man died Wednesday afternoon after part of a ditch collapsed on him at the Mall of South Carolina construction site. Juan Vazquez, 31, an employee of A.O. Hardee and Son Inc., was installing stormwater pipe in the ditch when the accident occurred, officials said. Co-workers pulled Vazquez from the ditch and called emergency officials at 12:54 p.m., Myrtle Beach fire Lt. Dan Walker said. "They had him out when we got there," Walker said. Horry County Emergency Medical Service officials took him to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 1:28 p.m., Horry County Coroner Robert Edge said. An autopsy is scheduled for today to determine Vazquez's exact cause of death. Vazquez had worked for A.O. Hardee for about a year, said Kim Lewis, office manager. She said she could not release any more information because the accident is under investigation. Myrtle Beach police Lt. Chuck Dunn said investigators photographed the scene. Excavation began in September at the site at U.S. 17 Bypass and Harrelson Boulevard. The mall, expected to be the state's largest, is slated to open in 2004.

One worker dead, another trapped inside trench
LEXINGTON, Ky.- A trench collapse left one worker dead and buried another man in a Lexington subdivision on Tuesday. Lexington firefighters and rescue workers pulled one man out at around 5:17 p.m. EST. The second man, who was killed by the collapse, remained buried in the trench Tuesday night, said Maj. Mike Tracy of the Lexington Fire Department. Authorities were called to the scene around 3:30 p.m., Tracy said. The men's names hadn't been released by authorities. The workers had dug a deep ditch and were waterproofing a basement, Tracy said. The trench collapsed as the men were working, he said. The man who was pulled out was transported to the University of Kentucky Medical Center. "He's doing fine," Tracy said.

Overhead wires electrocute worker
YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) -- A man laying sewer pipe in a new home development was electrocuted when a backhoe, operated by his father, hit a powerline overhead, the Yakima County sheriff's office said. William Anderson, 26, was pronounced dead Monday at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. Chuck Anderson, 63, the owner of Central Concrete and Utilities, was operating the backhoe while his son stabilized a section of pipe that was tethered by cable to the backhoe bucket, the sheriff's office said. The boom on the backhoe hit a powerline above it and the electrical current was transmitted to the younger Anderson. The state Department of Labor and Industries is investigating.

4,000 homes go dark after crew cuts underground line
UNION-TRIBUN
RANCHO PENASQUITOS – A construction crew accidentally cut an underground power cable last night, plunging some 4,000 area residences into darkness. The crew was digging a trench at Twin Trails Way and Black Mountain Road about 8:35 p.m. when it cut the power line, said Peter Hidalgo, spokesman for San Diego Gas & Electric Co. Hidalgo said power was restored to about 3,100 residential customers within an hour, but the remaining homes would not be back on line until about 4:30 a.m. Recent rains had flooded a manhole where the final repairs needed to be made, so crews first had to pump out the water.

Scary hours for worker trapped in trench
NEWARK - It was a close call for a city worker from Newark. Derrick Gully was trapped in a trench he was working in for nearly two hours Monday afternoon. The 29-year-old city employee was pulled out of a hole about ten feet deep after working on a watermain break. Firefighters say the rain gear Gully was wearing to protect him is what actually trapped him. He was pulled out after nearly two hours on his knees. Gully will spend Monday night in the hospital for observation.

Officials search for fault in Lafayette explosions; Accuracy of marks indicating gas lines investigated; crews check for more leaks.
By John Tuohy November 30, 2002
LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Lafayette officials were investigating Friday whether or not underground gas lines were accurately marked or whether a construction crew failed to heed the markings before rupturing one, causing explosions that destroyed four homes. Four people, including a baby, escaped serious injury. Fire inspectors said the ground was clearly marked with yellow paint, an indication the construction company had informed the gas company it would be digging in that location. But it's unclear whether the markings were accurate. The construction crew installing a traffic light at 18th and Salem streets struck one of the gas lines while trying to install underground cable. "The marks were there, we know that much," said Randy Keen, a city fire inspector. "Now we have to find out what went wrong." The construction crew worked for Hawk Enterprises of Crown Point, which was installing the traffic signal Wednesday. A drill on a digging machine poked a hole into an underground plastic gas line, causing gas to escape and seep up crevices in the ground and into homes. The explosions could have been caused by any of several sparks prevalent in typical households, such as a pilot light on a furnace or water heater. Four people were treated for minor injuries and released from local hospitals, and another 115 were left homeless or forced to evacuate their homes. They have not been allowed to return yet, as crews continue to check the area for more gas leaks. Meanwhile, they will try to restore normalcy to their lives. Amee Smith's children, William, Graham and Andrew, will return to Vinton Elementary School on Monday. The family rescued four of their five pets, including two dogs and two cats, from their home, the site of the first explosion. A third cat -- a 15-year-old calico Persian named Coco -- was left behind, though the family left two doors open hoping she'd escape. A ball python, named Ka, who was found among rubble with very cold skin in a smoke-filled aquarium, apparently suffered no injuries or respiratory problems, said Jean Jacobs, who treated the animal at Exotic Animal Clinic. Another resident had returned to his home to claim pets -- two cats, two birds and two Rottweilers. Wednesday's trouble started with a broken gas line -- an incident that is common, according to Mike Roeder, a spokesman for Vectren, the company that supplies natural gas to Lafayette. "Unfortunately, gas lines are hit with some frequency," Roeder said. Explosions, though, remain rare. Construction companies doing work underground are supposed to notify Indiana Underground Plant Protection Systems before digging. That agency then calls the utility company, which dispatches a subcontractor to identify the location of lines and to mark on pavement where the lines run. Vectren uses Reliant Services of Zionsville to locate the gas lines and mark the pavement. Reliant is a joint venture between Cinergy Corp. and Indiana Energy Inc., state records show. Representatives of Reliant could not be reached Friday. Usually, breaches are caused when a construction crew doesn't call to request that the lines be marked, Roeder said. "It's just common sense. There is no reason not to call," said Mary Beth Fisher, a spokeswoman for the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. A representative of Hawk Enterprises could not be reached for comment. The Lafayette Journal and Courier contributed to this report.

Gas leak shuts down Va. 221
By John Barnhart
Natural gas service was disrupted for more than 300 Columbia Gas of Virginia customers in Forest, Thursday, after construction workers accidentally bored into an eight inch gas line near the intersection of Va. 221 and Graves Mill Road. Both the Barr Labs and the Frito Lay plants were affected by the gas outage. According to Bob Sutton, the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) resident engineer for Bedford County, the accident occurred shortly before 12: 30 p. m. Construction workers were boring under the Norfolk and Southern railroad right of way for a sewer line connection for a new car wash that is under construction. VDOT helped county authorities by assisting with traffic control and locating a detour route that allowed them to keep Va. 221 traffic flowing. The detour involved routing traffic to the Lynchburg Expressway, then to Timberlake Road, on to Laxton Road and finally to Enterprise Drive. "It made a real convenient detour," said Sutton. "It couldn't have happened in a better spot."   Trffic flow was restored by 4:15 p.m. "There, again, we were fortunate to be able to open up before rush hour," Sutton commented. Sutton said that multiple contractors are involved in work there and VDOT is conducting an investigation. He said that the railroad is also investigating the incident. Bob Innes, a spokesman for Columbia, said that repairing the line took longer than anticipated. Fixing the leak in the steel line required welding and all residual gas had to be purged from the line before that could be done. After the repair was done, the line had to be "gassed". This involves restoring gas in the line to normal operating pressure. Once that was done, Columbia employees had to go to each customer and restore gas service. This involved relighting pilot lights, where necessary. "We're still investigating all circumstances surrounding it," commented Innes who said that their first priority was to restore gas service. The Forest Volunteer Fire Department was the first Bedford area emergency services unit to respond, according to Jack Jones, Bedford County's director of fire and rescue. Forest's Volunteer firefighters made sure the area around the rupture was secure and began evacuating people. Ultimately businesses and residences within a half-mile radius of the rupture were evacuated, including 115 children from a day care center. Jones said that Bedford County Public Schools and Lynchburg City Public Schools provided busses. Bedford County Schools also identified students, who live in the evacuated area, and kept them in school after school let out. Jones said that it took two hours to get gas shut off. The shut-off valve was two miles away and it took Columbia employees a while to find it. It took some time, after that, to get all the residual gas out of two miles of pipeline. Meanwhile, firefighters checked for pockets of gas in the soil. In spite of the delay, Jones feels that everything worked out well. There was good coordination among his department, the Sheriff's Department, the school division and VDOT. "We know each other, " Jones commented. Innes reminds people to call Miss Utility at 1-800-552-7001 prior to doing any excavation. This service will locate utility lines, including gas, water, and buried phone lines or power lines at. In addition to the danger involved in digging into a utility line, a contractor, or homeowner, can be liable for expenses. Columbia Gas can recover the expenses that it incurred repairing the line. The accident tied up 18 firefighters and a half-dozen Sheriff's deputies. Bedford county can recover these costs, as well as what it cost the school division to run extra school busses. VDOT could also send a bill for its expenses. Norfolk and Southern Railroad is also conducting its own investigation and may send somebody a bill. The accident occurred along their right-of-way and prevented any trains from coming through until the area was free of gas. According to Innes, the Virginia Corporation Commission automatically investigates accidents involving utility lines and Columbia will share information from it's investigation with the Corporation Commission. Innes said that the Commission has the ability to fine, after an investigation. The fine depends on the severity of the accident and how much care the contractor was taking to prevent such a thing from happening.

Gas-line explosion burns 3 workers, Men were trying to repair leak near Rock Hill plaza
NICHOLE MONROE BELL, JENNIFER TALHELM DENNY SEITZ Staff Writers
ROCK HILL - Three York County Natural Gas Authority employees were seriously injured Tuesday when a gas line they were working on exploded near a Rock Hill strip shopping center. The explosion occurred about 11:20 a.m. Tuesday as workers were trying to fix a leaking valve in front of Herlong Plaza, on Herlong Avenue next to the popular PW's ice cream shop. The burned men were Tim Stegall, Matt Evans and Billy Mullis, according to York County Natural Gas president Willie Stephenson. The men's ages and hometowns were not available Tuesday evening. They were being treated at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, Ga., where they were in serious but stable condition. No one else was injured in the blast. Stegall, an employee of 20 years, was one of the supervisors working at the site, Stephenson said. He said Evans has worked for the company for about a month and Mullis has worked there as a temporary employee for less than three months. Brenda Brandon, owner of Double "B" Graphics in Herlong Plaza, said she smelled gas about 10 a.m. when she arrived at work. She said she reported the leak to natural gas officials, who came out within the hour to work on the 4-inch line. Rock Hill Fire Chief Mike Blackmon said the workers had been digging near the line with a backhoe and were in the process of sealing off the gas line to replace the faulty valve when something ignited the gas. Stephenson said he thinks one of the company's work trucks may have inadvertently ignited the gas when it drove by the site. He said one of the injured men -- he didn't know which one -- had been driving the truck, while the other two men were standing on the side of the road. Witnesses recalled hearing a big explosion followed by smaller ones: the burning truck's gas tank and then its tires, they guessed. "I saw one guy turn to run, and he didn't go two steps before the explosion knocked him right off his feet. His whole body was in the air," said Linda Horton, who had just gotten out of her car in the shopping center parking lot when the explosion occurred. "When they saw the ... flame, they started running, but didn't have time to get away." Ronald Hinson of Rock Hill was walking into the Market on Herlong restaurant when he heard the window-rattling explosion and saw the flames. "I saw one guy jump a little, then run. He probably ran 50 yards, but never made a sound," Hinson said. "You could see that his skin was all burnt. ... He was on fire and running. When people got to him, he was acting like he couldn't catch his breath." Paramedic supervisor Robert White said bystanders took the injured workers to Piedmont Medical Center, less than a mile away on Herlong. Later Tuesday afternoon, the men were taken by helicopters to the burn unit in Augusta. White said the men were alert and talking while at PMC, but that their injuries were serious. He said he did not know the extent of their injuries, but they appeared to have at least second-degree burns. Flames reached above the burning work truck at the site of the blast. Firefighters waited more than an hour for the gas-fueled flames to subside before extinguishing the blaze. Workers cut gas service to 240 customers, including the strip mall and nearby businesses and homes. Service was expected to be restored by this morning. Stephenson said a cracked valve caused the leak, but he did not know what caused the valve to crack. He said cracked valves are "highly unusual" and he planned to send it to an independent testing lab to determine why it failed. Stephenson said Tuesday's fire was the first time anything like this has happened in his 28 years with the company. He said the workers were following proper work procedures when the explosion occurred, and that their injuries could have been much worse had they been in the hole where the leak was.

Natural gas leak forces evacuation
By Sandy Wall Staff Writer
A natural gas leak Monday afternoon near downtown Kinston forced the evacuation of several businesses and homes and led police to close several area streets. The incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. when a crew renovating the offices of the Greater Kinston Credit Union on Queen Street struck and cut a natural gas pipe. The workers, who were from the Worthington Company, were digging footings behind the building when a crewman operating an excavator severed the line. "We thought we were by it," said crew leader Ronnie Stanley. "We jumped right down and called." Kinston police officers and firefighters evacuated the blocks bordered by Independence and Herritage streets and Park and Vernon avenues and cordoned off the area. Queen Street traffic was diverted to Independence Street and Herritage Street. A repairman from NCNG sealed off the leak a few minutes later. By 2:55 p.m., residents and business workers and patrons were allowed to return. No one was injured in the incident. An estimate of how many people were evacuated was not available. Crews working on the credit union building say plans call for the construction of a second story on it as well as an expansion on the building's front and rear.

Rescuers free man trapped in trench, Plumbing company employee unhurt; state to check site
By Chris Poynter
The state plans to investigate a trench collapse that left a man trapped but unharmed yesterday in southwestern Jefferson County. The incident began at 11:30 a.m. when James Weekley, an employee of Dauenhauer Plumbing, was digging a ditch for a sewer line in the Pleasant View subdivision, near the Gene Snyder Freeway and Dixie Highway. Part of the trench collapsed, trapping the man up to his knees in dirt. Weekley, 33, was freed two hours later when he helped rescue workers dig himself out. He stepped out of the trench using a ladder and was taken to University Hospital for observation. ''He basically dug his feet out,'' said Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Chief Doug Atwell. It appeared that the 10to 12-foot trench was not properly secured, Atwell said, but that would have to be determined by an investigation. Regulations require trenches more than 5 feet deep to be shored or braced, said Eddie Jacobs, a spokesman for the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The investigation by his agency could take two to four weeks, Jacobs said. Gary Thieneman, a general manager for Dauenhauer, said the trench was secured and he pointed to part of it that remained intact as proof. That section contained what looked like a step that has been dug into the earth. Chris Gosnell, of the Okolona Fire Department, said ''stair casing'' is a method to help secure trenches. In essence, Gosnell said, instead of digging straight into the ground, workers dig a staircase, which helps reinforce the ditch. Gosnell, however, echoed Atwell in saying it did not appear the ditch was properly secured. Thieneman said he wasn't sure what happened. ''It looks like part of the trench gave way,'' he said. ''I'm not sure why.'' Dauenhauer was fined $630 in 1989 for failing to properly secure a trench, according to state records. Since 1983, Dauenhauer has been inspected by the state 25 times and has been cited twice, once for the 1989 trench collapse and once for an electrical violation in 1991, Jacobs said.

Residents evacuate after gas line ruptures
SPRING HILL — Twenty-five residents of Wyngate Estates were evacuated from their homes yesterday morning after a piece of heavy machinery ruptured a gas line, officials said. ''It was strictly a precautionary measure,'' said Spring Hill Fire Chief Clyde Farmer. ''A 4-inch natural gas line was broken and gas was escaping into the air, so we evacuated all the people downwind from it.'' Construction crews were working on a road in the Wyngate Estates subdivision when the accident occurred about 10 a.m., Farmer said. Two fire trucks and five firefighters responded to the accident at 2300 Leighton Lane and remained on the scene for about two hours, Farmer said.

Trench Collapse Nearly Buries Two Men Alive
Coworkers Come To The Rescue
Students working with the charity YouthBuild Detroit received a scare Wednesday after a trench collapsed on two of their workers. Solomon Martin, 19, and Brandon Kelly, 21, were working on a sewer line in a southwest Detroit housing development project, when a large chunk of mud came collapsing off the wall of an 8-foot-deep trench. "I looked up … and all the dirt just came down," said Martin. Martin said he could still breathe with his head above the dirt, but when he looked over to check on Kelly, he realized the collapse had completely buried his friend, Local 4 reported. Robert Jones of YouthBuild watched as the heavy mud buried the two students below. Jones and others jumped in the trench to dig Kelly out, fearing that he would run out of oxygen, Local 4 reported. "I turned his head out first to let him breathe ... then I tried to keep him relaxed," said Jones. Rescuers used a shovel to dig the boys out and eventually pull them to safety, Local 4 reported. Martin walked away uninjured, but Kelly was rushed to the hospital to be treated for injuries. Kelly is still in the hospital but is expected to recover.

Cross-Sound Power Cable Cut, May cause energy loss next summer
By Michael Rothfeld
A 32-year-old transmission cable that carries power between Long Island and Connecticut was torn Saturday afternoon by a contractor building a natural gas pipeline under the Long Island Sound during a nor'easter, energy company officials said yesterday. The accident spilled a chemical coolant into the water but did not disrupt electrical service because the cable, which runs from Norwalk, Conn., to Northport, was not in use since the demand for energy was low. Divers were trying to ascertain the cable's condition yesterday. Officials with the Long Island Power Authority and Connecticut Light & Power, who co-own the 280-megawatt line, said that if it cannot be repaired by the peak summer months, it could strain the power supply in both places. "Obviously, it's a critical component to our reliability, and our ability to import and export power throughout the area," LIPA Chairman Richard Kessel said yesterday. The cause of the accident was not entirely clear. At about 3:45 p.m. Saturday, a boat subcontracted to the Iroquois Pipeline Operating Company of Shelton, Conn., apparently dragged its anchor across four of the transmission line's seven spurs about 1.5 miles from Northport, according to various officials. The anchor ruptured at least the exterior of the cables, which rest on the seabed 40 to 50 feet below the surface. The cables leaked dielectric fluid, an insulator and coolant, into the Sound at a rate of about 16 gallons an hour, Kessel said. As of yesterday, about 1,400 gallons had spilled and was dissipating into the water. Bill Fonda, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Conservation, said the fluid was not considered a threat to marine life. Fonda said that because the leak occurred under the water, the fluid's concentration would lessen before it reaches the surface so there is "not going to be a tremendous amount of environmental impacts." The pipeline under construction by Iroquois would tap off an existing line that brings gas from Canada to Long Island, and extend it to Hunts point in New York City by April. KeySpan Corp., which manages the cable for LIPA, also owns 20 percent of Iroquois. An Iroquois spokeswoman, Anita Flanagan, said the company was investigating the incident. She said she did not know whether or why construction may have been under way during the storm. Flanagan said the cables appeared to have been sliced by a barge operated by an Iroquois subcontractor. But an official with the subcontractor, Horizon Offshore Inc. of Houston, said the boat that ripped the cables was a diving support vessel operated by yet another subcontractor on the project, Cal Dive, also of Houston. No one from Cal Dive was available for comment. Kessel said that, depending on the damage to the transmission cable, it might be more cost-effective to replace it than repair it. LIPA would have only 1,000 megawatts of transmission capacity across the Sound without this cable and a 330-megawatt cable from New Haven to Shoreham that has been kept idle by Connecticut regulators. An order by the federal energy secretary in August declared an emergency and allowed it to be used temporarily. The agency has 4,500 megawatts of generating capacity on Long Island and is working with a developer to build two plants that would add 130 by the summer. Long Islanders' energy usage reached a record 5,059 megawatts at its peak last summer, Kessel said.

Workers pierce gas line, force Buena Vista Street evacuation
By Susan Abram
BURBANK -- Construction workers nicked a 12-inch underground gas line Tuesday, sending natural gas into the air and prompting authorities to divert traffic and evacuate nearby homes and businesses, police said. It took repair crews about three hours to fix the gas line under Buena Vista Street, which was pierced at 11:34 a.m. by workers who were drilling horizontally, authorities said. Employees from businesses along Buena Vista and Burbank Boulevard were told to leave their offices. Residents of two nearby homes also were evacuated. "It was very strong-smelling," Tricia Mueller, who works in a two-story professional building at 2501 Burbank Blvd., said about the odor that utilities add to natural gas for safety -- so a leak can be smelled. Authorities said the leak did not pose any health risks, and homes and businesses did not lose electricity or gas. "One of the fortunate things is that it was a partial break," said Burbank Fire Marshal Dave Starr. "Another fortunate thing is the good weather, which allowed the gas to just evaporate." Workmen for a city contractor were installing conduits to connect two traffic signals when the mishap occurred, said city traffic engineer Ken Johnson. "We were very fortunate," Johnson said. "That could have been potentially dangerous."

Gas leak brings rail line to standstill
By James Hore and Katy Edwards
THOUSANDS of commuters faced travel chaos after a major gas leak closed the main railway line through East Anglia. The railway station in Colchester had to be evacuated and residents ordered to stay inside with their doors and windows closed after road workers severed the pipeline shortly before 11am yesterday. More than 25 trains were cancelled as part of the main line to London was shut for five hours after it was judged too dangerous to run the electric power to the rails. Buses were laid on to ferry passengers between Ipswich and Marks Tey while engineers from gas company Transco tried to repair the damaged pipe. The railway line was finally reopened at 4pm, but train companies Anglia Railways and First Great Eastern warned there would be knock-on delays to services stretching into the night. Anglia Railways spokesman Peter Meades said questions would have to be asked of Transco as to why the leak took so long to mend. "To paralyse the main line for up to five hours is clearly not acceptable," he added. The drama began when a digger, carrying out road widening at the North station roundabout in Colchester, broke open the gas pipe at about 10.45am. Workers from Transco, wearing breathing apparatus, were knocked back by the force of the gas coming from the pipe as they tried to assess the damage. While workmen battled to contain the leak, North station was evacuated and hundreds of rail passengers were forced to wait outside. Relief buses were kept at a distance as the roads around the station were closed for safety, causing traffic gridlock, and residents were ordered to stay inside with their doors and windows closed. The mainline from Liverpool Street in London through East Anglia was affected for more than five hours, with replacement bus services laid on, and fire crews from Colchester remained on standby as a precautionary measure. A spokeswoman for Transco said: "There were some contractors working on a road-widening scheme who went through a medium pressure pipeline. The railway and the main road had to be closed in the interests of safety." The pipeline supplies gas for Colchester and it is thought more than half a tonne of gas escaped before the repairs were completed, although supplies to customers were not expected to be affected. Chris Green, network operations manager for Transco, said the first priority during the incident was to ensure the safety of people. "We reduced the levels escaping as much as possible and attempted a temporary repair until something more permanent could be done," he added. Transco said it had informed the Health and Safety Executive as a standard procedure. Anglia Railways warned its customers "not to travel unless absolutely necessary" while the disruption to services continued. First Great Eastern rail services were also affected and a spokesman said "delays and cancellations are the order of the day". n Motorists travelling on one of the region's main roads also experienced travel chaos yesterday after a lorry jacknifed and its trailer overturned,  damaging safety barriers. The accident happened at about 11.30am on the roundabout at the A12/14 Copdock interchange south of Ipswich. The roundabout was closed until 4pm for the lorry to be recovered and the barriers repaired and traffic was diverted, causing congestion on nearby roads. 

Gas leak prompts home evacuations
CHARLOTTE HARBOR -- An electric company installing new utility poles along a residential street Friday morning struck a gas line, prompting the precautionary evacuation of nearby houses. There were no reported injuries, and the narrow steel pipe was repaired quickly, said Chief Dennis R. DiDio of Charlotte County Fire & EMS. The accident occurred on Gardner Drive at about 9:30 a.m. About 30 people were evacuated from their homes. Elderly residents were driven from the area and allowed to return about two hours later. Sand and dirt spewing out of the ground, that's about all you could see," company foreman Rick Messner said. The line is three-quarters of an inch wide, about a foot underground and not under much pressure. It carried liquefied petroleum gas, a propane compound used, for example, in gas barbecue grills. "You'll hear it hissing. It will blow dirt, but it will still make a bad day if it's lit," DiDio said. "There's always a danger when it's leaking." The contractor, Pike Electric, had been working at the site since Monday. Greg Gilmore, a Pike worker, said the dig site wasn't marked to show a gas line. "They are supposed to mark it when there's something there," he said. "If there's a mark, we dig by hand."

Westport gas line ruptured
Herald News Staff, Herald News Staff November 16, 2002 
WESTPORT -- A 50-pound natural gas line was ruptured Tuesday morning, forcing police to divert all traffic into the four-way intersection of Hixbridge and Drift roads. The rupture was reported to police about 8:10 a.m., police said. The police and fire departments both responded to the gas line accident at 992 Drift Road. Apparently, the gas line was ruptured because a contractor working on the home, Dartmouth Stone, had not notified Dig-Safe to identify any buried lines before beginning construction work and had inadvertently hit the gas line. Traffic was stopped in the area for about 45 minutes until New England Gas Co. field workers arrived to clamp the pipe temporarily. Police said neighbors in the proximity of the accident were asked to evacuate their homes until the leak was stopped. 

Gas leak forces evacuation of Clifton Park day care center
DEANNA AMORE, The Saratogian November 16, 2002 
CLIFTON PARK -- Students, staff and parents were evacuated Friday morning from Pal's Early Child Care & Learning Center on Crossing Boulevard when a construction crew working on the building next door struck a gas line. Pal's Director Denise Barnes said a construction worker came and announced, '''Uh, we have a gas leak. I called 911.''' Barnes called for everyone to leave the building. The break occurred just as many parents were dropping off their children for the day. ''It's a good thing this didn't happen at the end of the day when there are more kids,'' she said. Pal's and the building under construction share a common wall. The crew struck one of the lines that feeds the building, said Capt. E.J. Doran of the Clifton Park Fire Department. Niagara Mohawk responded immediately, capped the leak and checked the buildings for gas. ''I don't think the kids were in any danger,'' Doran said. Barnes said 36 children and about a dozen teachers and parents were taken to a room at the Clifton Park Halfmoon Emergency Corps building near the child care center. There were no injuries. The all-clear to return to the building was given around 9 a.m. State Police, Saratoga County Sheriff's officers and the Clifton Park and Jonesville fire departments responded to the scene. Barnes said parents would be notified of the situation when they picked up their children. ''At least nobody was hurt,'' she said. 

Gas main leak forces evacuations, Workers installing fence puncture line near Salinas apartments
By Kelly Nix The Californian
Three Salinas apartment buildings were evacuated for an hour Monday and a road was partially closed after fencing workers accidentally hit a gas main. Police and fire officials cordoned off a portion of North Sanborn Road about 2:15 p.m. as white clouds of gas rose from the ground in front of an apartment building. No one was injured. "There was a real strong gas smell," said Salinas police Sgt. Mike Groves. "We got people out of the buildings just as a precaution." About 35 people were evacuated from 24 apartments at 618 N. Sanborn Road. North Sanborn Road, between North Madeira Avenue and Oregon Street to East Laurel Drive, was reopened to traffic about 3:15 p.m. and residents were allowed to return to their apartments. Fire officials received the call about 2 p.m., and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. officials arrived to turn off the gas line about 3 p.m., said Salinas fire Capt. Ted Sokotowski. Fence company workers were digging holes to install a fence at the apartment complex when they broke through the gas line, police said. Business owner Tomas Calderon, who owns Calderon Tires and Wheels, 619 N. Sanborn Road, said he wondered why it took so long for PG&E to turn off the gas. "It's hurting business," Calderon said. One PG&E truck arrived, but the worker was unable to turn the gas off until another unit arrived from Watsonville. The gas was leaking from a 1-inch pipe that produced about 55 to 65 pounds of pressure, Sokotowski said. 

Water main break leaves 300 without water 
November 12, 2002 By KATE BREX Herald Staff Writer
ANDOVER TWP. — For the second time in two months, Newton’s water supply was shut down due to a water main break. And the water system stayed shut down due to a second break discovered shortly after the first repairs were made, leaving about 300 homes and businesses without water through Monday night. The first break in the town’s primary transmission line occurred Monday at about 1:30 p.m., forcing the town to shut down its water supply to residents in parts of Andover Township and Newton. Contractors building a new entrance to the Andover Township municipal building accidentally hit Newton’s primary water main, said Newton Town Manager Camille Furgiuele. The water main runs from Morris Lake in Sparta, which is Newton’s reservoir, to Newton. Nearly 300 Newton and Andover Township residents, from Limecrest Road in Andover to Woodside Avenue in Newton, were without water, said Furgiuele. Newton’s main waterline runs along Newton/Sparta Road. “Others in town will experience low water pressure,” Furgiuele said. Furgiuele said homes and businesses in Drake Manor, Sparta Avenue, Lincoln Place, Hicks Avenue, Smith, Prospect and Grand Streets were without water. Furgiuele had hoped to have the water line repaired within six to eight hours. Newton Police Sgt. Leo Beshada said the line was repaired by 10 p.m., but the water department crew discovered a second break at the intersection of Woodside and Sparta Avenue as they were returning to Newton. “They are fixing it now,” he said Monday night. The water department had responded to the first emergency call in Andover Township shortly after 1:30 p.m. and shut down the line. “The Newton Water Department was here in a matter of minutes and shut the line down,” said Andover Township Administrator Richard W. Stewart. “It is unfortunate. Certainly, no one intends to break a water main. I deeply regret any inconvenience that it has caused to the residents of Andover and Newton.” Stewart said that repair equipment was on the scene as early as 4:30 p.m., but repairs had to wait until the water was drained from the line. Stewart said the township will investigate what happened and who was responsible for the break in the transmission line. Furgiuele said the state Department of Environmental Protection and the town advise affected residents to boil their water for one minute until further notice. A slew of town workers went door-to-door, hand-delivering notices that advised residents of the water’s unsafe condition Monday night, said Furgiuele. "This is standard procedure for the township,” she said. “When there is a break in the line, you should always boil the water until the town tests say it is once again safe to drink.” In September, construction of a Sparta sewer line caused three joints to rupture in the Newton water transmission line near Glen Road and Main Street in Sparta. The 16-inch water main accident caused Newton to reopen a temporary interconnection with Sparta that had been used to supply Newton with water after the flood of 2000. Roughly three weeks ago, Newton disconnected from Sparta’s temporary line and reopened its main transmission line, said Furgiuele. Both of Newton’s water lines from Morris Lake were ruptured in the flood. 

Backhoe hits line at new care site 
By Lara Bricker
EXETER - A severed natural gas line near Exeter Hospital on Monday morning could have been explosive had it not been for the quick response of the gas company and firefighters. The highly flammable gas - which can be ignited by something as simple as a light switch - did spread in the area and was detected in the Meineke Muffler shop down the road, said Assistant Fire Chief Ken Berkenbush. While the gas-line rupture and leak on the construction site of Exeter Hospital’s new Center for Ambulatory Care resulted in a large-scale emergency response from firefighters in several surrounding towns, the situation was soon brought under control. "The quick action of the construction crew helped mitigate a potentially more serious situation," Berkenbush said. The line was hit by a backhoe operator working on the construction site at 11:45 a.m. Monday. The crew from Hutter Construction was attempting to rotate the cover of a catch basin - as part of the drainage system work at the site - when the backhoe bucket caught the gas line, said Norman Philbrick, the site superintendent for Hutter. While the crew knew there were gas lines in the area, they thought the lines were deeper in the ground, Philbrick said. "We just didn’t realize it was that shallow," he said. The 2-inch low-pressure gas line discharged gas into the air and the odor of gas could be detected on Portsmouth Avenue. Northern Utilities Natural Gas and Exeter Fire Department arrived on the scene just before noon. The Exeter Fire Department evacuated the workers inside the building and did not allow any cars to leave the hospital’s parking garage across the street, Berkenbush said. Meineke Muffler also ceased operation until the gas leak was contained, which took about 15 minutes. Officers from the Exeter Police Department stopped traffic at the intersection of Alumni Drive and Portsmouth Avenue, next to Dunkin’ Donuts. They also diverted traffic at the Synergy parking lot. Firefighters concentrated their efforts on determining how far the natural gas had spread. Mutual aid was called as manpower was needed to use gas meters to check for the spread of gas into the surrounding buildings, Berkenbush explained. The windy conditions Monday didn’t help. "Natural gas rises and it travels with the wind," he said. Firefighters from Stratham, Hampton, Newfields and North Hampton assisted Exeter at the scene. "They checked to make sure there wasn’t a dangerous concentration of gas," Berkenbush said. "As it reaches levels where it could ignite all it needs is an ignition source. It could be something as simple as a light switch." Firefighters used meters to check for gas inside the Center for Ambulatory Care, the parking garage, Exeter Hospital, Seacoast Mental Health, Meineke Muffler, Rite Aid and Dunkin’ Donuts. Some natural gas was found inside the Meineke building, Berkenbush said. Crews from Northern Utilities were able to quickly clamp the ends of the gas line to stop its escape into the air. Despite the leak Monday, the construction project has not resulted in any other emergency situations. "It’s a very large project that the hospital is undertaking and this is the first incident I’ve responded to," Berkenbush said. "They had all their safety measures in place but sometimes accidents do happen." 

Construction worker escapes catastrophe after being buried alive

by Mindy Fothergill, KUAM News Sunday, November 10, 2002 
A local construction worker was fortunate to walk away from an industrial accident that happened at the Leo Palace resort on Monday morning. Guam Police Department Duty Officer Lieutenant Pete Mendiola says Hagåtña and southern precinct officers responded to a call of a person who was buried alive at a construction site at the Manneggon Hill Golf Resort. When police arrived they found a construction worker inside a sewage piping trench. Police say the man was inside the trench taking measurements when the upper portion of the trench caved in over him. Thanks to the help of his coworkers who noticed the incident, the man was dug out with the help of Guam Fire Department rescue units. The man was taken to the Guam Memorial Hospital for a minor injury to his ankle and was treated and released this afternoon. The incident has prompted the attention of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration who is expected to determine if there were any workplace violations on the worksite. KUAM News spoke with Leo Palace Resort staff who couldn't say which construction company the man worked for. They could only tell us that Maeda Guam Construction Company, Sumitomo, Korando and other subcontractors are working on the construction of several sports facilities on the Leo Palace grounds. This marks the second industrial accident that's happened in as many weeks. As reported, OSHA just recently completed their onsite investigation into the death of a 52-year-old Shipyard Repair Facility fork lift operator last weekend. That case too, remains under investigation. 

UPDATE, Kent firm to pay hefty fine for trench collapse
2002-11-09 by Tim Larson Journal Reporter
SAMMAMISH -- A sudden trench collapse that trapped a worker below street level for more than two hours has drawn a hefty fine from the state's Department of Labor and Industries. Citing three violations, two of them ``willful,'' L&I fined Laser Underground & Earthworks Inc., of Kent, a total of $67,750. ``This is a large fine for a small employer,'' L&I spokesman Steve Pierce said. ``It's very unusual to issue a citation in excess of $60,000 except for the largest employers.'' The April incident, on 208th Avenue Northeast just north of Inglewood Hill Road, drew a huge emergency response. More than 20 firetrucks, ambulances and command vehicles from Eastside Fire & Rescue, Kirkland Fire and Redmond Fire responded. The worker, who was extending a sewer line to a nearby house, was trapped in a standing position after dirt collapsed around his legs and rose to the top of his thighs. Although the trench was 8 feet deep in some places, the worker was not protected by proper shoring. The required ladder was also absent. After more than two hours under street level, the trapped man was taken to Harborview Medical Center. He suffered no significant injuries. Laser Underground and Earthworks Inc. has appealed the fines. Efforts Friday to elicit a comment from the company were unsuccessful. 

Gas Line Bursts Near Downtown, Leak Ties Up Traffic For Morning Commuters
November 8, 2002
HOUSTON -- Natural gas spewed into Houston's sidewalks and streets after a worker ruptured the line, authorities said. The accident happened shortly 4 a.m. near the intersection of Fannin and Webster near downtown. Investigators told News2Houston that the gas line was ruptured when a construction worker, using a boring machine, was drilling horizontally underground. The workers, who were trying to install a Southwestern Bell utility line, said that their plans didn't indicate that there was a gas line in this location. Police and firefighters blocked off the intersection as a precaution. CenterPoint Energy workers arrived on the scene shortly after 6 a.m. and began to close off the gas line, authorities said. "I just spoke with the gentleman from CenterPoint just a few minutes ago (and) they now have what they call a crimping crew on the scene. They are digging and will have the valve found momentarily," said Jay Evans, spokesman for the Houston Fire Department. "Once they find the valve, they will cut it off and then the danger will be completely eliminated," he said. The leak tied up traffic for morning commuters, because of the blocking off of Fannin, which is a major street in and out of the downtown area. The intersection was reopened at 8 a.m. The accident is under investigation. 

WORKER KILLED 
A 22-year-old man died in a trench cave-in Wednesday afternoon in Tooele County. Eric Bevan was helping some friends install a septic tank in the back yard of a home at 1022 N. Ericson Road in Pine Canyon. He was left alone to operate the backhoe at 2 p.m. and was found trapped at 2:40 p.m. Firefighters do not know how long he was buried in the cave-in. He was covered with dirt up to his neck, but the extreme pressure on his chest stopped him from drawing in any air. Rescue workers could not revive him and he died at the scene. Bevan was recently married and his wife is expecting their first child. 

Gas line break destroys Golden home
By Jim Erickson, Rocky Mountain News November 6, 2002
An unoccupied Golden home exploded and burned to the ground Tuesday after construction workers digging a trench in front of the house ruptured a natural gas pipe, police said. No one was hurt, but more than 20 people in the neighborhood were evacuated as a precaution. Most were allowed to return home about 2 ½ hours after the 10:20 a.m. explosion, said Julie Brooks, a spokeswoman for the Golden Police Department. "It was a huge bang that rocked the house," said Jack Stell, who lives two houses down from the site at 570 Chelan St. "I thought something big had hit my roof, like something had fallen off an airplane," Stell said. John Kyler, who lives about 150 yards away, dialed 911 when he heard the explosion, then went outside to see what was happening. "Within two to four minutes the house was fully involved in fire, from one end to the other," Kyler said. "It went real fast. Real fast." The destroyed home is owned by Eric and Rosemary Green. The Jefferson County Assessor valued the three-bedroom split level, which was built in 1988, at $193,800 last year. The house directly to the east, 560 Chelan St., sustained at least $100,000 in damages, said Kevin Milan, a division chief with the Golden Volunteer Fire Department. That house also was unoccupied. "When we arrived, this house was fully involved - two solid floors of fire - and heavy fire on the west side of the next-door house," he said. "There was nothing to save (at 570 Chelan), so we concentrated on the neighbor's house," he said. "In another two or three minutes, it would have been in the same condition as the other one." Firefighters from the West Metro and Pleasant View fire departments helped battle the blaze. Workers under contract with Qwest were digging a trench in front of the two homes when the gas line was severed - 10 to 15 minutes before the explosion occurred, according to Brooks. The workers are employed by Orius Corp., a nationwide company based in West Palm Beach, Fla., said Rebecca Tennille, director of media relations for Qwest. They were installing a new phone line at 560 Chelan, said Kim Thomas, executive director of corporate communications at Orius. Qwest and Orius are trying to determine if the workers checked on the location of utility lines before they start digging, as required by Colorado law. "That is obviously an important part of the investigation, but I don't have information on that at this time," Thomas said. A crew from Xcel Energy was on its way to turn off gas lines when the explosion occurred, said company spokesman Steve Roalstad. "We received a call shortly after 10 a.m.," he said. "We were responding to it, but this one just happened so quickly that we couldn't get there in time." In most cases, gas from lines ruptured in construction accidents dissipates harmlessly into the air, Roalstad said. Occasionally, natural gas can follow underground utility lines into a house, he said. "It probably got in there and found its way to a pilot light - possibly," Milan said. 

Construction Worker Dies in Explosives Blast 
Vanguard (Lagos) NEWS November 7, 2002 By Emmanuel Aziken
AN employee of a construction firm, Mr. Vincent Pam, was on Tuesday night in Mzaram Topp village, Plateau State, blown to death by explosives he was using to dig a well. Narrating the incident the Plateau Police Command s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Adams, said the incident occurred at about 7.30 p.m. He said the deceased, while digging the well met a rock which necessitated the use of the explosives. Adams explained that several minutes after Pam placed the explosives inside the well, they did not detonate, which made him to go inside to find out that went wrong. The police spokesman stated that when the deceased entered the well, the explosives went off, killing him instantly and injuring his project consultant, Mr. John Oche, and four other persons. He said the sound of the explosion created panic within the Rayfield area of Jos, which is near the village. Adams said the Police Commissioner, Mr. Innocent Ilozuoke, quickly dispatched some policemen to the area, who came back with a report on the incident.

Three streets, condominium complex evacuated for gas
Reid Williams
SUMMIT COVE - A late-season excavation job - part of Summit Cove drainage improvements to prevent flooded homes next spring -forced firefighters to evacuate the same homes Tuesday when the contractor ruptured a gas line. Fire officials are questioning the quickness of the response and directions the department received from cel Energy. According to cel spokesman Mark Stutz, excavators from Stan Miller cut a 6-inch, intermediate-pressure natural gas line at 9:54 a.m. in the area of Key West Farms. The line serves about 3,000 customers in Summit Cove, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin. The contractors notified cel's gas division. cel representatives notified dispatchers at Summit County Communications, who in turn notified the Snake River Fire Protection District. "We certainly have some concerns about how this was dispatched," Snake River Fire Chief Dave Parmley said of the department's notification at 11 a.m. "At the time, cel said we didn't need to respond. Not too long after we got there, we determined the area needed to be evacuated." The leak, which released an unknown amount of natural gas, drew the response of Lake Dillon firefighters, the Summit County Sheriff's Office and Summit County Ambulance. Emergency responders reported there were no injuries, but the Dillon Mountain Branch of American Red Cross set up a temporary shelter for evacuated families at Summit Cove Elementary. Stutz said crews hoped to have the line fixed and families headed home by 10 p.m. Stutz said the company's 60-minute response was not unusual. State law requires utility companies to respond to gas leaks within four hours, he said. "I'm not sure what (the county's) notification procedures are, but if we erred, our apologies," Stutz said. "We'll look at it." cel shut off the gas meters at the approximately 25 evacuated homes on Tallyho Court, Giel Lane and Wagner Way, as well as Chateau Acadian condominiums. The residents in the area are no strangers to neighborhood-threatening crises. The past three summers, homeowners have dealt with flooding after significant rainfall. Some homeowners blamed the construction of Keystone's River Golf Course and consequent alteration of drainage in the area for causing the flooding and damaging their homes. Engineering studies commissioned by the county exonerated Keystone's development, but residents weren't satisfied. Many questioned the hydrological studies. In the end, county government and Keystone agreed to share the cost of drainage projects aimed at preventing future floods. "This has been a longstanding problem, so we were anxious to get it solved, anxious to get the project in the ground this fall," said Summit County Manager Ron Holliday. "We don't want to go through flooding in the melt cycle next February or March, so we were pushing it late." The normal deadline for earth-disturbing excavation projects set by the county is Oct. 31. Of three sections in the drainage project, county workers completed one this summer. Holliday said he didn't know if the gas leak would keep the project from being completed this winter. Holliday said he didn't know if the county's rush had influenced the contractor; he hadn't spoken with a Stan Miller representative as of 5 p.m. Stan Miller managers could not be reached for comment. Other officials on the scene said "locates" - stake-planting and line-painting to identify utility placements - were done before digging started, but it was not clear Tuesday afternoon if they were accurate. 

Gas leak halts Hudson traffic
By ANNE LUNDREGAN, Telegraph Staff 
HUDSON – A Derry Lane resident installing a granite post by his mailbox Wednesday afternoon got a little more than he bargained for. While using a backhoe to dig a hole by the mailbox, Gerard Bowes accidentally struck a gas line. Police and fire were called to the scene around 1:14 p.m. Route 102 was shut down briefly and Derry Lane was kept closed to traffic for about an hour. The 2-inch gas line is about 3 feet underground. The homeowner called 911 after hitting the pipe, Fire Prevention Officer Steve Dube said. Dube said Bowes was trying to place a granite post in the ground near his mailbox. Bowes declined to comment. KeySpan Corp., the natural gas distributor, was contacted immediately and shut off a portion of the pipe. This required digging a hole to access a different part of the pipe near the home. Firefighters connected a hose to a nearby hydrant and sprayed water in the area near the break to prevent the gas vapors from dispersing, Dube said. By breaking up the gas with the water, the firefighters diluted the concentration of the gas, which helps prevent a possible explosion, he said. About 10 fire vehicles and 20 firefighters responded to the scene. At the time, firefighters were discussing an emergency drill that took place earlier that day. The area was not evacuated but emergency personnel tried contacting homeowners in the area to tell them what was happening. Many area residents were not home at the time of the leak, Dube said. 

Gas line break forces evacuations 
By Dan Gravel October 30, 2002
Stores were closed and buildings were evacuated on a portion of Ocean Street last week after a gas line was ruptured by sewer project workers. Workers were removing a large boulder from the road at the intersection of Ocean and Webster streets in front of CVS on Wednesday when asphalt fell onto the gas pipe where the business connection meets the main line, causing the leak, according to Acting Deputy Fire Chief Jack Beagle. The leak began at 4 p.m. and was stopped four hours later. Firefighters and police officers secured and closed all businesses south of the leak. The Ventress library was also closed and evacuated, as well as the recreation department's after school daycare program. About 20 students from the program were evacuated to the police station. Bay State Gas personnel closed off valves near the leak and waited for enough gas to escape before beginning repairs. Beagle did not fault the contractor, Fed Corp., for the ruptured gas line. This was the second time a gas leak has occurred since sewer construction began in the spring. The sewer project, approved at the April 2000 Town Meeting, will extend the sewer system from Old Colony Lane to the downtown, adding 8.7 miles of pipe to the sewer system that will serve about 600 homes and businesses. Since work began on Ocean Street many businesses have suffered because of detours that move traffic off of Route 139. Keith Whitaker, owner of Marshfield Liquors, said his store has seen a significant drop in customers in recent weeks and said last week's gas leak didn't improve the situation. "We were already getting killed because of the detour," he said. "This didn't help." Whitaker added when his store closed at 10 p.m. work crews were still on the street. Construction on Ocean Street will stop on Nov. 22 and will resume in March when the weather improves. 

Worker Trapped in Cave-in
A cave-in trapped an area worker today. It happened earlier today on Wynn Road between Navarre and Pickle. Police say crews were doing work on a sewer line. The worker was in a trench when it collapsed, burying him neck deep. The victim was airlifted to Toledo Hospital where right now he is in good condition.

Cave-in traps man in trench, Homeowner hears calls for help from worker 
By DAVID JESSE Staff writer 
Mike Phillips could wiggle his arms, move his head a little and open his mouth enough to shout for help, but that was all. It turned out to be enough to get help to get him out of 5 feet of dirt outside a Holland home. For 15 minutes, he hollered and tried to get himself out of the 8-foot hole. His arms were pinned, so he tried using his chin to make a little room, but he wasn't getting anywhere fast. Then the homeowner, Burton Wentzel, heard his shouting and called 911. Holland firefighters rushed to the scene at 632 Central Ave. around 1 p.m., grabbing anything they could use to move dirt out of the way. "We were digging him out, using a variety of tools -- hands, shovels," Capt. Tom Scholten said. A Holland Board of Public Works truck that's normally used to clean out sewers was in the neighborhood and showed up to help. The truck rolled over a lawn to get to the hole, and lowered a large hose to suck out the dirt more quickly than it could be dug out by the firefighters. Nine minutes later, Phillips was up and out of the hole, accompanied by a smattering of applause from the small crowd that gathered to watch. After being checked out by paramedics, Phillips drove himself to the hospital to be checked out, but said he felt fine. Phillips was at the house on Central Avenue to take care some of roots in a sewer, working for a company named Rapid Rooter. "I was just digging a hole, turned around to get out and it came down around me," he said. Phillips dug his initial hole in the front yard of the house and missed the sewer, so tried tunneling over to where it was. "It just rumbled. It was kind of a slow process," he said, his shoulders wrapped in a blanket to keep warm in a slight sprinkle. Phillips has had minor cave-ins before, but nothing deeper than around his ankles, he said. "This was a very unusual call for us," Scholten said. "We called for the Southwest Ottawa County Technical Rescue team -- people trained in trench rescues -- but by the time they got here, he was out." 

Santana Row Gas Leak, Second In Week
Oct. 25 (BCN) — Workers at the Santana Row retail and residential complex in West San Jose are back to work after a gas leak prompted evacuations at the development. Construction workers were evacuated this morning after a gas leak was reported, according to San Jose Police spokesman Sgt. Steve Dixon. San Jose Fire spokesman Greg Spence said a construction worker operating a backhoe accidentally cut into a four-inch gas line at about 8:30 a.m. Construction crews were able to find the valve for the line and turn off the gas quickly before the situation became dangerous, Spence said. Workers were allowed back in once the gas was turned off as early as 9:30 a.m. for some. This is the second gas leak at the construction site this week. A similar situation occurred Saturday, Spence said, when another worker accidentally cut into a three-inch gas line. That incident took much longer to remedy because crews could not find the valve to turn off the gas and fire officials had to wait for Pacific Gas & Electric staff to arrive. Because the incident took place on a weekend, it took three hours before PG&E got there to turn off the gas, Spence explained. Santana Row last made news in August when an 11-alarm fire destroyed several residential and retail units. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. The complex was initially scheduled to open on Sept. 19, but because of the fire, the date was pushed back to Nov. 7. Today's incident is not expected to create any more delays. Fire crews were on scene this morning for less than an hour before allowing the workers to return to work at about 9:25 a.m. 

Workers Get Sick at Former Clean-up Site
A six million dollar water main project is put on hold after workers uncover a contaminated work site. The area was supposedly cleaned up by the Environmental Protection Agency more than four years ago, but four workers at the site got sick last week. It happened at the Tar Lake clean-up site just south of Mancelona. The EPA began a ten million dollar clean-up of the site in October 1998. According to the EPA, the 200 acre site was a dumping ground for a charcoal manufacturing company in the early 1900's. Contamination of the ground water at the site led to a water main project to ensure clean drinking water for the Mancelona area. Officials from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality believe the four workers who fell ill hit an isolated pocket of contamination on the former site of the Antrim Iron Works plant. Representatives from the MI DEQ, EPA, and construction companies met Thursday and say the site will be cleaned up and the water main project will continue. Only 500 feet of the water main remains to be laid and it's expected to be complete in the next couple of weeks. One of the workers 7&4 News spoke with is still having trouble breathing but the flu like symptoms are gone. It's unsure if the exposure will continue to affect their health.

Details

Parent Category: Incident Alert Archives

Category: Trenching & Excavation Alerts

Published: 10 September 2010

Trenching & Excavation Accidents #4

updated on 05/06/2010

UPDATE, Trench victim talks
By Rachael Ruiz
(Kent County, October 23, 2002, 6:10 p.m.) A Sparta man is home and feeling good tonight. The same man who was trapped in a construction trench in Grand Rapids Township for more than two hours yesterday. 32 year old Keith Zwyghuizen has a few reminders of what he calls the scariest experience of his life. "That's the left arm they cut..." says Zwyghuizen, as he holds up the clothes he was wearing when he was caught in the trench. Rescue crews responded to call for help at Universal Forest Products on Tuesday. That's where the 32 year old construction worker was buried in an eight foot trench, while laying a sewer line for a new building. "When I basically hit the sand in front of me to find the fiber optic line, all of a sudden I heard something coming down at me," says Zwyghuizen. Keith says the sandy soil crashed down on his back and buried part of his body. Firefighters used plywood to support the trench walls, and after more than two hours pulled Keith to safety. "The wall that my face was looking at, could've come down at me at any time," says Zwyghuizen. He says he never even thought about being buried alive until later. He say the whole experience makes him more thankful to be here today. 

BellSouth sends city $73,984 repair bill
By Russ Corey Staff Writer October 24, 2002
FLORENCE - BellSouth has presented the city with a $73,984 bill in connection with a telephone cable that was cut by a Florence Gas Department worker in July. The cable was cut by a worker operating a directional-boring machine at a work site at the intersection of Pine and Tennessee streets. The phone line provided service to about 800 downtown customers, according to a BellSouth representative. The cable was 51/2 feet to 6 feet below ground and contained 2,100 pairs of phone lines. "Outages ranged from about three days for some customers," said Bellsouth spokesman Dave Hargrove. "It's not only an inconvenience, but it can be crippling to businesses and a threat to public safety," Hargrove said. "That's why we use these type of incidents as another opportunity to tell people to call before they dig." The gas department was in the process of replacing old cast iron gas lines with new polyethylene pipe. Gas Department Manager Roger Lovelace said in August that the workers had identified the lines on a map but would have to determine if they correctly identified the location and number of lines. Florence attorney Stewart O'Bannon Jr. said BellSouth has sent the city a letter asking that the company be compensated for the cost of repairing the damage. O'Bannon has been asked to handle the case for the city. He said it still has to be determined if the city is actually liable for the damage. The amount of the damages will also have to be verified. O'Bannon said the city would have to compensate BellSouth if it were determined that municipal workers were indeed at fault. Hargrove said it is standard procedure to seek compensation when BellSouth facilities have been damaged. "Our procedure is to follow up through the claims process, then into the legal field," said Jim Henderson, a BellSouth clams manager for north Alabama. Henderson said the next step will be to discuss the claim with O'Bannon. "I think they've already had an adjuster look at the bill," he said. 

Worker trapped in trench rescued
(Updated -Grand Rapids Twp, October 22, 2002, 6:20 p.m.) Rescuers rushed to help a worker trapped in a trench for several hours this afternoon. It happened around 1:30 p.m. at Universal Forest Products at 3 Mile and the East Beltline. Investigators say subcontractor Keith Zwyghuizen was laying down pipes when the sandy soil caved in around him. Rescuers from Kent County and Grand Rapids offered a coordinated effort to get him out. After spending more than an hour stabilizing the area, they finally pulled him out around 4 p.m. Zwyghuizen was rushed to the hospital. His injuries don't appear to be serious. MIOSHA is investigating. 

Gas line is ripped, 5 buildings emptied 
October 22, 2002
UNION CITY - A ruptured gas line forced the evacuation of five apartment buildings yesterday on Central Avenue, according to police reports. Construction workers digging at the sidewalk in front of a building on Central Avenue between 26th and 27th streets apparently ruptured the gas line about 8:54 a.m., reports said. North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue personnel and police evacuated the apartment buildings and closed down the street, reports said. Public Service Electric and Gas personnel arrived about 9:30 a.m. to make repairs. After PSE&G checked buildings to ensure they were free of gas, residents were allowed to return, reports said. There were no illnesses and no injuries as a result of the leak, reports said. - Michaelangelo Conte 

Santana Row gas leak disrupts construction
By Glennda Chui Mercury News
A gas leak Sunday afternoon at the Santana Row housing and shopping complex in San Jose forced the evacuation of 150 to 200 construction workers, as well as shoppers at the nearby Crate & Barrel store. The leak was reported at 1:23 p.m., after a piece of construction equipment hit a pipeline, according to the San Jose Fire Department. The department sent three engines and two trucks to the scene on Winchester Boulevard. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. was called in to inspect the leak, and declared the area safe three hours after the initial report. Crate & Barrel is one of a handful of stores in the development that is open for business. A disastrous fire hit the complex on Aug. 17, destroying 235 upper-floor apartments under construction and causing $70 million to $90 million in damages. The development is now scheduled to open Nov. 7. Between 45 and 55 shops are expected to open at that time. ``It's just been one thing after another,'' said Joe Mastrantonio, sales manager for the Eli Thomas Menswear shop in the complex, which remained open during the incident. He said he saw a worker run down the driveway past his shop, stop and warn a motorist not to park there. ``He said, `Call 911 -- there's a gas leak,' '' Mastrantonio said, ``and he ran off.'' A few minutes later, he said, other workers began filing out in orderly lines. 

Downtown Chattanooga Fire Injures Three Workers
October 16, 2002
CHATTANOOGA (AP) -- A flash fire ignited Wednesday after a natural gas line ruptured during work on a sewer project, injuring three workers and prompting emergency officials to temporarily evacuate downtown buildings. The workers' injuries were not life threatening. Fire Department spokesman Bruce Garner said hundreds of people were evacuated for about two hours from office buildings and shops while workers tried to cap a 16-inch gas main. The fire started around 10:10 a.m., towering over street signs and a hole where a sewer project is under way near the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Market Streets. Garner said firefighters extinguished the blaze about an hour later and temporary repairs to cap the leaking gas line were completed by 1 p.m. He said East Tennessee Grading Co. workers were excavating to expose a sewer line and close it off with cement when they "started smelling fumes" and got out of the hole just before the fire started. "While out of the hole the natural gas ignited somehow. We don't know how," Garner said. "They said they were unaware there was a gas line in the hole." A spokeswoman at Erlanger Medical Center said one of the injured workers was admitted to the hospital burn unit but his injuries were not life threatening. The other two injured workers were treated in the hospital emergency room but were not admitted. Garner said one of the injured men works for Davis Trucking Co.

Gas leak briefly shuts down highway
2002-10-18 by Wendy Giroux Journal Reporter
RENTON -- A construction crew accidentally hit a gas main Thursday morning, causing a leak that shut down the Maple Valley Highway for about an hour and a half. ``In our mind, the proximity to a major road and a 4-inch main leak -- that's pretty significant,'' said Stan Engler, acting battalion chief with the Renton Fire Department. Workers were digging a hole for a light pole when they hit the line. The construction crew called 911 at about 8:45 a.m., and Renton firefighters responded to the scene a few minutes later at 152nd Avenue Southeast, just north of the Aquabarn. State Patrol troopers and Incident Response workers from the Department of Transportation closed the highway and rerouted traffic at 149th Avenue Southeast and 196th Avenue Southeast. Emergency workers sampled the air and made sure that the gas did not travel toward nearby Renton Christian School or residences, Engler said. The project to install a new bus stop, a new signal and improve lighting, will be jointly funded by Renton Christian School, King County and the state. Crews from Puget Sound Energy arrived at 9 a.m. and shut the leak down by 11:50 a.m., spokesman Tim Bader said. Workers used a new piece of equipment called a ``squeezer'' to pinch the plastic gas main shut on one side of the leak, then removed the squeezer after the leak was fixed, Bader said. A shut-off valve on the other side was closed during the work. Service to customers was not disrupted by the leak or by work to fix it, he said. PSE will conduct an investigation to determine how the accident occurred. 

Man's amazing trench escape 
Oct 18 2002 By Andrew Hirst, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner
A WORKMAN cheated death when heavy machinery toppled into a trench on top of him. Firefighters had to carry out an intricate rescue to free the badly- trapped man. The drama began at 10am yesterday, when the 49-year-old man was using a large pile-driving machine to dig a deep hole at Longwood Engineering on Silver Street, Aspley. He was preparing the ground for a new office block. Station officer Alvin Crisp, of Huddersfield fire station, said: "He stopped the machine and jumped into the trench to adjust something. "The side of the hole suddenly gave way and the machine toppled on top of him, trapping him underneath." The man's legs were covered by earth with the machine on top putting pressure on him, and the danger was if it slid down any more it would have crushed him against the side of the hole." Sub-officer David Kenyon added: "We put a JCB against the pile-driver to stop it moving further. Then a winch on the fire engine was hooked to the pile-driver to hold it in place. "Powerful airbags were used to stop the caterpillar tracks from moving. "Once the scene was safe, firefighters went down into the hole to rescue the man." Firefighters used a spade to dig him free and he was then gently lifted out. The rescue operation took about an hour. The man, from Doncaster, is "comfortable" at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. His arm is broken in two places and he has a dislocated right shoulder. He also has pressure injuries to his legs. Sub-officer Kenyon added: "He was very lucky. It could have been a lot worse, especially if the steel plate supporting the pile-driver had cut into him." 

Trench collapse man 'critical'
October 17, 2002 19:55
A Norfolk workman remains in a "critical" condition in hospital after being crushed in a collapsed trench. The accident happened at lunchtime on Wednesday as a team of workers from Peterborough-based Barhill Construction laid pipes for a first-time sewerage scheme on behalf of Anglian Water at Gorefield, near Wisbech. Steven Wagg, 36, of Old Hunstanton Road, Old Hunstanton, was working in the trench when it appears to have collapsed under the weight of a dumper truck parked nearby. Firefighters were called to the site in Back Lane but Mr Wagg had been pulled clear of the hole by colleagues by the time they arrived. He was taken by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn with multiple broken ribs and breathing difficulties and remained in intensive care last night. The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation into the accident. 

Man crushed in tunnel
October 17, 2002 06:00
A Norfolk workman was last night fighting for his life after being crushed when a tunnel collapsed on him. The 20-year-old man from Hunstanton, who has not been named, became trapped as a digger rolled over the tunnel that he was working on in a road at Gorefield, near Wisbech. The man was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital at King's Lynn suffering from multiple broken ribs and breathing difficulties, after being pulled from the hole by colleagues. Police had last night cordoned off the scene of the accident at Back Lane, as both police and officials from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation. The worker was part of a construction team from Peterborough-based Barhill Construction laying pipes for a first-time sewerage scheme on behalf of Anglian Water. A spokesman for the company confirmed there had been an accident at the site when a trench collapsed and that an ambulance had arrived at the scene within 10 minutes. Firefighters who attended the scene said it appeared that the digger had rolled over the tunnel, collapsing the wall and trapping the worker. Leading Firefighter Neil Porter, of King's Lynn fire station, said the man had been hauled from the hole before they arrived with a crew from Wisbech, shortly after 1.20pm. "It seems the contractors had been digging a hole in the road and someone was working in the trench when there was a partial collapse to the trench, with a digger on top," he said. "I understand he was trapped partly by the digger and partly by the trench." An ambulance crew was called to the scene at 1.15pm, where they found the casualty with "crush injuries". A spokesman for the East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust said: "He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was immediately taken for surgery." A spokesman for the HSE said: "I can confirm that the HSE has launched an investigation and an inspector from Luton plans to visit the site." 

Flames Tower Over Market Street After Gas Main Breaks
Story by Beverly Young on Wed, Oct 16th 2002 (4:13 PM)
A mid-morning gas fire sends flames soaring over traffic lights in downtown Chattanooga. The fire injures three people, sending them to the hospital. Two of them are construction workers who are working below ground at the intersection of Market Street and MLK when they puncture a 16-inch gas main. The workers are not underground when the flames erupt. The workers smell something, and climb above ground, making it out just in time. Just moments after the workers climb out, the gas erupts in a ball of fire. The fire burns two of the workers and a nearby truck driver. "We find storm drains, we find gas mains that nobody knows are in there. Sometimes they're dead, sometimes they're alive," says Gary Mills of East Tennessee Grading, the company whose workers puncture the gas main. Nearby construction workers on another project, know the dangers that lie beneath the ground. "You think about stuff like that all the time," says Gary Shirley. "Something like that could happen, but that's just a chance you take," A chance, and a risk that is very real. "It's kind of a wakening call when you see flames shooting up out of the road there," says fellow worker Fred Alexander. "Everyday you take your life in your own hands." In this case East Tennessee Grading Company workers are trying to reach a sewer line, but hit a gas main instead. Their backhoe cuts a basketball-sized hole in the main gas line that runs down Market Street. "It's hard to see down in a hole like that," says Shirley. "You don't know what's down there." The fireball lasts for nearly an hour before firefighters manage to douse the inferno by spraying water at the source. "We're grateful for that," says Chattanooga Fire Department Spokesman Bruce Garner. "That the situation wasn't worse and that the injuries weren't worse." Two of the three men have been released from the hospital. One was admitted to the burn unit, but is in stable condition. They all sustained flash burns. The fire affected downtown workers and drivers all morning. Several buildings near the flames were evacuated. 

T-REX workers uncover hazardous chemicals 
By Will Ryan Special to The Denver Post
Wednesday, October 16, 2002 - Potentially hazardous chemicals were found underground on a section of the T-REX project near Interstate 25 and Broadway. Workers on the $1.67 billion Transportation Expansion Project were drilling foundation piers for a new light-rail bridge Oct. 8 when they found a high concentration of fumes from what is believed to be "volatile organics," said T-REX spokeswoman Karen Morales. One worker complained of a headache at the time, and was taken to a hospital as a precaution, Morales said. Work in the area, southwest of Broadway and Kentucky Avenue, has been stopped until an analysis is performed on the soil and workers can be outfitted to work in the presence of the chemicals. A metal plate and plastic sheeting has been placed over the hole, Morales said. The chemical, trichloroethylene, is a degreasing solvent that is not considered harmful, but organisms in the ground can break it down into other compounds that are carcinogenic. It was discovered when preliminary soil samples were taken prior to construction. It was unclear whether the site will need to be cleaned. If the chemicals were there before 1980, the state cannot mandate a cleanup of the site. "If there's a spill that's pre-1980, we don't have the authority to make anyone clean it up," said Marion Galant, a manager for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Galant said the department could act if the contamination represents a risk to public health. In that case, the health department or the Environmental Protection Agency would assess the site to see if it warrants Superfund status. Celia Vanderloop, director of the Denver Board of Environmental Health, said the city was made aware of the find on Thursday, but did not receive details until Tuesday. "I don't think we know how big of a deal it's going to be," Vanderloop said.

Workers hit gas line in Rock Island -- again
By Dustin Lemmon, Staff writer 
ROCK ISLAND -- Construction crews pierced a gas line Tuesday at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 18th Street, in front of The Rock Island Argus. Kevin Waetke, director of corporate communication for MidAmerican Energy, said a crew hit a 3-inch wide line about 10:30 a.m., causing a leak that spewed into the air near the intersection's southeast corner. MidAmerican was notified and the gas was shut off, Mr. Waetke said. The Rock Island Argus and Bituminous Insurance were without gas for a few hours Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Waetke said. Tuesday's accident marked the third time within the past month that local construction crews have hit gas lines, requiring MidAmerican to shut them down temporarily. Mr. Waetke said the company tries to warn companies and educate them about avoiding gas lines. On Oct. 10, construction crews hit a gas line at Avenue of the Cities and 44th Street in Moline. The leak was caused when a construction crew hit a 4-inch gas line. On Sept. 19, a gas line was hit at the intersection of 12th Street and 42nd Avenue in Rock Island, when workers were paving a portion of the avenue. Mr. Waetke said gas-line leaks are not dangerous if the gas leaks openly into the air. If the gas gets trapped underground, and collects, that's when an explosion can occur. Mr. Waetke said construction crews often will mark the locations of the lines two months in advance, but when they go to dig, the lines will have faded or be turned over by digging. ``They need to identify if the line is marked,'' he said. ``If it's not, call MidAmerican.'' If they're digging deep, construction crews should stop at some point and start digging by hand to avoid the larger gas lines, Mr. Waetke said. He noted that the company does see leaks happening when there are large construction projects going on. ``It's not that we expect it to happen, but certainly we aren't surprised.'' Anyone needing to locate gas lines before digging can call MidAmerican's Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators (JULIE) at (800) 892-0123. 

Gas pipeline accident in Moscow localized
MOSCOW. Oct 16 (Interfax) - Moscow's utilities services have stopped gas supplies to the damaged pipeline sections near apartment building 10/12 on Tretiy Ugreshsky Proyezd. The city's civil defense and emergency situations department has told Interfax that there is no threat to the population. "The accident has not affected apartment buildings since the pipeline section on which the gas leak erupted is connected with the industrial zone," explained a department's spokesman. At present, specialists are working to repair the pipeline. The accident is blamed on a medium pressure pipe that was damaged during excavation.

Merck evacuated after gas main mishap 
MONICA THOMPSON , Staff Writer 10/16/2002 
UPPER GWYNEDD – Several dozen Merck employees were evacuated Tuesday morning after a contractor hit a PECO Energy gas line. Around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday‚ crews doing excavation work at the South Broad Street site nicked a 4-inch plastic gas supply line‚ according to Connie Wickersham‚ Merck’s manager of public affairs. The line was one of PECO’s high-pressure mains‚ according to PECO spokeswoman Cathy Engel. The line was apparently not in the exact spot where crews were told it would be‚ Wickersham said. Engel said PECO checks the lines any time they are hit by a contractor or someone doing outside work. The contractor called the PA1 Call line‚ an 800 number that notifies all the affected utilities that it would be digging in that area‚ Engel said. After such a call‚ Engel said‚ each utility goes out to the digging area and marks the individual lines. The PECO line “was accurately marked‚” Engel said. PECO crews responded to the scene‚ the gas line was shut down and the gas supply disconnected. The area was made safe around 10:45 a.m.‚ Engel said. There were no injuries. “The four buildings surrounding that area were evacuated” as a precaution‚ according to Wickersham. One is a maintenance building and the other three are used for manufacturing. Employees gathered outside Entrance 8 on South Broad Street. An alarm could be heard throughout the area‚ and fire police from Merck were set up at different areas. Merck’s fire brigade responded‚ with the Upper Gwynedd Fire Company serving as backup. Engel said the line was repaired Tuesday.

Gas leak causes brief evacuations
A natural gas leak in the 900 block of NW 13th Street caused brief evacuations and traffic to be redirected as a precaution for about an hour Monday morning. Employees of All Florida Electric Co., a private contractor working with Gainesville Regional Utilities to lay fiber optic cable for traffic signal operation, were drilling underground when they "accidentally bored into a natural gas line" parallel to 13th Street, said Dan Jesse, GRU spokesman. Gas came "gushing" out of the ditch about 9:30 a.m., and workers called Gainesville Fire Rescue to the scene on the east side of 13th Street, just south of NW 10th Avenue, Jesse said. When GFR arrived, firefighters noted a "strong odor and a heavy flow of natural gas," said GFR spokesman Stuart Schwartz. Natural gas doesn't have an odor, but a chemical is injected into it so that it does have an odor to aid in detection. That prompted the evacuation of adjacent homes and businesses for 35 minutes until GRU isolated the leak and shut off the supply of gas to  the area, which includes 51 homes and businesses, Jesse said. Gainesville Police redirected traffic in both directions away from the four blocks of 13th Street closest to the leak starting at about 9:45 a.m. Natural gas is not poisonous so the initial danger was that the leaking gas would catch fire instead of dissipating into the outdoor air as it eventually did, Jesse said. Because the broken gas line was next to a major roadway, it was larger and required twice the personnel as that of a normal gas leak reported at a residence, business or on a side street, Schwartz said. GRU workers located the gas line and replaced the damaged piping by early afternoon, Jesse said. Melissa Roughan of the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar located just north of the gas leak said the restaurant opened at 11 a.m. as scheduled but employees were unable to cook any food until the restaurant's gas supply was restored at about noon. Jesse said the workers drilled into the gas line because they didn't know it wasn't  there. "It didn't appear on our mapping system," Jesse said, referring to the maps that are used to show where underground utilities such as cable and telephone wiring are located so workers can drill around them. He said GRU "inherited this particular stretch of gas pipe" from Gainesville Gas Co. when GRU began providing natural gas services in 1990, but the company didn't include the gas line on maps it provided to GRU. However, Jesse said, "We bought the company out, we certainly accept responsibility." Although Jesse said he was unaware of a similar mapping oversight causing a gas leak before, he said GRU has line-locating crews that are "constantly improving the accuracy of the mapping" of underground piping among GRU's 600 miles of gas lines in the area.

Workers feared buried alive at Oita mine
OITA -- Police and firefighters are trying to rescue two construction workers who they fear were buried alive after earth collapsed at a closed mine in Oita Prefecture. Police have mobilized about 80 officers and members of a local fire brigade to search for the two missing workers, Hideo Watanabe, 60, and Nobuyuki Ando, 62. Watanabe and Ando, who are employees of the Kenso Kaihatsu construction company, had been operating heavy machinery since Sunday morning to remove earth that had accumulated in the compounds of Hoei Kozan's closed zinc mine in Ogata, Oita Prefecture, in preparation to build a wall aimed at preventing contaminated sand flowing into a nearby river. After they failed to return to the Kenso Kaihatsu office, the employee supervising the work went to the scene Monday morning to find the area filled with earth and raised the alarm. Excavating equipment was found buried at around 9:40 a.m., Monday, police said. (Mainichi Shimbun, Oct. 14, 2002)

Construction Accident
Two construction workers were nearly buried alive Thursday after an accident at a job site in Monroe County. One of the men had to be air lifted to Roanoke. It happened in Peterstown. Emergency officials say a resque squad pulled Will Thomas and Leroy Ballard out of a ditch that they were digging for K L Vess Construction. Apparently a wall fell on top of them buring them alive. Both are in stable condition at an area hospital. The site is being excavated for the future satellite location of the Monroe Health Center.

Gas pipe puncture ties up Wayne traffic
Friday, October 11, 2002
WAYNE - Construction workers struck an underground gas pipe Thursday morning, causing traffic tie-ups along Hamburg Turnpike. Excavation crews were working at an office plaza under construction on Hamburg Turnpike near Shearwater Lane when a gas drip riser was punctured, police said. Public Service Electric and Gas Co. spokeswoman Leslie Cifelli said a drip riser connects gas mains to gas meters. The puncture did not cause a major leakand crews were able to repair the damage quickly because the area around it had already been excavated, Cifelli said. However, the accident caused Hamburg Turnpike to be shut for more than two hours. "It was kind of crazy for a while because they were trying to get enough units up there to close off the road," said Detective Lt. John Reardon. Hamburg Turnpike between Hinchman Avenue and Ratzer Road was closed, and several police cars were required to close roads emptying onto Hamburg. The utility company had to shut the gas main for 20 minutes, affecting an empty home for sale and the local Teamsters building. Ashanti M. Alvarez

Gas Leak Causes Scary Moments
A gas leak lead to some scary moments for some West Louisville residents Friday morning. A contractor was working to install a water pipe when he accidentally hit a gas line at 17th and Garland Streets. Fire officials blocked off an area around the gas leak to make sure it didn't affect residents. Some nearby residents were asked to keep their windows closed as crews worked to fix the problem. LG&E crews and the Fire Department were able to quickly get the situation under control. There are no reports of injuries. Crews are working to restore service to about two dozen customers. 

Man Buried Alive 
A Savannah man had close call this morning: he was buried alive. The man works for US General, the construction company hired to build one of the area's newest restaurants, the Macaroni Grill at Oglethorpe Mall. He was inside, digging a hole for two 2,500-gallon grease traps when it caved in, covering him with mud. Thanks to his coworkers, he was only buried for a very short time. "Two or three of his fellow coworkers jumped down and uncovered his face and head so he could be able to breath, and they just uncovered him and waited for paramedics to arrive," said general manager Phil McConnell. The workers were supposed to wait for some steel reinforcements to arrive before they started digging, but decided to work without the reinforcements in an attempt to beat the rain. The buried man was rushed to the hospital, where he later died in surgery.

Workers able to stop gas leak
By Kevin Crossett / The News & Advance Oct 8, 2002
A ruptured 4-inch natural gas main at the intersection of Old Forest and Forest Brook roads caused delays Monday afternoon as police and fire officials rerouted motorists through area parking lots. Construction workers ruptured the line while boring into the roadbed on Old Forest Road. Fire Capt. Russell Ayscue said his engine company drove past the intersection of Old Forest and Forest Brook roads about 3 p.m. when they noticed the leak. "We were just coming by and smelled the gas," he said. "We had a lot of gas pouring across the road and cars were driving through." Firefighters and police officers set up roadblocks to isolate the area and called in Columbia Gas employees who used a combustible gas meter to sample the potentially flammable environment. They closed valves on Old Forest Road and Lakeside Drive that fed into the broken line. Ayscue said even after workers shut off the gas to the line, it would take a while to purge the escaping gas. Emergency crews cleared the scene after most of the gas dissiated. By 5:30 p.m., the northbound lane of Old Forest Road was reopened to traffic. Gas employees remained to repair the line. There were no estimates on how long the repairs would take. "It was a potentially bad situation," Ayscue said. "I'm actually relieved that nothing bad happened." No one was injured in the incident, though Battalion Chief Gary Regan said there are some unseen dangers associated with these types of leaks. Gas filled the underground shaft containing the broken pipe. Regan said it could travel some distance before seeping to the surface. Emergency workers are often concerned of gas seeping into residential pipes that lead inside area homes, he said. There was little chance of that happening in this case, he added, because no residential lines were in the shaft. "The worst part of it is that people will be without gas … while repairs are being made," he said.

N. Huntingdon gas leak causes brief evacuation 
Wednesday, October 09, 2002
By Ernie Hoffman, Post-Gazette Staff Writer 
Residents of up to two dozen houses were evacuated as a precaution after a contractor struck a gas line in North Huntingdon this morning. The accident occurred in the Bella Mia development after 9 a.m. A crew digging a water line struck the gas line belonging to Dominion Peoples. Repairs were made and people returned to their homes before 11:30. No one was injured.

Road work mishap cuts phone lines
By AMY WIMMER, Times Staff Writer
ST. PETE BEACH -- A worker digging a trench for the Blind Pass Road widening project severed Verizon telephone lines Tuesday morning, cutting off phone service to thousands of customers in St. Pete Beach and Treasure Island. Residents couldn't call 911, businesses couldn't accept credit cards and the Department of Transportation's Blind Pass Road project earned even more ire from people affected by the protracted road work. Verizon estimated that 13,500 customers lost telephone service for the day. Verizon spokesman Bob Elek, said it might be as late as today before service is restored. By Tuesday evening, 911 service had been restored. St. Pete Beach fire Chief Fred Golliner said the county's emergency dispatchers have a backup system to reach the city's firefighters and police officers. The problem will be with callers who cannot get a dial tone. City Manager Mike Bonfield said he did much of his business by cellular phone Tuesday but with so many people trying to use cellular service he sometimes could not get a signal. About 11 a.m. Tuesday, a DOT subcontractor digging trenches cut lines in front of a Verizon central office, which acts as a sort of railroad station for telephone lines. Elek said repairs may be slow because the cut was 15 feet underground and involved several different lines.

Trench collapses, killing man in Andover, Contractor removing dirt with a pick when cave-in occurred
By Darran A. Simon, Daily Record
ROCKAWAY TWP. - An Andover contractor working in a 15-foot deep trench died Monday afternoon after the trench partially collapsed on him, authorities said Monday. The victim Dennis R. Benson, a 43-year-old self employed contractor, was removing dirt with a pick in the 4- by 50-foot trench during the construction of a home at 173 Lake Shore Drive, when the collapse occurred around 4:18 p.m., said Lt. Jeffrey Paul, spokesman for the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. Benson had been hired by the property owner to remove the loose dirt in the trench, which was the footing for the house, county and township authorities said. Benson was pronounced dead at 5:15 p.m. at St. Clare's Hospital/Denville, Paul said. Rockaway Township Sgt. Walt Ardin said the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and chest. He said the homeowner, who was in the part of the trench that did not collapse, was not hospitalized. Ardin said a third contractor at the site heard the screams of the homeowner in the trench. Ardin said n either person in the trench was wearing a helmet. The Morris County Prosecutor's Office has spoken to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) representative who will determine whether the agency has any jurisdiction, Paul said Monday. Rockaway Township Engine Co. Five and MICU Unit 55 responded.

UPDATE, Co. Cited in Wash. Pipeline Blast 
WASHINGTON (AP)--The National Transportation Safety Board ruled Tuesday that a 1999 pipeline explosion that killed three people in Bellingham, Wash., was caused by an excavation project five years earlier, compounded by the pipeline company's failure to inspect the pipe. At a meeting Tuesday, an NTSB panel cited damage to the pipe caused by IMCO General Construction Co., which was conducting excavation work at a nearby water treatment plant in 1994. Olympic Pipeline Co., which operates the pipeline, inadequately inspected the excavation work and failed to identify or repair damage, the safety board found. While Olympic did not know about the 1994 water plant excavation at the time, reports provided later were sufficient to justify digging up the area to examine the pipeline and determine the extent of any damage, the NTSB found. ``The company did not perform the work and thus did not identify the true extent of the damage,'' the NTSB found. The report by the safety board also cited a faulty computer system run by Olympic, which it said failed to respond to repeated indications that pressure was building up inside the pipeline. If the computer system had been operating properly, ``the controller operating the pipeline probably would have been able to initiate actions that would have prevented the presure increase that ruptured the pipeline,'' the report said. The report also faulted Olympic for failing to adequately train its employees, including pipeline inspectors and computer operators. Olympic also failed to test safety devices associated with a relief valve that could have prevented the explosion.

UPDATE, Man who lost leg in workplace accident files lawsuit 
VALPARAISO, Ind.- A man who lost his right leg after it was crushed inside heavy machinery has filed a lawsuit seeking more than $50 million in damages. Jordan Moore, 23, lost his leg when it was caught in a corrugating machine at the Jet Corr plant near Valparaiso. The lawsuit filed last week in Porter Superior Court said Jordan was conscious and trapped in the machine for more than an hour as paramedics and co-workers worked to free his crushed and shredded leg. Moore's attorney, Kenneth J. Allen, said Friday that Moore is recuperating from another surgery caused by sores from his prosthetic leg. "Jordan will never recover what he has lost, but perhaps we can compel some safety changes through a jury verdict," Allen said. After the March 10, 2001, accident, plant supervisor Jerome Wilson told police Moore had gotten up on the top of the conveyer belt as a piece of cardboard had become jammed. He was trying to free it when his leg became caught. Wilson said Moore should not have been up on the machine. The lawsuit was filed against the German manufacturer of the equipment, BHS Corrugated Maschinen und Anlagenbau, GmbH; its American subsidiary, BHS Corrugated North America Inc. based in Baltimore, Md.; and the contractor that installed the machinery, Hunter Corp. of Portage. The defendants could not be reached for comment. Phone messages were left Friday and Saturday at Hunter Corp.'s Portage office. A woman who answered the phone at BHS Corrugated in Baltimore said no one was available to comment Friday. A message was left at BHS Corrugated on Saturday. Information from: Merrillville Post-Tribune

Thousands evacuated after downtown gas leak 
'You can bet this is going to cost the gas company a couple of bucks,' police spokesman says 
Josh Rubin, thestar.com staff 
Thousands of bewildered office workers clogged downtown streets today after a gas leak forced the evacuation of at least two office buildings. "It's a high-pressure gas leak, and we're evacuating buildings," said Toronto police spokesman Jim Muscat early this afternoon. "You can bet this is going to cost the gas company a couple of bucks." A backhoe tearing up part of Adelaide St. E. near Victoria St. for a new streetcar track ripped a hole in a gas line just after 1:30 this afternoon, police explained. A power line was also damaged. Muscat said at least two buildings near the corner of Adelaide and Yonge streets had been evacuated, and added police and fire crews had not yet decided whether to evacuate any others. The affected area was a rectangle bounded by Jarvis, York, King and Queen Sts. The roar of escaping gas could be heard across the downtown core in the early afternoon, and seemed to be coming from Adelaide, where construction crews had torn up asphalt as part of ongoing road work. "This is a very volatile situation," one police officer could be heard shouting at passersby and others who were trying to get back into their buildings. "You've got to move now!" "I walked out on to our terrace to see what the noise was, and I was nearly knocked over - the sound was so loud," said Denis Robichaud, whose office overlooks the site of the accident. "It was absolutely deafening." Two people were taken hospital with minor injuries, said Toronto police Sgt. Robb Knapper. One of them was the police officer supervising the work, he explained. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the officer, a gas mask fitted to his face, being taken away by ambulance. Subway service in the downtown core, which had been closed between Bloor/Yonge station and St. Andrew's, reopened at 3pm, said TTC spokesperson Marilyn Bolton. TTC bus and streetcar routes in the downtown core are another matter, however. "It's going to be messy for a while," Bolton explained. GO service was not affected. At Sul Posto restaurant on Adelaide just east of Yonge, manager Ian Rogers said several customers had to lave their lunches in mid-bite as the building was evacuated. Rogers said be could smell gas as soon as he stepped outside. "It's pretty unbelievable," he said "It's a good thing for us this didn't happen an hour earlier, or it would have been right in the middle of our rush." "It's kind of frustrating,' said Rebecca Malke, who works at 1 Adelaide St. E, which was evacuated. "I don't know whether to go home now or try and stick it out." "They won't let me back into my building," said Allison Taylor, one of thousands cramming the sidewalks near Adelaide St. E. and Victoria St. "I've got my car keys and my wallet in there." By 2:30, the smell of gas had largely dissipated.

Construction worker rescued from dirt-wall collapse 
By LARRY HARTSTEIN 
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer 
The worker had been trapped from the waist down. A 23-year-old construction worker suffered only cuts and bruises when a dirt wall collapsed in a Snellville subdivision Thursday afternoon. The worker, identifed as Domingo Hernandez, was trapped from the waist down for nearly an hour. He was taken to Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville after the accident, treated and released, hospital spokeswoman Paula Martin said. The accident happened about 2:15 p.m. Thursday at 945 Havenstone Walk. "They were doing some excavating in a new subdivision," Fire Department Lt. David Dusik said. "[Hernandez'] back was near a large dirt wall that was part of an existing house, and the wall collapsed, pinning him." Hernandez was conscious and alert when firefighters arrived at 2:19 p.m. The heavy rescue team "just ended up using shovels, digging until we got close to him," Dusik said

Worker dies on the job
By Ryan Broome 
A ST. JOHN family was plunged into mourning yesterday, following an early-morning freak accident that left one man dead and another hospitalised in stable condition. The events unfolded around 10:15 a.m. near the Garfield Sobers Roundabout, where construction firm T.W. Enterprises was carrying out excavation work to lay cable pipelines under contract by the Barbados Light & Power. Two workers on the site, Devere Jarvis, 49, of Newcastle St. John, and Barry Niles, 23, of Kendall Hill, Christ Church, were both reportedly standing near the edge of a trench, which had earlier been dug, when the ground beneath them gave way, sending both men tumbling into the approximately 15-foot deep opening. Rubble from the surface and from the sides of the trench fell on top of them and their nearby colleagues wasted no time in getting a rescue effort under way and alerting the emergency services. Chever Birchwood, 33, was one of the workers who helped to clear the rubble off the two men. After a frantic search, the workers found that Niles still seemed to be breathing, but they also noticed that Jarvis appeared to be motionless. They eventually managed to pull Niles free. Ambulance personnel arrived on the scene and whisked Niles to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), where he remained a patient up to late yesterday. While on the scene, emergency medical technicians also checked Jarvis’ condition, but found no signs of life. Before long, scores of police officers, fire officers, Barbados Defence Force soldiers and curious onlookers converged on the scene. Lawmen blocked off the section of road leading from the roundabout to the traffic lights junction at Wildey, and passing traffic slowed to a crawl. Jarvis remained in the trench for just over two hours, before personnel from the Two Sons Funeral Home arrived to remove his lifeless body. During that time, some of the dead man’s relatives and his pastor, Bishop Cameron Nicholls, arrived on the scene after hearing the news. Jarvis’ sister-in-law Margaret Dowridge described him as a kind-hearted, jovial person and a regular church-goer. She said he was originally from Vauxhall, Christ Church and has been married to her sister, Sherie, a nurse at the QEH, for more than 20 years. Dowridge also added that Jarvis had three children – Lynn-Marie, Brian and David. “He actually met her (wife) in church,” she said. Bishop Nicholls, of the Acts Deliverance Tabernacle in Goodland, St. Michael recalled Jarvis as a devout Christian, who was very supportive. “We are very sad at this incident...I feel deeply hurt,” he said. BL&P’s managing director Andrew Gittens also went on the scene and he expressed shock and sorrow about the incident.

Gas leak ties up traffic on Alcoa Highway
by Anna C. Irwin, of The Daily Times Staff
A natural gas leak at Chilhowee RV Sales Wednesday afternoon during Alcoa Highway's daily peak period snarled traffic for an hour and a half. Alcoa Police and Fire Departments responded to a 4:26 p.m. report of the leak and shut down the highway for about 15 minutes while a troubleshooter from Atmos Energy, formerly United Cities Gas Co., was on his way to the scene. The highway's northbound lanes and one southbound lane were re-opened after the flow of natural gas was partially blocked with dirt packed into a post hole where the gas line had been breached. The temporary dirt plug was weighed down with three bags of quick-setting concrete waiting near the hole to set the post. Army, Navy and More -- a business very near the leak site at the corner of the Chihowee RV lot -- closed early, but workers at Chilhowee were not evacuated since they were some distance away from the gas leak and the situation appeared to be under control. The three-quarter-inch line with 80 pounds of pressure was punctured as workers from Ace Fencing Co. of Knoxville put in posts for a new fence around the recreational vehicle sales lot. The leak occurred only a few feet from a sign warning of underground gas lines. A check with the gas company showed the fence company had heeded the warning sign and contacted the gas company before digging. A gas company worker had been to the scene and marked the location of both the gas main alongside the shoulder of Alcoa Highway at the front of the business as well as the service line coming off the main and running to the business. The broken lines of bright orange spray paint for the main and bright yellow for the service line were visible on the pavement and into the graveled lot near the partially plugged post hole emitting a strong natural gas odor. There was an occasional puff of dust as pressure built, then broke a pinhole in the dirt. But, the plug kept most of the gas flowing through instead of out of the line. The gas escaping from the leak was quickly dispersed by a light breeze. Atmos worker notices However, the odor was strong enough on the highway to prompt an Atmos worker driving home from work and unaware of the leak to pull in and check out the situation. Jimmy Walker said he smelled the gas and didn't see co-worker Benny Farmer's truck until after he stopped. He stayed to help as another co-worker, Ronnie Rohrer, and construction supervisor Wes Buchanan arrived and Farmer left to check a report of a natural gas odor in a residence on the other side of the county. Meanwhile, Alcoa firefighters stood by, ready to deal with the possibility of the leaking gas being ignited. Several Alcoa officers worked to keep traffic moving as motorist gawked to see what had traffic backed up a mile and a half north of the site. Two more officers were working a traffic accident that occurred near the airport soon after the gas leak was reported. Blount County Sheriff's deputies took over Alcoa police calls for service while Alcoa's evening shift scheduled on the road at 8 p.m. was asked to report for duty almost three hours early. The construction crew was ready when Atmos backhoe operator Scott Graves finally arrived. Graves tried to avoid turning across the southbound traffic by taking Topside Road to a point north of the leak site. He got caught in the traffic backup and finally reached the scene with the help of an officer who was dispatched to assist him. Graves quickly moved his backhoe into place and started digging at 5:45 p.m. Other Atmos workers were ready and, as soon as the leak was exposed, the flexible line was clamped off and the leak was stopped at 5:55 p.m. All traffic lanes on the highway were reopened shortly after 6 p.m. while the gas line was quickly repaired. The damaged section of line was cut away, a new section spliced in, the clamp holding back the gas flow was removed and the hole was filled in with dirt.

Gas leak forces evacuations in Flint Twp.; Authorities say there was the possibility of an explosion
By abc12.com
Flint Twp. — (10-02-02)--A construction crew working on a water line hit a gas line this morning in Flint Township...filling the air with natural gas. Firefighters sealed off traffic within a half-mile of the intersection of Dye and Lennon where the rupture happened. Homes in the immediate vicinity were evacuated, until Consumers Energy contained the leak within a couple of hours. Authorities say there was the possibility of an explosion. "Well, with the gas going there was the hazard of explosion or ignition at some point, so we evacuated the area," said Flint Twp. Capt. John Ringwelski. Traffic is now back to normal in the area. 

Gas leak forces an evacuation 
DANIEL J. SERNOVITZ , Staff Writer 
TELFORD – Emergency crews evacuated four residences on East Reliance Road Tuesday afternoon when a Verizon work crew replacing two utility poles dug into an unmarked‚ underground natural gas line. PECO Energy Co. spokeswoman Cathy Engel said crews responded to the scene‚ between South Hamilton Avenue and Main Street on the Bucks County side of the borough‚ at about 1:48 p.m. after a Verizon crew digging a hole in the ground dug into the 4-inch plastic line. The smell of gas hung in the mid-afternoon air Tuesday as it seeped from the ground around a mechanical auger that pierced the line earlier in the day. Officials evacuated four homes downwind of the odor. Service was restored by 4:15 p.m.‚ Engel said. PECO will continue to investigate why the line‚ installed in 1997 to serve a nearby housing development‚ was unmarked. She said the company also will try to find out why the line was not identified under the Pennsylvania One Call system‚ which notifies municipalities and utility companies about work to be done in a specific area. “We will look into the situation surrounding why the lines were not marked‚” Engel said. Police Chief Doug Bickel said Verizon did its job by notifying the one-call system‚ and charges against the company are not anticipated. “Verizon did what they were supposed to do‚” Bickel said. Responding to the location were the Telford Borough Police Department‚ the Telford Fire Co.‚ the Souderton Ambulance and North Penn Goodwill.

UPDATE, Injured worker dies at Strong
YORK — A Livingston County man injured in an excavation accident Sept. 13 died Monday at Strong Memorial Hospital. Carl Deming, 44, of Leicester was searching for a broken water line at Lawnel Farms when a wall of dirt fell on him and covered him. Deming died about 2:30 p.m., hospital officials said.

Workers Rupture Gas Line 
Utility workers digging a water line struck a natural gas pipe in a neighborhood just north of the Springfield city limits Wednesday afternoon. One of the employees of City Utilities suffered burns on his hands and face, but was not believed to be seriously injured. The accident happened about 3:30 p.m. in the 1900 East Burntwood in the Woodland Heights subdivision. Witnesses say the gas line ruptured sent flames 30 feet into the air. Deputies with the Greene County Sheriff's office blocked off access to the subdivision just east of Highway H and Valley Water Mill Road for about an hour until C-U was able to cut off the flow of gas through the pipe. No other injuries were reported. Damage was confined to the gas line - no homes were affected.

Leak causes Romeoville evacuation 
Normantown Road: Gas leak snarls traffic, leaves residents angry 
By Kim Smith, STAFF WRITER 
ROMEOVILLE — Nearly 20 homes had to be evacuated and parts of Normantown Road were shut down for seven hours Friday due to a gas leak. Carmen Morales, community relations director for Nicor Gas, said the gas company was contacted around 8:19 a.m. to the south side of Normantown Road near the entrance of the Haley Meadows subdivision. "We arrived by 8:32 a.m.," Morales said. "An excavation contractor apparently hit a 6-inch main." Traffic had to be rerouted, and cars were not allowed near the street where the gas could visibly be seen gushing out of the ground nearly a quarter of a mile away. "We had to shut off all the utilities to the homes in the area," said Fire Chief Carl Churulo. "This is about the fourth time this year something like this has happened." Little colored flags and orange markings on the street indicating JULIE (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators) had been called were visible nearby. The law requires people to contact JULIE at least two working days in advance of the start a digging project. Churulo said no such flags were found where the contractor had been digging. "To me, that means don't dig," Churulo said. "We will be out there looking into this again on Monday." If it is found that the contractor is at fault, the village usually will go after the company to recoup their losses for the day, Churulo said. Romeoville Emergency Management Agency volunteers were also on the scene helping to reroute traffic. Some said people were being quite rude when they found they could not get into their homes. "We are here for their safety, and you wouldn't believe what they say," said one of the volunteers. "They want to check on their dogs. They have left their children home alone. They may have left their stoves on. They get mad when I tell them they can't drive down their street." Stephanie Jones, a nearby resident, said there was a strong odor in the air when she returned home from school late Friday morning. "It really is kind of scary," Jones said. "I hope we don't all wake up with headaches." Traffic was also in a snarl in the Lakewood Estates subdivision all day. Dawn Palomar, who lives on the corner of Winnebago and Michigan drives, said it was the traffic that alerted her to a problem when she awoke shortly after 8 a.m. "My daughter had a sleepover since there was no school," Palomar said. "They wanted McDonald's for breakfast, and I had to go all the way to Bolingbrook to get around because I couldn't get through to Weber Road." Palomar was quick to point out how trucks were having trouble diverting through the residential streets. She is one of many Lakewood Estates and Haley Meadows homeowners who are against a proposed commercial development on Normantown Road. "I hope officials see how this traffic is impacting our subdivision," Palomar said. "If there is a shopping center there, it could be like this all the time." Churulo said Nicor workers were checking out the evacuated homes before letting residents back in Friday afternoon. "They helped them relight their pilots and wil make sure the leak did not cause any more damages," Churulo said. Four warehouse businesses and 26 residential customers were left without power most of the day. Morales said that as of 5:45 p.m., all but four customers who were not at home had their power restored. "They were issued blue tags, and we will come out whenever they call," Morales said. "It was a good call to have those homes evacuated. The wind was blowing the gas right to them."

UPDATE, Family angry over trench death
By Robert Armengol, Staff Writer
They say a Doylestown firm did not do enough to protect Frank Ricci, who was overcome and died while applying a waterproofing glue on a foundation. When Dan Ricci closes his eyes at night, he can't sleep. He sees his older brother, Frank, coughing, then gasping for breath, his body seemingly paralyzed, his eyes glazed over. Dan relives the moment he hopped into a concrete box to save his brother from the toxic fumes that had overpowered Frank's more than 250-pound frame. He hears his boss from above urging him to get out, then saying, "It's over." He begins to pass out, too. Frank Ricci, 36, a Philadelphia construction worker, died Sept. 10 while spraying waterproofing glue on the foundation of a new home in New Britain Township. He was trapped in a narrow compartment 9 feet deep when the glue's fumes caused him to faint. Dan, who collapsed over his brother's body, was saved by the quick work of two police officers and a team of local firefighters. A husband and father of three young children, Ricci lives now with the weight of survivor's guilt. "If I could send a message to my brother, I'd want him to know that I tried," Ricci said, slumped on the couch of his rowhouse in Philadelphia, fighting back tears. "I just want him to know I tried." Ricci and his family also live with anger. They say Dale Waterproofing Systems Inc., the Doylestown company the brothers worked for, didn't do enough to protect them. Dan says he's upset with the story his boss told on the day of the accident, which placed the blame on his older brother. Mark Oristaglio, the company's general manager, had arrived at the work site off Creek Road late in the morning, just as Frank Ricci was passing out. It was Oristaglio who realized Frank wasn't responding, and it was he who called for rescuers when the situation turned grave. But Oristaglio later faulted Frank for not wearing a protective respirator. He said he had "lectured" the elder Ricci about it earlier in the day. Dan Ricci denies such a lecture ever took place. While it's true Frank wasn't using the gas mask when he fell ill, his brother said that was because the filters in the respirator had failed. And Dan claims neither of them knew how dangerous the waterproofing glue - known as Rub-R-Wall - could be, especially when sprayed in confined areas, where its fumes can drive oxygen from the air. The company, for the most part, has declined to comment on the accident, which federal officials are investigating. A receptionist for owner and chief executive Thomas Dale refused two requests to reach him by phone at his West Chester office. Oristaglio declined to go into detail about the facemasks the company had supplied or what kind of training the brothers had. He said he was sorry for the family's loss but didn't want to say much because he expects the case to end up in court. "I've attempted to contact Dan a few times," Oristaglio said. "He didn't seem to want to talk to me really. I'm trying not to intrude or impose myself. I just sent word that if there's anything they needed, to let us know." When he's awake, Dan Ricci has trouble eating. He keeps replaying the events of Sept. 10. Before their boss returned from another site, he said, he and Frank were the only two workers at the home on Creek Road. As noon approached, the brothers had finished most of the foundation. All that was left was a garage and side entrance, where the foundation is bounded by a separate, outer wall. Frank was spraying inside that section when he first began to feel dizzy, Dan said. Frank stood in a box about 9 feet down, 5 feet long and barely 3 feet wide, while Dan, above ground, maneuvered a hose supplying the Rub-R-Wall. Dan said Frank stopped at one point, emerged from below and took a quick break to clear his head. "I can't even get focused," Frank said as he took off his respirator, according to his brother. "This thing is blown." Dan said his brother placed the mask atop the foundation and went back to work. "If the cartridges are blown," Dan said as he recounted the day, "it will smell worse in the mask than in the air." Experts confirmed that such masks, if they aren't working, can become more of a hazard than a help. "They can actually increase the breathing resistance you experience, so that they are uncomfortable to wear," said Cole Miller, a safety consultant in Yardley. But why Frank Ricci continued to work under such conditions, without a mask, may forever remain a mystery. "I think he just wanted to finish the job," Dan said. The Ricci brothers had been working less than a year for Dale Waterproofing and another firm with the same ownership, Modern Home Insulation. They installed insulation until switching to waterproofing about three months ago, Dan said. They made about $450 a week, before taxes. The brothers' training came largely on the job, Dan said. He said they had not received a training manual or written safety guidelines. He was surprised to learn that government-mandated precautions for Rub-R-Wall require workers to read the safety instructions. Those procedures say workers must use "organic vapor respirators." But for some confined spaces, the guidelines call for a much greater precaution: a self-contained oxygen supply, not unlike the scuba gear used by underwater divers. The hydrocarbon solvents emitted when a worker applies Rub-R-Wall, experts said, are heavier than air. In a box like the one where the Riccis became trapped, the vapors can quickly fill the compartment, pushing all breathable air upward. That kind of oxygen deprivation, the product guidelines say, "can cause dizziness, unconsciousness or death." The county coroner is still waiting for a toxicology report, but he has said asphyxia, rather than poisoning, might have been the ultimate cause of Frank Ricci's death. According to Dan Ricci, another waterproofing worker had complained the day before the accident about his own mask, saying the filters were shot. The next morning, when crews were receiving their assignments, Dan said he asked about the filters. Dan claimed that Oristaglio said he had not had time to buy new ones. Instead, his boss offered his own filters for the one mask that Dan and his brother received. Dan said the filters were used, not new, but he was told they were good for "at least one more house." Frank Ricci was Dan's only brother. They were close. They weren't often assigned to the same job, but they chatted by cell phone on the way to work or on breaks, sometimes two or three times a day. On the weekends, they watched football together. Their family played a game - each would try to guess the winners in Sunday's NFL matches and, at the end of the day, they would see who scored the best. Frank wasn't married, but he had a girlfriend. He was getting ready to buy a house, Dan said. The day Frank died, just as he was becoming incoherent, Dan rushed down the hole after his boss, and together they tried to revive him. Oristaglio slapped Frank in the face - "hard," he remembers - and got no response. When Oristaglio climbed out of the foundation, Dan stayed behind. He couldn't leave his brother. "Frank, don't do this to me. Don't do this to me," Dan remembers saying. "Come on, let's go. Let's go." Oristaglio said he yelled for Dan to "get out of there." Dan said he yelled for his boss to throw him the respirator, then heard this reply: "That won't work. There's no oxygen down there. It's over." Dan said he tried pushing his brother up the ladder, but only got Frank's legs up one or two rungs before he too was overcome. He said his boss didn't lean down to help. Oristaglio defended his actions. "There was no way I could physically get him up that ladder," he said. "I really felt my next step was to call 911." New Britain Township police Officer Shawn Knight was the first rescuer on the scene. When he arrived at the construction site, Dan Ricci had already collapsed atop his brother, scraping his arm and head on the way down. Knight approached the hole and was almost immediately overwhelmed by the Rub-R-Wall vapors. "It was an ungodly adhesive smell," Knight said. "It was like climbing inside a tube of model glue with no air." Knight knew he had to do something, he said, but jumping into the hole at that point was not an option. As luck would have it, Knight is one of a few officers in his department with an oxygen tank in the trunk of his patrol car. He retrieved the tank, turned the nozzle all the way up, and dropped a mask tethered to a tube onto Dan Ricci's face at the bottom of the pit. Officer Robert Burkhardt, who was right behind Knight, took over after a few minutes, holding the line attached to the oxygen mask in place until a fire rescue crew suited up with full breathing gear. When Burkhardt was finally relieved, he said, he emerged with an instant headache, feeling light-headed and dizzy and sick to his stomach. Dan recovered quickly in the hospital and went home the next day. The two officers were treated for exposure to the fumes, but were back on the job in less than 24 hours. Like Dan, they say they wish they could have done more. "Yeah, I feel like we saved someone's life," Knight said. "We'd like to have saved them both, but we didn't. It kind of takes some of the luster off of being a hero."

One dies in farm accident in Cleveland
CLEVELAND (AP) -- A Cleveland man died Friday after a backhoe backed into the grain pit he was cleaning out. David Washington, 75, died from the injuries, assistant coroner Butch Prescott said. Washington was working with friend Henry Thompson when the accident happened. "He (Thompson) accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake," Bolivar County Sheriff H.M. "Mack" Grimmett said. "And it jumped into the hole with him. It was one of those freak accidents."

Woman dies in farm accident
STAFF REPORT
DUETTE -- A 63-year- old migrant farmworker died Saturday morning after being pulled into a ditch digging machine. Petra Jaimez-Perez was working at Lipman & Lipman Farms on Duette Road, two miles south of State Road 62. Workers were digging trenches for drainage pipes when the accident occurred at about 10 a.m., Manatee County Emergency Medical Services Capt. Jeff Bliss said.

Traffic crawls after crew hits gas line 
A road-construction crew broke a gas line Thursday afternoon in West Ashley, forcing Charleston police to reroute traffic for several hours along a section of Ashley River Road. The construction crew, which is working on widening the intersection of Ashley River Road and Tobias Gadson Boulevard, was digging up concrete storm-drainage pipes around 3 p.m. when a backhoe pulled up a three-quarter-inch copper service line that was connected to a 6-inch main beneath the road, said Kevin Benjamin, the construction supervisor. Workers smelled the gas, plugged the line and notified South Carolina Electric and Gas, which sent a work crew to repair the line. The gas service line wasn't marked, Benjamin said. Meanwhile, Charleston Police closed a section of Ashley River Road as a precaution and rerouted traffic while the workmen, donning gas masks, repaired the line. A handful of residents from nearby Moss Creek Apartments walked to the accident site to see what was going on. Bill Wilson went to investigate when he hd about the gas-line break on the 5 p.m. television news. "No one came and knocked on the door to warn us. You got to come out for yourself and see how safe or how bad it is," he said. Motorists from William Kennerty Drive trying to make a right turn onto Ashley River Road were rerouted to Tobias Gadson. Police also blocked traffic onto Ashley River Road from Glenn McConnell Boulevard. A stream of drivers took Tobias Gadson. to reach Ashley River Road, but were forced to make an about-face when they found the road blocked. The northbound lane of Ashley River Road was expected to reopen by 8 p.m., police said. A call to South Carolina Electric and Gas was not returned.

UPDATE, Man in ditch collapse doing better
By Staff, New Castle News 
A New Wilmington man who suffered internal injuries when a ditch collapsed on him a week ago has been upgraded to good condition. Jim Cooper, 31, of New Wilmington, is recovering at Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. He was airlifted there from the scene of the accident that occurred the afternoon of Sept. 13 on an Amish farm on Fayette-Neshannock Falls Road in Wilmington Township. Cooper, his father and brother were hired by an Amish family to dig a water line to a spring on their property.

Workers save man from flooded pit
By LISA GOODNIGHT, Staff Writer
ORADELL - Police on Saturday said a United Water worker was lucky to be alive, following an accident that left him submerged under water for several seconds. Daniel Munoz of Bergenfield was in a 12-foot-deep pit when a pipe burst Friday around 2 p.m. on Oradell Avenue. Water gushed into the hole and covered him. "A hand came up,'' said Patrolmen Peter Cimelli, adding that Munoz's colleagues rushed to pull him out. "He was a big strong guy and that's probably what saved him.'' Reached by phone, a woman identifying herself as Munoz's wife said her husband didn't want to say anything about the accident to a reporter. Federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration workers were called to the scene. Terri Guess, a United Water spokeswoman, said Munoz, who has been with the company for at least seven years, was taken to the Hackensack University Medical Center. "He was shaken up,'' Guess said. "He didn't have any injuries. We wanted to take him there for precautionary measures.'' Guess said Munoz was part of a crew working on disconnecting a main that engineers say is no longer useful. "It's was a very old main, over 100 years old,'' Guess said. She said work will resume and will be complete by mid-week. When asked how the incident will affect future projects, Guess said: "I'm sure the supervisors will take a look.'' But she stressed: "Our workers are already taking all the precautionary measures that they are supposed to.'' Police described one of the measures as a safety trench box to keep the sides of the pit from collapsing.

One worker dead, another hurt in Santa Ynez trench collapse
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SANTA YNEZ – A construction worker was killed and a second seriously hurt Thursday when dirt collapsed in an 11-foot-deep trench they were digging at the Chumash Casino expansion site, authorities said. The 3-foot-wide trench collapsed at 7:47 a.m., burying the two R. Williams Construction Co. workers, said Tracy Gouette, a spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. The names of the victims weren't immediately released. One worker died in the cave-in and a second man was pulled out and airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment of a possible broken pelvis, Gouette said. The cause of the collapse, which occurred in a trench adjacent to the casino construction, wasn't immediately known. There will be an investigation by the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians is building a $157 million resort next to the tribe's Chumash Casino. It includes a 190,000-square-foot casino and 106-room hotel and completion is expected next year.

Gas leak forces evacuation at ARES
Farmington schools frequently practice fire drills, but last week students and staff at Akin Road Elementary School found out what it is like to really have to get out of the building fast. Just before 11 a.m. Sept. 12 a construction crew working on townhomes near 197th Street and Goldfinch Ave. broke through a natural gas line. The wind carried gas and fumes north and west, toward the city of Farmington's new municipal campus and toward ARES. "The way the wind was flowing ... Akin Road was right in the way of the wind," ARES principal Ben Januschka said. "Once the decision was made to evacuate, it was determined that the extreme west end of the property was the best place to go." According to Januschka, students and staff reacted calmly to his announcement over the intercom. Within about 30 seconds, everybody was out of the building. Half an hour later, the school got clearance to return to work. Januschka sent a letter that night to explain to parents what had happened. "We practice fire drills all the time ... (but) it's difficult to practice for because, in this case, it had to be determined almost in a flash which way to send the kids," Januschka said. "The staff were extremely professional in handling it." Farmington police and firefighters also ordered the evacuation of the city's maintenance building and townhomes on English Avenue.

SAN FRANCISCO; Worker critical after retaining wall fails 
Copyright 2002 The Chronicle Publishing Co.
A 29-year-old man was in critical condition after a construction accident late Monday morning. Julio Magana was working at the base of a retaining wall at a home on El Camino Del Mar in the Sea Cliff neighborhood of San Francisco at 11:23 a.m. when the cement wall, reinforced with sand, gave way. Magana was trapped between the wall and a nearby foundation with the weight of the sand on top of him, said Pete Howes, San Francisco Fire Department spokesman. It took 20 rescuers and a small bulldozer to free Magana. The effort took about 45 minutes, and officials from the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration were on the scene, Howes said. Magana was admitted to San Francisco General Hospital with chest and abdominal injuries and underwent surgery late Monday afternoon and into the night, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Construction Worker Crushed
By Bobby Cuza, Staff Writer
A man doing construction work on a tony Gramercy Park townhouse was killed Monday after he was crushed by an enormous slab of concrete. The man, whose name was not released, was working in an excavation pit in the backyard of the E. 18th Street building when the soil gave way and the stone toppled onto him. "A big piece of fieldstone, approximately 500 to 1000 pounds, fell on top of the guy, and it crushed him," said fire department Battalion Chief John Rail. "Whether it was blunt trauma that killed him, or he suffocated, we don't know." Emergency personnel responding to the 12:20 p.m. accident had to use heavy machinery to unearth the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene. "We had to use some heavy jackhammers, some hydraulic jackhammers as well, to cut the slab apart before we could access him," said Det. Andrew Nugent of the police department’s emergency services unit. Officials said that damp soil from the recent rains may have contributed to the accident. Two violations were issued by the Buildings Department, which found that a permit to perform interior excavation in the building's cellar had expired in March 2001. That permit was issued to the firm Steinway Construction in Long Island City. Buildings spokesman Mark Topping said it was unclear whether Steinway was also conducting the more recent backyard work. Neighbors said a group of three men had been working at the four-story, red brick townhouse - located in the Stuyvesant Square historical district - for several months. Rail said the victim was doing waterproofing work at the time of the accident, in a pit about six feet deep near the building's foundation. An inspector from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration also visited the site Monday. "OSHA is investigating the accident, and it's way too early to tell anything," said spokesman John Chavez. "We're still trying to determine what happened, and who was who on the site."

UPDATE, Cal-OSHA inspects trench cave-in; Contractor rescued in Napa recovering at home 
By ANDREA A. QUONG, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT 
The state Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Friday opened a preliminary investigation into the collapse of a 14-foot-deep trench that buried a Napa County contractor up to his neck in earth and rocks for more than four hours. Sam Eakle, 47, a part owner of Eakle Construction and Trucking in Pope Valley, is recovering from the ordeal at home. He was released from Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa on Friday with a broken collarbone and fractured pelvis, family members said. "He's got a lot of bumps and bruises but is doing well," said his daughter, Diana Eakle, 19, who was on her way home for the weekend when the accident happened Thursday and later watched her father being extricated. "He just wanted to come home," she said. A Cal-OSHA inspector visited the site Friday and investigators plan to interview witnesses, an agency spokesman said. Eakle was kneeling in the 3-foot-wide trench, part of an outflow pipe for a vineyard reservoir his company was hired to build, to make a final inspection for the day about 5 p.m. Thursday when the walls imploded, according to his brother and business partner Jim Eakle. "The job was actually done for the day. (He) just wanted to do one more thing, and that's when it happened," Jim Eakle said. An employee, Monty De Vita, immediately jumped in and used his hands to clear the dirt around Eakle's head and shoulders while the owner of the property on Spring Mountain Road four miles west of St. Helena called for help. The other employees had already gone home for the day, Eakle said. About 50 firefighters and rescue workers responded to the call, cutting trees and using plywood to bolster the trench and digging him out by hand. Eakle was freed at 9:40 p.m. and airlifted to the hospital. The Eakles' 27-year-old company specializes in hauling grapes and building vineyard reservoirs throughout the Napa Valley. The three brothers -- Sam and twins Jim and Henry -- own the business and employ about a half-dozen workers. Cal-OSHA spokesman Dean Fryer said investigators will be looking at several issues. He said state health and safety regulations require walls of trenches deeper than five feet to be shored, and contractors digging trenches must obtain a permit from the agency. Investigators also will be checking for any problems with equipment, Fryer said. Eakle was at a loss to explain the accident. "My brother Sam is absolutely, extremely cautious," he said. "It's almost ironic that would happen to him."

Gas leak on McKeen Street forces evacuation 
Elizabeth_Dorsey, TimesRecord
BRUNSWICK - A gas leak from the Maine Natural Gas pipeline along McKeen Street led to the evacuation of several residences and the temporary closure of the street Thursday morning. The leak occurred at 7:49 a.m. at the intersection of Willow Grove Road and McKeen Street. Excavators from the New York-based Suburban Pipe Line, contractors for Maine Natural Gas, were digging with a backhoe as part of a project to extend the existing pipeline to Church Road and to the Industrial Park. According to Gary Kenny, manager of engineering and operation for Maine Natural Gas, the excavators were hand-digging around the existing pipeline and were using a backhoe to remove the fill when they accidentally pierced the pipeline. There was no property damage and there were no injuries. "The dirt and debris (shooting out of the ground) was as high as a telephone pole," said Cmdr. Richard Desjardins, of the Brunswick Police Department, which responded to the scene along with about 20 firefighters. Residents from several houses were evacuated and police blocked traffic between Church Road and Baribeau Drive. Technicians from Maine Natural Gas responded to the scene within minutes. Excavators working at a nearby site dug a hole 100 feet from the leak and shut off the gas flow. The leak was contained within about 20 minutes, according to a fire department spokesman. The Maine Public Utilities Commission Dig Safe Program requires excavators to dig by hand within 18 inches of the buried pipeline. Once the pipeline is uncovered, mechanical equipment can be used. "They shouldn't have had that (back hoe) bucket that close to the pipeline. It was clearly a violation," Kenny said, adding that Maine Natural Gas will file an incident report with the utilities commission. The utilities commission will analyze the incident to determine if a fine is warranted. Representatives from Suburban Pipe Line could not be reached for comment. Despite the size of the leak, risk to nearby residents was minimal. "The potential danger was very low," Kenny said. Deputy Fire Chief Michael Robitaille said the gas, which is lighter that air, was quickly dispersed by the wind. The risk of an explosion would have been greater if the gas was flowing into a confined area. "We evacuated the immediate area just as a precaution," he said. Representatives from Maine Natural Gas will meet with town staff and report to the town council about the incident. "We hope lessons will be learned from this," Kenny said. The company also offered an apology to the neighbors for any inconvenience they suffered during the incident. The company also commended the police and fire departments for their quick response.

UPDATE, Contractor says line was in wrong spot
By Michael Roknick, Herald Business Editor 
The main contractor on the state Route 18 widening project said the gas line a road worker broke Wednesday wasn't where it was supposed to be. "The 2-inch gas line was off by 2 feet,'' said Steve Bucci, superintendent for Lindy Inc. When the road crew began digging at the section near Hermitage Middle School, Bucci said, the National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. gas line was supposed to be 2 feet lower than it was. Like other highway projects, road construction plans for widening Route 18 were given to utility companies with lines in the area so they could move them, Bucci said. "You never know how things like that happen,'' Bucci said. "Maybe (plans) for that particular area didn't get to the person it was supposed to get to.'' An NFG spokesperson told the Herald Wednesday that the line was broken when "a contractor" relocating lines hit the main line. 0NFG moved gas lines along the 2.5-mile section of highway last winter in preparation for the road widening, both the utility and Lindy said. NFG, which owns and is responsible for maintaining the line, said it will send an investigator to determine what led to the gas break. "Until he investigates, we won't know what factors led to the line being hit,'' said NFG spokeswoman Sandra James. "If depth (of the line) was an issue, he'll look into that.'' Regardless, an engineer for PennDOT, which is overseeing the project, said this is the last section of the highway that calls for the kind of digging that led to the line break. "By tomorrow we should be done excavating completely on the whole project,'' Bill Hanson, a PennDOT civil engineer, said Thursday. "The chances of another line being hit on the Route 18 project after that will be slim to none.'' About 1,600 Hermitage School District students from the middle and elementary schools were evacuated for about 30 minutes after the line broke this week. Last week Hermitage students were evacuated for about as long when a similar break occurred. Several other line breaks have accompanied the project, which began in earnest earlier this year.

Gas Main Break Shuts Road Near Lincoln Tunnel; Break Could Cause Traffic Gridlock
NORTH BERGEN, N.J. -- A construction crew broke through a gas main Thursday, forcing police to shut down train service into Manhattan for four hours and close an exit on a main artery out of the Lincoln Tunnel. The morning accident in front of the Plaza Hotel on Tonnelle Avenue released gas fumes into the air, but no fire or injuries were reported, said Lt. Joseph Bode of the North Bergen Police Department. New Jersey Transit resumed its service into Manhattan around 1 p.m. after determining that gas fumes posed no threat, said Micah Rasmussen, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation. The southbound exit to Tonnelle Avenue off Route 495, which leads out of the Lincoln Tunnel, remained closed Thursday afternoon, he said. Access to Routes 1 & 9 was also sealed off. The hotel was evacuated and lost gas service, said Joey Anderson, a spokeswoman for Public Service Gas & Electric. Police and fire officials were expected to work with PSE&G into the night to fix the leak, she said. It was not immediately known how many customers would be without gas. "It's possible that in trying to correct the situation we may have to shut off some customers," Anderson said. A backhoe operated by Kemsco Construction and Equipment Co. of Newark ruptured the gas line, Rasmussen said. Kemsco was a subcontractor for Anselmi DiCicco, a company hired by the Department of Transportation to perform construction at Routes 1 & 9 and the Amtrak bridge in North Bergen. A message left for Kemsco was not immediately returned Thursday. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Kemsco was cited in 2001 for violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards at an excavation site at Tonnelle Avenue and Union Turnpike in North Bergen. Violations included failing to provide cave-in protection while workers dug a six-foot trench. Kemsco settled the case for $28,600, according to an OSHA Web site.

Man Rescued From Trench In California
In California a Napa County man, who had been buried under a mound of dirt for about four and a half hours while inspecting work on a reservoir at a vineyard, has been rescued. As much as 8 feet of earth fell on Sam Eakle of Pope Valley while he was in a trench up to 14 feet deep. Co-worker Monty De Vita was able to dig the dirt free from Eakle's face so he could breathe, said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman Nancy Carniglia. "He basically saved his life," she said. The earth remained unstable, forcing rescue workers to use plywood and hand tools to slowly remove Eakle to prevent more dirt from collapsing. Eakle was removed about 9:40 p.m. last night and appeared to be uninjured, Carniglia said. He was airlifted to Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa where he was in fair condition, she said. "He was alert and conscious and talking to rescuers the whole time," said CDF Battalion Chief Eric Hoffmann. Eakle owns Eakle Construction, which was digging the trench to install a 12-inch drain from the reservoir at a private vineyard near St. Helena, Carniglia said.

Man Freed After Being Trapped At Construction Site
A construction worker who became trapped in a trench was freed by his co-workers and taken to a hospital Tuesday morning, authorities said. The man, whose identity was not available, was taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis with head injuries. He is expected to survive, an official said. The incident happened around 10:45 a.m. at a home under construction at Mount Comfort Road and 600 North, RTV6 reported. The man was working about 15 feet below ground when a chunk of dirt fell on him, authorities said. Co-workers helped clear the dirt and get the man out.

Gas Leak Forces School Evacuation
Students and teachers at a Houston middle school were evacuated Tuesday after a gas line ruptured behind the campus. The incident happened shortly before noon at a construction site, located in the 10720 block of Southview in southeast Houston. The gas leak was tapped about two hours later. Hovering over the scene, NewsChopper2 showed that the students were being evacuated from Woodson Middle School and taken to nearby St. Agnes Church. Houston Independent School District officials told News2Houston that the students were evacuated from the school as a precaution and taken to the church to have their lunch. Reliant Energy Entex officials said that a construction crew, doing work in the area, hit a 4-inch gas line. A construction worker was injured after being overcome by gas fumes. He was treated at the scene with oxygen, authorities said. The gas leak is under investigation.

Worker Killed In Chalfont Accident
One man is dead, another hospitalized in fair condition after they were overcome by fumes while working inside an excavation pit in New Britain Township, Bucks County. It all started shortly before noon inside a well at 95 Creek Road in Chalfont. Officials say one man in the pit was overcome by fumes from a rubberized sealant. A second employee entered the pit to help and was also overcome by the fumes. Rescue crews were called and pulled the men out in 30-minutes. The victims were taken to Doylestown Hospital. One man was pronounced dead on arrival, the apparent victim of a heart attack. The second worker is in fair conditon. Hospital officials say two firefighters required decontamination, but they were not hurt.

Construction cause of power outage
By Anne Aurand, The Bulletin 
Construction workers in west Bend struck a power line Friday morning, killing power to 1,271 Pacific Power customers for a couple of hours. Electricity halted about 10 a.m. because of underground contact with a line at a construction site near the Old Mill District, said Pacific Power spokeswoman Shannon Shoul. Service was restored to everyone shortly after noon. The outage crippled traffic lights at Colorado Avenue and Wall Street and Colorado and Industrial Way, said Darcy Justice, office specialist at the Bend Public Works Department. The department lost its phone service for a couple of hours during the outage, too, she said. Bend police used radios to contact Public Works officials so they could get someone to temporarily man the uncontrolled intersections. Justice said she thought the areas affected were mostly south of Colorado, but the Fire Department near Simpson Avenue and Century Drive and homes near 14th Street and Newport Avenue also were affected. Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (DMV) felt the outage too. Connie Gibson said employees kept working, doing what they could, at the Bend DMV office. The office has electronic driver tests so employees weren't able to issue licenses. Derik Burkland, at Waddell and Reed Inc., a financial planning company on Emkay Drive, said the office lost power for about two hours. "A short power outage isn't too bad, but if someone wanted to effect a trade we can't do it," he said. However, Fridays are generally slower so the company didn't lose any business, he said.

Construction worker rescued from cave-in 
By GREG KAYLOR Banner Staff Writer 
Rescue officials raced to the scene of a man trapped 35 feet below the surface of South Lee Highway Thursday afternoon, pulled him free and may have saved his life. John Marshall, 23, is listed in fair condition today at an area hospital. He was trapped under the roadway, approximately 40 feet inside a tunnel that he and his co-workers were digging and shoring up as they went. The men were working under contract for a Cleveland Utilities project. According to Anthony Mullinax, a co-worker of Marshall, "the rocks came in on him and hit his back and legs, he said his hands were tingling and back was hurting, he told me to call the rescue squad." The work crew was installing a tunnel liner as they excavated the tunnel. According to Mullinax, there was a two-foot area which had not been lined. Cleveland Police Department officers Steve Ross and Greg Trew were first to arrive on the scene. Ross advised 911 dispatchers that Marshall was conscious and alert. Bradley County Rescue Service Confined Space Team members arrived on scene and began extricating the man from the tunnel. Cleveland Fire Department firemen blocked the roadway while rescue workers crawled through the tunnel. Vibration from traffic was determined to be the cause of the collapse. Charleston Volunteer Fire Department brought a ladder truck to lift the man to freedom. Bradley County Emergency Medical Service paramedics stabilized Marshall and transported him across the road to Scott's Furniture where Life Force helicopter transferred him to Erlanger Medical Center for treatment. Officials had the roadway shut down for about an hour as emergency crews worked. The area of South Lee Highway is known for sink holes, according to officials. Scott's Furniture, across the highway from the near-disaster, experienced a gaping sinkhole in its parking lot several years ago. Gravel covering the asphalt driveway at Scott's is an indicator of how severe the problem is in the area.

Gas leak sparks residential evacuation
Bee Metro Staff
ORANGEVALE -- A score of residents were evacuated for more than than two hours Thursday while they waited for a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. crew to repair a gas leak at Trajan Drive and Mondon Way. The leak occurred when a private construction crew hit a 1 1/2 -inch gas main in the middle of the street about 3:15 p.m. A PG&E crew shut the gas off at 5:40 p.m. Resident Jerry Katcherside said the neighborhood has had ongoing problems with the construction company, which is working on the storm drains in the neighborhood. "It took 10 minutes for the fire department and the police were there in 20 minutes," Katcherside said. "But the ones who could fix the problem took about an hour and a half." The utility crew had to come from a yard on Florin Perkins Road in south Sacramento, said PG&E spokeswoman Jan Taber. "They were fighting rush-hour traffic, and they got there as soon as possible." 

Residents evacuated after excavator cuts gas line 
By SUE McCLURE, Staff Writer
SPRING HILL — About a dozen people were evacuated from their homes for about an hour yesterday morning as a precautionary measure after a large road excavator ruptured a natural gas line on Old Kedron Road, authorities said. ''They were out of their houses for about an hour,'' said Spring Hill Police Chief Reggie Pope, adding that no one was injured in the 8 a.m. accident. Joe George of B&W Excavating told officers he was using the excavator to dig up roadway that is being widened when the machinery accidentally tore a hole in a 4-inch gas line, causing a gas leak, according to a report filed by detective Troy Buckley. Buckley ordered the evacuation of residents from the surrounding area, including those living on Hughes Street, Elm Street, Old Kedron Road and the lower part of McLemore Avenue, Buckley reported. Police and fire personnel then set up a perimeter at Duplex Street, Hughes Street, Old Kedron Road, Kedron Road, Walnut Avenue and McLemore Avenue to prevent people from entering the area, he wrote. Emergency medical services workers from Maury and Williamson counties also responded, Buckley reported. After United Cities Gas Co. workers shut off the gas lines, Buckley waited about 15 minutes for the wind to blow away any remaining gas fumes, then allowed people to return to their homes about 9:10 a.m., he reported. City Administrator Ken York said the situation was handled ''exceptionally well.'' ''We have named detective Troy Buckley director of emergency management for the city, and this instance showed that he is taking that new responsibility very seriously.'' 

Ruptured pipeline shuts plants 
Porpot Changyawa 
Nine factories in Pathum Thani were forced to shut down for five hours yesterday after waterworks workers broke a gas pipeline along Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok road on Thursday night. Workers from the Provincial Waterworks Authority's Rangsit branch mistook the gas pipeline near Rangsit's Klong 5 in Thanyaburi district for a water pipe and attempted to cut it, causing a 3cm fracture. ``It was an accident,'' said Prasert U-Thong, Rangsit branch manager. ``It did not create a big blow-up or anything.'' PTT Plc, which runs the pipeline, closed the the valve supplying gas to the factories yesterday morning. Gas supplies resumed at 2pm. The authority was laying a water pipe along the side of the gas pipeline, said Mr Prasert. The work was in its first stage when the accident occurred. A PTT Plc spokesman said the company had not been told about the waterworks. A supervisor would be sent to the site when work resumed.

SCHOOL CLOSED AFTER SITE ACCIDENT 
By Staff Reporter, The Hexham Courant 
Pupils at Prudhoe West First School were given an extra two days off this week when health and safety officials closed the school following an industrial accident. A labourer working on the school's £1.3 million sports and arts extension accidentally dug into a live power cable. Health and safety officials closed the school, which meant that pupils who were due back on Tuesday were told they could not return to lessons for another two days. Head teacher Alan Keenleyside said he wished to thank all who had helped spread the word as just four pupils turned up on the day. The builder, who was taken to Hexham Hospital and transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, suffered burns to his legs.

Gas leak in northeast Minneapolis forces evacuations
Kavita Kumar, Star Tribune 
A six-block perimeter was blocked off in northeast Minneapolis and 20 homes evacuated for about three hours Wednesday after a construction crew hit a gas main. Fire crews responded to a call of a gas leak at 10:30 a.m. at 3rd St. and 22nd Av. NE. At first, gas from the 6-inch pipe was emitting a strong odor, said Kristi Rollwagen, a Fire Department spokeswoman. But by 11:30 a.m., the gas began to pool underground, causing the asphalt above it to bubble and create a dome about 10 to 12 inches across. The pooling made a fire more likely, Rollwagen said. The gas line is about 40 inches underground. Minnegasco workers spent about two hours cutting and welding the main's three feeder lines. Emergency workers dug up the street to release the gas. An air-conditioned Metro Transit bus was on hand to accommodate displaced residents. Officials monitored sanitary and storm sewers before allowing residents back into their homes about 1:45 p.m. "With the amount of construction we've had lately, this is a daily occurrence, for contractors to be hitting gas mains throughout the state," Rollwagen said. "It happens quite often . . . but this one was a big one." 

Gas Leak Prompts Evacuations Near State Fairgrounds
A gas leak at the State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City on Thursday prompted the evacuation of the far northwest corner of the park. The area being evacuated is closest to Interstate 44 and N.W. 10th Street, Eyewitness News 5 reported. Gordon Cooper was also closed, authorities said. The 4-inch line was ruptured about 11:30 a.m. by construction crews working on a tunnel near the fairgrounds. Repair crews were on the scene. For more information, watch Eyewitness News 5.

Gas line rupture causes Milton evacuation 
By Gazette Staff
MILTON--About 50 people were evacuated from residences on East Madison Avenue on Friday after a natural gas line was ruptured during an excavation of a sewer main. The accident, which happened about 10:38 a.m., also resulted in the avenue and perimeter streets being closed to traffic for two hours while a crew from Alliant Energy repaired the leak, said Steve Wright, deputy fire chief. No one was hurt during the incident, he added. After a Fanning Excavation crew hit the line in front of a home at 260 E. Madison Ave., neighbors who included residents of the Curler Home and children attending the nearby Taylor-Made Child Care center were evacuated to the Northside Intermediate School for safety, Wright said. Alliant Energy shut off power to 1,210 electric customers for less than 3 minutes Friday morning after the rupture. This had to be done due to the escaping gas and potential hazard, said Alliant spokesman Gary Schmitz. Two homes remained without natural gas, Friday afternoon, but were expected to have service restored later in the day. 

Gas line break shuts down 196th Street 
LYNNWOOD -- A construction crew working on a project to widen the 196th Street onramp to I-5 Monday broke a natural gas line, prompting authorities to shut down the whole road for three hours until 6 p.m. There were no injuries, but the closure created significant traffic problems, Lynnwood police spokeswoman Trudy Dana said. Lynnwood firefighters closed Highway 524 (196th Street) between 36th Avenue W. and 40th Avenue W. as a precaution, she said. The line break occurred around 2:10 p.m. Initially, only the eastbound lanes and center turn lane were closed, but all lanes were shut down about 3:10 p.m. Puget Sound Energy workers were called out to shut off the gas and repair the line.

Gas Leak Forces Evacuations In Orange County
A gas leak has forced authorities to begin evacuating buildings in Orange County, Fla., Thursday, according to Local 6 News. A construction crew ruptured the line while removing a pole at 8702 Meadowcreek. Orange County fire crews are on the scene. It is not clear how big the leak is or how many people have been evacuated, Local 6 News reported. 

Construction worker dies after being pinned against mausoleum
By RICHARD ESPINOZA, The Kansas City Star
A construction worker died Monday when a cave-in pinned him against the foundation of a Lenexa mausoleum. Mark A. Henry, 48, of Olathe was found after his wife called his employer about 9:15 p.m. Henry had started a 30-minute job at the Resurrection Cemetery at 83rd Street and Quivira Road about 9 a.m. and should have been home long before nightfall, said Henry's boss, Dan Haake of Haake Foundations. Cement workers had been scheduled to be at the new mausoleum on Monday morning, but their job was postponed because the ground was too muddy for their truck to pull up, Haake said. Henry showed up because someone still had to knock form tabs from the 10- to 12-foot-tall concrete foundation so waterproofers could work. It was the sort of short-notice job that Henry was known for taking at the 12-person Raytown company. "He was the first to volunteer to do anything if you needed extra help," Haake said. Henry was working alone in a 4-foot-wide trench between the foundation and a 10- to 12-foot-tall earth wall when the ground caved in. Police said he apparently tried to dig himself out but could not free his legs from the knees down. Police said an autopsy Tuesday showed that Henry died from internal injuries suffered when dirt slammed him against the concrete. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration began investigating Tuesday morning. Henry was a foreman at Haake Foundations, where he worked for 15 years. He worked with the Boy Scouts, Haake said. "He was a great guy," Haake said. "We need more people like him around."

Gas Leak Forces Evacuation Of Some Prairie Village Residents
Residents were evacuated from an apartment complex Tuesday after a construction crew hit a natural gas line. It happened a little before noon at the Corinth Paddock complex at 80th Street and Pawnee. KMBC reported that gas leaked into the storm drains, and three buildings were evacuated as a precaution. Residents were allowed to go home by early afternoon. 

Gas Leak Forces Evacuations In Orlando
A gas leak in Pine Hills Friday forced authorities to evacuate several buildings in the area and close two roads, according to Local 6 News. A construction worker operating a backhoe apparently ruptured a gas main while working in the area. Workers reportedly had trouble capping the gas leak because it was coming out so fast. "It was pretty big," worker Rick Rivera said. "It is a large gas line. One of the main ones that comes into the area." Businesses within 500 feet of the leak have been evacuated. Authorities shut down the intersection of Powers and Silver Star. Motorists are urged to avoid the area Friday if possible.

Trench Collapses In Cemetery; Man Dies
Authorities are investigating a trench collapse at a cemetery Monday where a man was found dead. KMBC reported that Mark A. Henry, 48, was working on a mausoleum in the cemetery at 83rd Street and Quivira Road, when a dirt wall collasped, pinning him against the wall of the mausoleum. Crews worked for several hours to free the victim, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said that Henry died from internal injuries. The accident was discovered late Monday night. Police said that Henry had not been seen since 8:30 a.m. Henry worked for Haake Foundation of Raytown.

Gas leak brings chaos to town Aug 21 2002
By Laura Capewell
A major mains gas leak sparked an alert in Rugby today, causing road and rail chaos. The gas leak is believed to have been caused when a digger ruptured the 18 inch mains supply at the Rugby Cement site. It was reported at about 9.15am and dozens of emergency staff were alerted. Two fire crews from Rugby and one from Coleshill were called, along with police and officials from Railtrack. The plant was evacuated and Lawford Road closed either side of the entrance. Trains services between Coventry and Rugby were thrown into chaos. All services were stopped from using the track after the leak. A spokeswoman for Rail-track said: "We have had a complete blockage of the railway between Rugby and Coventry. "It could take several hours to deal with the gas leak." Trains from Rugby to Nuneaton, which do not use the same stretch of track, were able to carry on running as normal. Silverlink services terminated at Rugby. Virgin trains from London to Wolver-hampton were being diverted via Nuneaton and Stafford. Brian George, spokesman for Warwickshire Fire Service, said: "We were called to a gas main fracture underneath the railway line and set a water curtain up. "This involved spraying a fine mist of water through a plate to disperse the gas to make it safe and reduce the risk of it igniting. "Rugby Cement building has been evacuated as a precautionary measure and Lawford Road has been closed. "We are standing by while Transco and Railtrack deal with the incident." Environmental scientist Nigel Merrick was working at the top of the tower for Al Control Laboratories. He said he had been able to smell gas first thing this morning but thought that was normal on the site. He was later evacuated.

Man trapped in trench 
A man has been taken to hospital after being trapped in a 3m-deep trench on a south Wales building site. South Wales Fire Service were called to the site on Bridgend Road, Llanharan at around 1030 BST. His condition had to be "stabilised" before the fire service could rescue him. He was taken to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant with a broken leg. 

Trench Collapses On Construction Worker
Dirt walls caved in on a construction worker putting in a sewer line near lower Nemahbin Lake in the town of Summit Thursday afternoon. The collapse pinned the man from the waist down for nearly two hours. "We talked to him throughout the whole thing and he was alert and conscious, talking with the rescuers here, and he seemed in fairly good shape throughout the entire operation," Waukesha Fire Department Deputy Chief Phillip Buchholtz said. Rescuers had to secure the dirt walls with wood to prevent further collapse. The man was treated and released from Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital.

Severed natural gas line detours traffic in Milford
Helen Bennett Harvey, Milford Bureau Chief August 16, 2002 
MILFORD — Matt Losito said he knew just what to do Thursday morning when he realized that his electrical contracting crew had accidentally severed a natural gas line as they worked along Boston Post Road. "First you run, then you call 911," said Losito, 28, a supervisor for his family's company, Losito Electrical Contractors Inc. of Bethel. No one was injured and there was no explosion when the crew hit a utility line that apparently was not properly marked. Traffic was detoured for about 90 minutes Thursday morning as Fire Department crews blocked off a busy section of Boston Post Road, between West River and North streets. Sandy Kovalsky, 59, of Naugatuck, was directing traffic at the road project, and said her first instinct, when she heard the word "gas," was to pray. "I said 'Lord God,' that's the only thing that can take care of everything," Kovalsky said. "We all know what can happen with gas." The report of the gas leak came in just after 8:30 a.m., and a crew of about 15 firefighters and supervisors responded to the project adjacent to 757 Boston Post Road, fire Capt. Richard Mohr said. The area was evacuated and the crews had water lines ready, in case a fire started, he said. "If we have free-flowing gas, it's like we've got a bull running in a China shop," he said. The Losito crew hit the gas line as they used a backhoe to dig a 4- to 6-inch-wide trench for a pipe that will hold wiring for a traffic signal, Mohr said. "They were digging where they were told to dig, it was an accident, Mohr said. "It was apparently an old line, that someone did not know was there." Bob Brennan, a spokesman for Southern Connecticut Gas Co., confirmed Thursday that Losito had checked, through the "Call Before You Dig" program and lines along Boston Post Road were marked. He said the company is checking its records to see if there was an old unmarked line there. Mohr said the response to the gas leak was not a reaction to a deadly explosion in West Haven Monday that killed two people and leveled three units at a condominium complex on Terrace Avenue. While the exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation, West Haven fire officials believe natural gas was to blame. "What happened in West Haven brings more awareness to the public … we can see what happens with the power of gas," he said. "But we would have done the same (level of response) a week ago or a year ago. We treated this no differently."

Construction error causes power outage in Frisco
Lu Snyder 
FRISCO - The business day started with a power outage for many in Frisco Thursday. A construction crew working on North 7th Avenue cut a cable that serves the town's downtown area, said cel spokesman Steve Roalstad. The power went out for many businesses and residences at 8:40 a.m. Roalstad said cel crews worked to reroute power to their customers while the service line was repaired. "We try to provide redundancy - that way, if we have an outage, we can send power on a different path," he said. Power was restored to most customers by 9:25 a.m. and fully restored before 10 a.m. Repairs to the broken cable have been completed, but Roalstad said, "Because there's still construction in the area, we'll probably have to go back and finalize repairs in a day or so."

Injured construction worker is back home in Omaha
BY PLAINSMAN STAFF August 14, 2002 
A Nebraska construction worker injured in Huron last week is doing well and has returned to his job. The employee of Horizontal Boring of Omaha was taken to Huron Regional Medical Center after a boring machine flipped over and pushed him into the mud. The machine then flipped back off of him. Lanny Olson of Huron, the prime contractor on a job to install a water and sewer main in southeast Huron, said Horizontal Boring was a subcontractor. The name of the worker is unknown. The worker was treated and released from the hospital and spent two days in his motel room before driving a truck back to Omaha, Olson said. The Nebraska company had a contract to bore under Highway 37 for installation of the pipes. Let to contract by the city, the project area is between the highway and the former site of the Flanery plant on 21st Street Southeast near the James River. Also under construction in the area of the pipe project is the new First United Methodist Church.

No one injured in City gas leak
ANDREW BLEJWAS, Register Citizen Staff August 15, 2002 
TORRINGTON -- A gas main break forced the evacuation of more than a dozen homes in the Oliver Road section of Torrington early Wednesday morning. At 8:05 a.m. firefighters were dispatched to the area of Oliver Street and Amber Street for the natural gas leak that sent rubble shooting into the air. Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo said the break was caused when a reclaiming machine working for the Street Department made contact with a one-inch gas pipe pulling it apart from a larger pipe it was attached to. The separation caused the gas to shoot out of the larger pipe at approximately 50 P.S.I. according to Capt. David Rogers of the Torrington Fire Department. Upon arriving at the scene firefighters evacuated several homes in the immediate areas and then evacuated approximately 10 others. Firefighters were followed on scene by Yankee Gas officials who temporarily plugged the leak with a wooden dowel shortly after 9 a.m. While Yankee Gas attempted to repair the leak Rogers said the fire department took measurements of the level of natural gas in the air. Rogers said surveys of houses in the area and a storm drain indicated that there was a one percent level of concentration in the area indicating that there was minimal risk of combustion outside of the immediate area of the leak. In addition, Rogers said one of the advantages of natural gas over propane is that it is lighter than air, causing it to lift and dissipate in the air thus making it less likely to combust during a leak. Workers shut down the main and the meters allowing the gas company to purge the line of gas. At around 1:30 the line was again plugged allowing main and street repairs to begin.

UPDATE, Gas leak ignites 100-foot flames
SARAH J. ALLEN/Messenger Post Staff 
CANANDAIGUA - Another morning of roadwork yesterday on North Street turned into a four-hour battle to contain a fire that started when a construction worker ruptured a gas line. At about 10:15 a.m., a Nory Construction employee operating an excavator in front of Meridian Automotive Systems Inc., struck a 6-inch gas line owned by New York State Electric & Gas Corp., according to Canandaigua City Fire Chief Robert Case. After the man and another employee operating a bulldozer nearby realized the gas line was leaking, they left the equipment where it was and ran from the site, Case said. Seconds later, the escaping gas ignited and caused 100-foot flames to leap into the air. No one was injured. "This is the first time in 15 years I've seen (a gas leak) on fire," said Assistant Canandaigua Fire Chief Tom Schaeffer, who arrived on the scene shortly before 11 a.m. "Usually it's just air escaping. This shows what can happen each time you break through a (gas) line, though it's not the norm." Construction work at the site of the fire - the intersection of North Street and Brickyard Road - is part of a project by Nory to rebuild parts of North Street and other roadways in the city. Vice president of Nory Construction John Sabuncu said he couldn't comment on the accident, including how the line was damaged. "We're taking statements and are still trying to determine what happened," he said. Canandaigua police Inv. Daniel Ball was driving west on North Street yesterday when he heard a loud bang. "I heard it and looked up and saw 100- or 150-foot flames shooting up," he said. "It was unbelievable. You could see cars leaving the area quickly." Ball closed North Road to traffic at Main Street and waited for emergency workers to arrive. Flames from the fire, which remained confined to the area of the damaged gas line, were blown south, away from the cars parked in Meridian's parking lot. Investigators were concerned at one point that the heat from the fire would melt the rubber casing around the electrical wires across the street, but the wires remained intact as the day wore on and the flames continued to flare. NYSEG employees who responded decided to dig down to three gas lines in the immediate area and shut off the flow off gas into the site of the leak. The process took several hours, during which firefighters from Canandaigua and Farmington fire departments sprayed water on the singed construction equipment to protect them from additional damage and to prevent the fire from spreading. Volunteers wiped sweat from their brow and sipped cold bottled water after taking a turn holding the hoses. "It doesn't look as big as when we first got here," one fireman said. NYSEG workers reached the third line and closed it at roughly 1:30 p.m. As the flow of gas to the leak diminished, the flames subsided and firefighters doused the area with water for several minutes as plumes of smoke rose from the ground. Firefighters stood by with hoses long after the fire was out in case gas was still leaking. Once investigators determined the line was clear, NYSEG workers fixed the line by replacing the damaged section. "We have not yet calculated the amount of gas that was lost," said NYSEG spokesman Bob Ferris. "It was a significant amount." Natural gas service to one NYSEG customer who owns a warehouse near the site of the leak has been temporarily interrupted, Ferris said, though the customer is not utilizing gas at this time and won't be affected.

Teams free man from trench; Crew supervisor buried in shifting dirt for seven hours 
By JULIET V. CASEY, REVIEW-JOURNAL 
Shortly after area rescue teams freed him from the trench in which he was buried for seven hours in shifting dirt, Steve Martin told his boss he couldn't believe his luck. "I can't believe this happened today. I was having a great day," Martin told his supervisor, Troy Shiozawa, as they rode toward an Air Mercy helicopter in an ambulance Thursday afternoon. Martin, an employee with Western States, had been helping other workers install a light pole just outside a new Henderson development near the intersection of Greenway Road and Paradise Hills Drive. But a nearby water line had burst and flooded the area near where workers had dug a trench and installed framing in which to pour cement. Shiozawa, a Western States assistant controller, said the men had to remove the framing because of the water. As they did so, the ground shifted and "a section of the trench gave way and (Martin) lost his balance and fell in," Shiozawa said. Martin was stuck in the 10-foot deep hole for seven hours as Henderson, Clark County and Las Vegas fire department technical rescue teams dug around him. They bolstered the sides of the hole with various devices to keep them from collapsing. Rescuers said Martin's spirits were high throughout the operation, although he complained of leg pain. Clark County firefighter Francisco McGee, who helped secure the harness eventually used to lift Martin from the hole, said the man likely had only minor injuries, including "a big bruise on his left ankle." "It was difficult getting the strap under his legs with dirt waist-deep, and as big as he was, but we were able to cinch it down so we could pull him out," McGee said. "When we first got him out, he let out a big sigh of relief that I could hear even above the sound of the big vacuum and the big sigh of relief of everyone outside." Martin clung tightly to the harness that slowly lifted him out of the dirt. He wore an oxygen mask, pants, socks and one shoe. He was taken to the University Medical Center Trauma Center. The rescue operation required the use of specialized equipment including a giant dirt vacuum, a pulley system and dozens of rescuers who helped hoist Martin out with ropes. Rescuers said they kept Martin hydrated through intravenous fluids and kept him cool by placing wet towels on his head. Henderson Fire Department Battalion Chief Jeff Lytle described the rescue and Martin's luck as "extreme." At one point, rescuers had freed all of Martin's upper body and part of his legs when a cave-in occurred and the dirt again was tightly packed nearly up to his waist. "This was a very dangerous rescue not just for the man trapped in the hole but for the men working around it, where the ground was extremely unstable," Lytle said.

Gas line ruptured at site near NCMC
Story By Perry Swanson
A gas line break at North Colorado Medical Center on Friday caused the evacuation of two buildings. No one was hurt, and no patients were affected, said hospital spokesman Gene Haffner. The line was broken during construction activity on the north side of NCMC. Gas was pulled into the hospital’s ventilation system, and many inside the main building at 1801 16th St. smelled the fumes, Haffner said. Staff at the hospital and the Hospitality House were evacuated. The Hospitality House provides lodging for patients and their families. Crews rerouted the gas; service was not disrupted to the hospital. Permanent repairs to the gas line were expected to be complete late Friday afternoon. Firefighters tested air in the hospital and determined that, while there was an odor, there was no danger, Haffner said. The line ruptured where the hospital is adding cooling towers and expanding part of a future emergency room. 

Squirrel Hill Gas Leak Forces Evacuations
A drilling mistake led to evacuations in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill section Thursday morning. Verizon crews were drilling for a new utility pole on Forward Avenue when they struck a gas line. Firefighters were wetting down the area in an attempt to dissipate the fumes. The line belongs to Equitable Gas. Company officials said service to the area was not interrupted.

Gas line ignites in Canandaigua
Democrat and Chronicle 
(August 9, 2002) — A contractor rebuilding North Street in the city of Canandaigua ruptured a gas line that ignited Thursday. Flames shot up more than 60 feet from the road after the gas ignited at 10:36 a.m., said Canandaigua Firefighter Brian Kransler. No one was injured, but an excavator and bulldozer operated by Nory Construction were burned, Kransler said. Firefighters needed to wait for more than two hours before the gas could be shut off and the fire extinguished, he said.

Contractor cuts Suffolk gas line, causing evacuation
By SUSIE STOUGHTON, The Virginian-Pilot
SUFFOLK -- A utility contractor cut a natural gas line behind a shopping center on North Main Street Thursday morning, causing evacuation of several businesses and the nearby Suffolk Health Department. No one was injured. The incident tied up traffic along Main Street, where ongoing construction of a center-turn lane has caused frequent backups. Employees of Lucas Underground Utilities of Chesapeake cut the 2-inch gas line behind Subway in the Suffolk Shopping Center about 10 a.m., said Suffolk Fire and Rescue Capt. James T. Judkins Jr. They were repairing a damaged telephone cable when they sliced the gas line, which had not been marked, he said. Natural gas was spewing from the ground when firefighters arrived, he said. Virginia Natural Gas employees repaired the leak, Judkins said, and employees and customers were allowed back in the buildings about 10:30 a.m.

Natural gas line break empties Michigan City day-care center 
By Stan Maddux / Post-Tribune correspondent 
MICHIGAN CITY — Sixty children were evacuated from a Michigan City day-care center Wednesday as natural gas roared through a ruptured line next to the building. The children at Imagination Station Child Development Center, including four infants, were loaded into ambulances and transported to the playground at nearby Joy Elementary School for safe keeping at about 4 p.m. It took NIPSCO about two hours to cap the leak, police said. Being whisked away in an ambulance to another location was exciting to some of the children, but others were “scared, very scared,’’ said Joanie Elliott-Stepp, lead teacher at the day-care center. A backhoe used by the Michigan City Water Department crew to expose a broken underground water pipe came into contact with the high-pressure gas line, said Michigan City Police Chief Gene Simmons. The sound of the gas escaping was compared by police to Niagara Falls and was louder than most officers said they ever heard. “I would categorize it as significant,’’ Simmons said. No other buildings or homes in the densely populated stretch of Coolspring Avenue were evacuated, Simmons said. Traffic was kept off Coolspring Avenue from Woodland Avenue to Jackson Street as a precaution. An odor of natural gas was evident, particularly when the wind blew a certain direction. “If you go to the other side I’m sure you’ll get a nice, strong smell,’’ said Simmons. Operators of the day-care center used cell phones outside the elementary school to inform parents about the leak and where to pick up their children. They were also busy “keeping kids calm, comfortable and not alarmed,’’ said Janice Katz, president of the Imagination Station Child Development Center Board. At first, Joan Anderson of Michigan City was concerned while on her way to pick-up her 2-year old grandson, Jacob. She complimented staff for their handling of the emergency as children sampled the playground equipment. “I’m glad for the way things turned out. I didn’t know if there would be complete chaos. They’re happy. It’s a playground,’’ she said. No injuries were reported. 

Plumbers may have cut flow to phones 
Yomiuri Shimbun 
About 6,000 telephone lines operated by NTT West Corp. were suspended Thursday in Kita Ward and part of Fukushima Ward, Osaka, due to damage to buried cables in Fukushima Ward. Signs of trouble first registered on the firm's central communications server at 1:15 a.m. on Thursday. Five cables in the area were later found cut. Plumbers with the Osaka Municipal Waterworks Bureau had been working in the area until about 1 a.m. replacing old pipes. It is believed a worker accidentally damaged the cables when he put an iron plate in the ground. Five NTT West public telephones stand at an intersection near the construction site. The firm's Osaka branch office reportedly had received 684 complaints and inquiries as of noon.

One dead after Kaufman trench collapse 
From staff reports 
A Terrell man died Tuesday afternoon after a trench in which he was working collapsed. For several hours, Dallas Fire Rescue personnel worked along with other helpers to free Weniford Gene Thornton, 59, who had been working on sewer lines on Ann Street in a Kaufman County residential neighborhood. Thornton was trapped in four feet of dirt for more than 30 minutes. Thornton, an eight-year City of Kaufman employee, was with another city worker who was not in the trench when the cave-in occurred. "This is a tragedy, as you can expect, for our community," Kaufman Mayor Dennis Berry said. "We pray for the family and relatives, and thank God that rescuers were not injured in the rescue attempt." A fire official at the scene questioned why the worksite was not shored with protective walls. OSHA is investigating the accident.

Gas Leak In SE Lubbock Causes Concern 
Natural gas erupts into a southeast Lubbock neighborhood after a city worker busts a pipe with a road grader. The leak forced Energas officials to evacuate the area by 66th Street and MLK Monday morning for about two hours. The ten inch distribution line contained a hundred pounds of pressure and was eventually turned off. It took special welders almost four hours to repair the two miles of pipe. A radio announcer who was on the air when the gas line busted got quite a scare. "It was scary," says Holly Houston, of KRFE-AM. "I didn't know if it was going to explode because it was super loud. We didn't know what was going on." Energas was quick to respond to a gas line rupture that started at 9:30am Monday. They evacuated the area and it took them two hours to turn off the gas and secure the area. KRFE-AM had to switch over to satellite and cancel some of their shows. "Anytime that you have gas releasing into the atmosphere, there's a number of things that can happen," says Clay Cash, of Energas. "That's why we try to make the area as safe as we possibly can." Energas officials say gas leaks are more common in the summertime because of more construction work during the summer months.

Workers break gas line 
By JUSTIN POST Tribune Chronicle 
WARREN - Three houses were evacuated Thursday morning after a construction crew broke a natural gas line at Tod Avenue and Fifth Street S.W. Perk Construction of Bedford was replacing sidewalks on Tod Avenue when machinery sliced into the two-inch plastic line buried several feet underground, said Neil Durbin, Dominion East Ohio Gas spokesman. Gas hissed from the line for more than a half hour before East Ohio Gas workers shut off the line. The Warren Fire Department was first on the scene and began evacuating homes and blocking off streets. ''The smell was horrible,'' said Carol McKinney, who was evacuated from her home at 1453 Tod Ave. S.W. ''It was overwhelming.'' Her husband, Warren, said the smell gave him a headache and made his stomach queasy. He was just leaving the house for fresh air when firefighters told him to evacuate. Willie T. Moore, 67, 900 Fifth St., strapped on a respirator to block the smell. ''I have lung problems and keep masks around the house,'' he said. ''My mailman let me know where the smell was coming from and used my phone to call the police.'' Durbin said the line supplies natural gas to approximately 17 apartment complexes on Fifth Street. Service to those homes was shut off for more than an hour while workers patched the line. McKinney said she did not want the repair bill to fall on local residents. East Ohio Gas is investigating whether Perk Construction or a contractor hired to mark the gas line was at fault. If so, they would be responsible for picking up the tab, Durbin said. ''This is something we are going to have to look into,'' he said. ''But the customer would not be asked to pay for this.''

Details

Parent Category: Incident Alert Archives

Category: Trenching & Excavation Alerts

Published: 10 September 2010

Trenching & Excavation Accidents #3

updated on 05/06/2010

Trench collapses, workman dies
By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH ~ Associate Editor
What began as a rescue operation this morning ended more than two hours later after city and county crews extracted a man who was buried when the trench he was working in collapsed. According to Butler County Deputy Coroner Bruce Goin, the victim is identified as Charles Worley. Although his body wasn't recovered until after noon today, Worley was pronounced dead at 10:48 a.m., Goin said. The cause of death was suffocation, he said. Worley reportedly worked for a private contractor, which was laying water lines to the new Missouri Department of Natural Resources building near the Westwood Village Shopping Center and the Big Kmart. The call came into the Poplar Bluff Police Department at 9:54 a.m. on a non-emergency line. Police officers and the Poplar Bluff Fire Department were both dispatched to the scene. "The call was that there was a man in a trench and the trench had collapsed on him," said Police Sgt. Jim Gerber. "He was buried." When Gerber arrived, "one of his co-workers met me," he said. "(The co-worker) didn't know where he was at. He was within a five-foot area. "We immediately started digging." Gerber said Worley was buried under about one foot of earth, which he described as being clay. "It was wet; it was packed," he said. As Worley's co-workers watched, police officers, firefighters and personnel with the Butler County/Poplar Bluff Emergency Management/Homeland Security Agency began digging with shovels and hoes provided by Kmart. "We finally located a shoulder and head," Gerber said. "We cleared the head to get air to him. Multiple ambulances from Three Rivers Healthcare were on stand by and when they began medical treatment, which include oxygen through a tube and IV liquids. "From there it was just digging," Gerber said. Both police officers and firefighters were working closely together and "cycling continuously" in and out, said Poplar Bluff Fire Chief Randy Hastings. Poplar Bluff Street Department workers also responded to the scene and one took over operation of the contractor's backhoe. A second backhoe, along with multiple Municipal Utilities workers, also responded. When the rescue effort turned into a recovery one, Hastings said, their main concern was making sure the trench was safe and that no one else would be hurt. "We exhausted the supplies we had, cribbing, to sure up the sides (of the trench)," Hastings said. "We had to pull other materials from elsewhere." Street Department and Municipal Utilities crews provided the firefighters plywood and blocks to sure up the sides of the trench so the recovery effort could continue, Hastings said. According to Hastings, there was a water line, which was causing problems and making the situation dangerous. Water Department employees shut off the line, he said. "It was a team effort by all the city departments trying to help out and it was greatly appreciated," Hastings said.

Airport Hotel Evacuated
Emergency crews responded to the scene of a gas leak at Logan International Airport about 9:15 a.m. Wednesday morning when a construction crew at Terminal E was ruptured a 4 inch gas line. The Hilton Hotel near the terminal was evacuated for about an hour and traffic was diverted around the area. The gas main to the entire airport was shut-down so crews could fix the problem. Flights were not affected, but concessions within the terminals were without gas.

Hotel Evacuated After Gas Main Break
Boston fire officials evacuated 1,500 people from the Seaport Hotel area of south Boston Tuesday morning following an apparent gas main break. No one was reported injured in the break and the evacuation was undertaken as a precautionary measure. Officials said the break occurred about 7:30 a.m. when a construction company hit an 8-inch gas main near Seaport Lane and Congress Street. The office building at 2 Seaport Lane was also evacuated, but the gas valve was shut off and workers should be able to get to their offices by 9 a.m., emergency workers said. 

Gas Line Severed; Nearby Residents Evacuated
A gas-main leak forced evacuations in a Tri-State neighborhood Thursday morning. onstruction crews severed a gas line near the intersection of Langdon Farm Road and Wiehe Road in Roselawn just before 8:30 a.m. , WLWT Eyewitness News 5 reported. Several homes and businesses in the area were evacuated as a precaution, but there are no reports of injuries. The line that ruptured is a 12-inch gas-main. A private contractor was working on the line when it was severed, WLWT reported. Cinergy needed about 30 minutes to stop the flow of gas to the line.

UPDATE, Worker's Death at Franklinton Worksite Brings OSHA Penalties of $64,050
DALLAS -- A Baton Rouge company's alleged failure to protect employees from trench cave-ins has resulted in the death of one employee and proposed penalties of $64,050 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. General Engineering & Environmental Companies Inc., headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., was cited with four alleged safety violations following an OSHA inspection that began Feb. 23. The inspection was made following notification of a trench collapse at the company's worksite in Franklinton, La., resulting in a fatality. The company provides trenching, surveying and engineering services. Three alleged willful violations were cited for failing to protect employees working inside trenches from cave-ins, failing to properly slope and/or shore trenches and failing to take appropriate measure when a cave-in hazard is recognized. A willful violation is defined as an intentional disregard of or plain indifference to the requirements of the OSHA Act and regulations. The one alleged serious violation was issued for failing to provide employees with head protection while exposed to falling soil deposits. A serious violation is one that could cause death or serious physical harm to employees and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard. "A company's failure to protect its workers from cave-ins is simply unacceptable," said John Miles, OSHA's regional administrator in Dallas. "Adhering to OSHA standards regarding the proper sloping, shoring and shielding of an excavation site can save lives." Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health standards can call OSHA's toll-free hotline number at 1-800-321-6742 to report workplace accidents, fatalities, or situations posing imminent danger to workers. General Engineering & Environmental Companies has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the Baton Rouge area office, or to contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Construction worker killed after trench collapses
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
VALLEJO - A 23-year-old construction worker from Dixon was crushed to death when a trench collapsed on him Thursday afternoon, authorities said. The accident occurred at 3:10 p.m. at a construction site at the corner of B.W. Williams Drive and Lewis Brown Street, said William Tweedy of the Vallejo Police Department. The Napa construction company was in its second day of installing an underground sewer line when the trench collapsed. The worker was in an area of the trench protected by steel plates, but the trench spilled into that area.

Gas line rupture closes street
By KAYLEY MENDENHALL Chronicle Staff Writer 
A gas line was ruptured Thursday morning when a contracting crew punctured it with a backhoe. The blast of gas "blew my hat right off my head," said Richard Blum, of RS Construction, who was running the backhoe when it hit the line on North Wallace Avenue. The crew was digging water and sewer lines for an old grain elevator that is being converted into a woodworking shop and retail store. Crew members exposed the main gas line by hand and were cleaning up the edges of a nearby trench with the machine when they hit an unmarked, abandoned gas line. "The contractor, while doing everything right, found an abandoned line," said Gary Clutter of the Bozeman Fire Department. The abandoned line was still tied into the active gas line, so when it was punctured, the high-pressure gas was released, knocking the hat off Blum's head and sending the contractors running in all directions. "I was under the building when I heard all the noise," said Shaw Thompson, one of the owners of Triple T Woodworking. Thompson's business is scheduled to move into the building within the month, but Thompson said snags like the gas line break have slowed the process. Northwestern Energy workers dug a hole exposing the line a few feet from the break and welded in a remote shut-off switch to stop the gas flow. Bozeman firefighters stood ready with hoses aimed at the hole in case of an explosion and were on-hand to monitor the air. Clutter said because natural gas is lighter than air it travels quickly upward while the chemical odorant added to the gas stays closer to ground level giving people whiffs of trouble. "If it ignites, it goes straight up," he said. "Anything that is hot enough to ignite natural gas," could have set the area on fire. Bozeman police kept vehicles from entering the area while Northwestern Energy worked on the problem.

Gas line break forces school evacuation 
By Alison Beshur, San Antonio Express-News 
About 120 teachers and staff attending a retreat at a Northwest Side school received a real-life lesson in team building Monday afternoon after a work crew apparently ruptured a natural gas pipeline, prompting officials to evacuate the school and surrounding neighborhoods. Private construction crews digging near Hunt Lane and West Military Drive punctured a 24-inch gas main with a rock saw, sending bluish natural gas fumes about 5 feet into the air near Warren High School, officials said. Staff members at a development seminar smelled the fumes shortly after 2 p.m. and were immediately evacuated and transported by school buses to the North side Activity Center. "We kind of thought it was a prank," said Christiane Perkins, a special education teacher, who was on a scavenger hunt at the time the incident occurred. "We thought it was a team-building exercise." Authorities said residents from four area subdivisions in a quarter-mile radius were evacuated for a little more than two hours as a precautionary measure. The gas, released at a pressure of 160 pounds per square inch, did not pose a health hazard because it dissipated, fire officials said. "Our biggest concern was the elimination of ignition sources," District Chief Tommy Thompson said. Ironically, a similar gas line rupture occurred in 2000 when the school was still under construction. In that incident, a bulldozer operator tore into a 24-inch gas line, releasing fumes that could be smelled for miles and forcing the evacuations of two nearby subdivisions.

Dirt starts to fall as workers tunnel under railroad track
Pipe, intended to go underground, sits near Case Street. A water main project is temporarily on halt following technical problems. 
By Jennifer McBride
A $60,000 city project came to a halt Tuesday after digging caused a landslide under some railroad tracks. The mishap halted rail service and required truckloads of rock to repair it. The project is on hold and being evaluated to see what the next steps will be, City Administrator Karl Frantz said. The incident happened while crews were trying to install a 560-foot underground water main from an area near Case Street, under the Baraboo River, to connecting pipes near Mary Rountree Evans Park. The project is designed to improve water flow from one distribution system north of the river to a distribution system south of the river, using 18-inch diameter pipes. The project is tied to a Second Avenue project but the delay will not affect Second Avenue resident's services, Street Foreman Bob Steinhorst said. A 24-inch hole was bored using directional drilling but problems arose when an area had to be widened to 30 inches to accommodate a steel casing. The casing is required by the railroad to go around plastic pipes that run under rails. "They ran into problems and couldn't get through it," Frantz said. The contractor, TEC of Tomah, then excavated an area at the side of the slope to see if they could determine the problem when the top of the slope became unstable. The instability was near the Wisconsin and Southern and Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Because of the instability, rail service was halted from Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday, said Project Inspector Dave Bierman. "The railroad had a 61-car ballast train here and if anything more fell out we could have had an incident," he said. Boring projects under tracks cause problems about 30 percent of the time, but generally not to this degree, Bierman said. "The problem comes when you are in a glaciated area -- you have quartzite and sandstone and you never know what you are going to get," he said. The rail is used mainly for transporting rocks from the Rock Springs quarry daily and general freight three to five times a week each way. There was also concern about two fiber optic cables installed next to the track which, if disturbed, could have caused communication failures, Frantz said. Crews hauled in tons of rocks to stabilize the bank and poured concrete to fill the existing hole. The cables were not disrupted and rail service was running again on Wednesday. Engineers were given a slow order, which means they must travel no faster than 10 mph in an area intended for speeds of 30 mph. For now the contractor has pulled off the project. "Until we get an alternative and know what the story is and why the contractor decided to pull off, there are a lot of thing we need to get answered before we know what we are going to do next," Frantz said. The contractor is responsible for completing the project, which is paid for with utility and Tax Incremental District No. 6 funds. Some neighbors of the project hope to see the project wrapped up soon. "It's kind of a mess," Rollin Harris said. "I don't know what they are going to do." The project is part of a $196,000 project that began about a month ago to replace water mains on Second Avenue. It was originally bid out as an open cut project but later changed to directional boring.

Main St. gas causes pain
Brent Stevens/Herald Journal 
Restaurant owner Saboor Sahely had scarcely left his business Wednesday evening when the gas line broke. It was 5 p.m. and Angie's Restaurant was beginning to fill with the supper-time rush.  By the time Sahely returned, his restaurant had been evacuated. The customers had gone, his employees had been sent home, and Sahely was told that he could not reenter the building.  Financially, it was a blow to the small business owner.  "It killed our dinner business," he said.  The mishap occurred when construction crews, employed by Bulldog Direction Drilling, ruptured a four-inch steel gas line while digging near the intersection of 700 North and Main Street. Their work was part of a traffic light synchronization project on Logan's Main Street.  Sahely was told the problem would take a half-hour to 45 minutes to fix. But the hours passed. His restaurant remained closed for the rest of the evening.  But Angie's Restaurant wasn't the only business affected. Across the street was A&W Restaurant.  Though it was not evacuated, restaurant owner Shi Dean said her business was effectively shut down. Road blocks and emergency crews eliminated her dinner-rush. By 7 p.m., Dean sent her employees home.  But the question, which is now under investigation, is who is at fault.  Bulldog Direction Drilling was the company that broke the line. But company Owner Dave Messerly said the line was not properly identified by Questar Gas. "Questar showed there were no lines there," he said. "It was never painted."  Typically, a construction company calls Questar's blue stakes division prior to beginning a project. Blue stakes then marks the location of its pipes in yellow dashes.  Messerly said he contacted Blue Stakes on July 11. But the pipeline was not marked.  Andy Neff, region 1 public involvement coordinator for the Utah Department of Transportation, confirmed Messerly'sstatement.  The gas line was not identified, he said.  Darren Shepherd, spokesman for Questar Gas, said the matter is still under investigation. He could not confirm whether the pipeline had been marked by blue stakes.  The gas leak, which closed Main Street between 500 North and 800 North during peak traffic hours, was repaired by 2 a.m. Thursday morning.

Construction could lead to more gas leaks, authorities caution.

If Darlene Means can enjoy an uninterrupted afternoon at her Dean Street home, she might feel lucky. If Darlene Means can enjoy an uninterrupted afternoon at her Dean Street home, she might feel lucky.  Twice in a matter of five days, she and other Dean Street neighborhood residents were told they must evacuate their homes after nearby Piedmont Natural Gas lines were struck. Late Monday afternoon, crews with Myers Construction of Seneca damaged a natural gas line near Means’ home.  Myers has been contracted by E.spire Communications of Greenville, which is working to reroute fiber optics lines affected by Renaissance Park project construction.  As a precaution following the gas leak, city of Spartanburg firefighters had residents make their way to nearby Barnet Park until the gas had dissipated.  Public Safety Lt. Heath Henderson said that because natural gas is lighter than air, it usually clears away quickly. But, “like anything else, none of the calls are ever the same,” he said, noting that humidity and wind conditions can affect the level of danger.  It’s especially important, Henderson said, to make sure that “ignition sources” — cars, trucks and cigarettes — are kept at a distance from the gas leak.  Piedmont Natural Gas district manager Mike Forrester said his company marks the location of gas lines before construction.  The line hit Monday was marked, and Forrester said the construction company will be billed for repairs. Last week’s accident, according to an E.spire official, occurred when workers hit an unmarked line.  Forrester said Piedmont Natural Gas “works closely with folks doing construction.” But he said local utility lines are likely to be hit again in the months ahead.  “With all the exciting things going on downtown, we’re going to see water and gas lines hit from time to time,” he said.

Gas line ruptured at construction site
Calgary Herald 
A construction worker in an excavator ruptured a natural gas line at a site Monday, sending emergency crews scrambling to contain the leak.The accident happened at 2 p.m. when a worker accidentally hit a line at a construction site next to 10 Country Hills Landing N.W. Eleven firefighters from two stations, a hazardous material crew, police and paramedics were called to the scene and waited while ATCO Gas personnel dug up and exposed the ruptured line in an effort to control the leak. proximately 12 people were evacuated from a nearby bottle depot while ATCO workers completed their work. Neighbouring residents were also warned of the potential of shifting winds and possible evacuation during the incident.

Broken line leaks gas at P.K. Yonge
By DIANE CHUN, Sun staff writer 
Some 70 students attending summer classes at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School got a break from the routine Monday morning when a construction worker operating a backhoe ruptured a gas line near the school. The incident occurred on the roadway southwest of the school, not far from the area where a new auditorium is under construction. When the backhoe cut through the 2-inch steel natural gas line, breaking a valve as well, officers from the University Police Department evacuated youngsters from their classrooms, moving them to the northeast corner of the school. Gainesville Fire Rescue spokesman Stuart Schwartz said the fire department deployed hoses in case of an explosion, but the morning breeze quickly dispersed the gas. "It took Gainesville Regional Utilities about 15 minutes to cap off the line," Schwartz said. The evacuation went smoothly, according to Fran Vandiver, the school's director. While workmen made repairs to the gas line and broken valve, classes resumed in empty classrooms in the elementary building, Vandiver said.

Gas leak forces South End evacuation; Mishap was second at construction site
By Todd Wright, Globe Correspondent
A ruptured gas line in the South End forced hundreds to evacuate homes and businesses yesterday while emergency workers contained the leak. Dark plumes of gas and dust burst into the air near the corner of Tremont and Berkeley streets shortly after 8 a.m. when construction workers punctured a high-pressure pipe with a backhoe while digging at a new construction site. ''It was like dust everywhere,'' said Kisanga Kitenge, who works at a convenience store across the street. ''It looked like a tornado or something like that.'' No one was injured. But police blocked streets, and some 70 firefighters went house to house ordering buildings evacuated in a four-block area of the densely populated neighborhood of row houses. Residents were allowed to return two hours later, after the leak was capped and officials determined that fumes had dissipated to a safe level. Residents said they returned home to an odor of gas and a film of dust on parked cars and front steps. ''You could see the particles in the air,'' said Joe Wex, who was told to leave his home on Dwight Street. ''It was very hazy, and you could smell the gas from blocks away.'' Emergency officials shut off electricity to about 2,200 customers in the area for two hours while emergency workers fixed the leak. Turner Construction Co., which operated the backhoe, issued a statement yesterday apologizing for ''any inconvenience to neighbors.'' The company said KeySpan Energy Delivery had labeled the gas line ''dead.'' KeySpan officials denied it. ''The area is clearly marked `Dig Safely,' and it was known to everybody that gas lines were near here,'' said KeySpan spokeswoman Barbara Kates-Garnick. The gas leak was the second recent misshap at the construction site, where workers are building condominiums. A contractor cut into a 220-volt underground power line July 2, causing electricity service to be interrupted to several stores on Tremont Street.

Gas Leak Forces School Evacuation

A reported gas line break at Boone High School Wednesday morning has forced officials to evacuate the building, according to Local 6 News. Authorities said that the gas leak is at 200 South Mills Avenue. Local 6 News reported that a two-inch line was apparently cut by construction equipment. There are no reported injuries in connection with the break. Watch Local 6 News for the latest on this breaking news story.

Balboa Park Suffers Power Outage

A construction mishap knocked out electrical service to more than 1,000 Balboa Park-area addresses Thursday while putting traffic lights on the fritz around the landmark tourist destination, officials said. A trench collapse at a work site off Florida Drive and Zoo Place broke a power line and caused the outage shortly after 11 a.m., according to San Diego Gas and Electric officials. Medics also treated several workers at the scene for respiratory distress caused by inhaling some type of fumes, possibly natural gas from a ruptured pipe, a dispatcher said. The accident left 1,027 SDG&E customers without electricity in the mid-city park's Spanish Village, nearby Florida Canyon and the City College environs to the south, said Anne Silva, an information officer for the utility. By early afternoon, crews had restored service to all but about 15 locations near the city's famed zoo. The sprawling wildlife attraction itself was unaffected by the power failure, Silva added.

Dennis fire crews deal with pair of gas leaks

SOUTH DENNIS - Dennis firefighters contended with two gas leaks yesterday morning - one caused by a ruptured gas main, the other in which flames erupted while a propane tank was being reloaded. No one was injured in either incident, said Deputy Chief John Donlan. The first incident occurred around 10:15 a.m. when an excavator working behind the MidCape Home Center on Route 134 hit a gas line, said Donlan. Employees and customers were evacuated from two buildings at the site while a work crew from the gas company repaired the line. Less than an hour later, firefighters were then called to a flash fire at a cottage in Salt Air Village, just off Lower County Road in Dennisport. Donlan said a propane tank at the back of a cottage was being refilled when a nearby hot water heater apparently sparked a flash fire. The driver of the propane gas truck put out the fire with a fire extinguisher from the truck, said Donlan. Vinyl siding on the back of the cottage melted, but there was no other damage, according to the fire department.

Crews Work To Repair Gas Main, Gas Stations Nearby Evacuated

TAYLOR, Mich.-- Crews are working to repair a broken gas main in Taylor.

The gas main break is located at Telegraph and Goddard roads. A contractor dug into a 4-inch line, Local 4 learned. An Amoco and a Marathon gas station located at the intersection have both been evacuated until the gas main is sealed. Other area businesses are reportedly not affected. Residents living west of Telegraph Road were advised to keep their windows closed, and to let officials know if they smell gas in the area. The main was expected to be capped by Thursday afternoon. No other information is available. Stay with Local First News and ClickOnDetroit.com for the latest developments.

300 Chesterfield residents evacuated after gas leak
Macomb Daily photo by David N. Posavetz
Chesterfield Police Detective Larry Kersten tells resident Ann Foster of Iris Street not to run her car because of a nearby gas leak. Nearly 300 residents were evacuated from their Chesterfield Township homes Wednesday after construction crews ruptured a gas line in a new subdivision. No one was injured in the 2 p.m. incident, but homes in two adjacent neighborhoods were placed off limits for about two hours while crews fixed the leak, said Chesterfield Township police Sgt. Michael Pfeiffer. "A crew was putting in a storm sewer when they hit the line right in front of an inspector," said Chesterfield Fire Lt. Ed Cuneo. "They cut a 6-inch line right in two." Construction workers reported the leak to fire officials, Pfeiffer said. From there, fire crews evacuated about 100 homes in the Clover Estates and Bayview Subdivisions for about two hours. The subdivisions are located near Cotton, Donner and 23 Mile roads. Frank Pincombe was one of the homeowners not pleased by the disruption. "They (fire officials) come over here and run me out of my house," he said. "Where the heck am I going to go?" He went to his neighbors across the street, past the unsafe area patrolled by police. But another option was the Chesterfield Township Hall, Cuneo said. That's where as many as five other residents were taken until the leak was fixed. Another resident, who wouldn't give his name, said he was angered the crews cut the line. "There's no excuse for a contractor to hit a line," he said. Cuneo said no citation was given to the construction crews, but they could likely face a hefty repair bill from the gas company.

Construction worker rescued after falling in hole

CLEARWATER - A construction worker who fell in a hole at a construction site has been rescued. Thirty-two year old Brian Doane had been stuck in the seven foot deep hole since 3:30pm. He works for a drilling company that was contracted to do work on the site near Coachman Park and the old main branch of the Clearwater Library. They were drilling to check for bedrock and when the drill was pulled out, the dirt collapsed and Doane fell in. He was stuck in the mud and dirt up to his chest. Rescuers shored up the sides of the hole with wood planks to prevent dirt from caving in on the worker. Workers were then lowered by a harness into the hole and began removing dirt one bucket at a time. Firefighters were also lowered into the hold to check on the stuck man and keep him alert. Firefighters credit city workers with bringing in a large vacuum truck to speed removal of the dirt. The worker was airlifted to Bayfront Medical Center where doctors will examine him. He may have a leg injury, but otherwise was in good condition.

Woman Rescued from 30-foot Hole

Associated Press

Rescuers used equipment to lift a 50-year-old woman from a 30-foot-deep hole that she fell into at a construction project near Bonney Lake, Wash. -- east of Tacoma. The woman was a flagger at the construction site, where South Prairie Road was being widened. The hole reportedly had been dug for a piling for the project. The accident happened about 4 p.m. Monday afternoon.

'Mismarked' line led to ruptured gas main

By Marianne Oberley-Orris, Meadville Tribune

Firefighters ordered residents of five Jefferson Street homes to shut their windows on a very hot Tuesday afternoon after an excavating crew hit a natural gas main. Meadville Central Fire Department was dispatched at 4:16 p.m. to 147 Jefferson Street, where an excavator digging a trench had accidentally hit the main. According to fire department Captain Dan Bowman, the excavation contractor had made his "Pennsylvania one-call," to check for utility line locations before digging, but a line was "apparently mismarked," leading to the accident. Excavation contractors are required to make a toll-free call to Pennsylvania One Call System Inc. before digging in order to prevent damage to underground utilities. Soon after the line was hit, someone at the address called 911, Bowman said. Firefighters who arrived at the scene sprayed the area with water to dissipate the gas until the leak was stopped. That's standard procedure when there's a gas leak of this caliber, Bowman said. Firefighters also notified neighbors of the leak and asked them to shut their windows until the leak was contained. At about 4:40 p.m. National Fuel workers dug into a neighboring yard and pinched off the leaking line. Firefighters then checked neighboring homes for the presence of residual gas, Bowman said. A few homes were above acceptable levels following the incident, but after firefighters cleared them with smoke ventilation fans, levels returned to normal. The fire department was back in service at 6:28 p.m.

Farmworkers die in freak accident

Kimberley - Three farmworkers were killed when ground collapsed onto them while they were laying water pipes on a farm at Modder River near Kimberley on Tuesday, Northern Cape police said. Inspector Chantel Manuel said the men were digging a furrow, approximately six metres deep, when the accident occurred. "The three men were immediately covered by sand. One body was recovered by emergency service personnel shortly after the accident," Manuel said. She said it was expected that the operation to retrieve the two remaining bodies would be continued on Wednesday "as it will not be safe for emergency workers to continue their search for the bodies after dark". The names of the victims could not be released until their next-of-kin had been informed.

UPDATE, Improper Excavation Procedures Contribute To Death of Construction Worker; OSHA cites Texas firm following trenching fatality at Alba, Tex.

Washington -- A Texas construction firm is facing a proposed fine of $238,000 following a trenching fatality that claimed the life of a Hispanic construction worker, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced today. Pate & Pate, LLC, an underground utility construction firm based in The Woodlands, Tex., was cited Tuesday for nine alleged safety and health violations, including three willful violations for not protecting employees involved in excavation work from cave-in hazards. The fatal accident occurred on Jan. 4, 2002, when the 17-year-old pipe layer was struck by the collapsing wall of an approximately 20-foot deep trench and suffered fatal blunt force injuries and asphyxia. "This is why OSHA has tough standards to prevent trenching accidents, and we are enforcing these standards aggressively," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "Every worker has the right to a safe and healthy workplace, and I'm committed to guaranteeing that right." "What's most troubling," added John Henshaw, OSHA administrator, "is that Pate & Pate has lost four workers in the last four years; three of the deaths were related to trenching operations. What's more, this case represents the eighth trenching accident involving the employer since 1998. These tragedies could have been avoided, and these workers would be alive today had their employer provided basic protection." The most recent fatality occurred while the company was laying approximately seven miles of water pipeline near Alba, Texas. One of 15 employees in the pipe-laying crew died of injuries because he was allowed to work outside the protection of a trench box. OSHA's investigation found that the employer permitted these same working conditions over the preceding five months when more than 6.5 miles of the pipe had been installed. OSHA cited Pate & Pate with three alleged willful violations for failing to protect workers from cave-in hazards on three separate occasions during the project. The alleged willful violations carry a total proposed penalty of $210,000. The company also received citations for six alleged serious violations, with proposed penalties of $28,000, for hazards associated with entry to confined spaces, and fall and impalement dangers. Willful violations are those committed with an intentional disregard of the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and OSHA regulations, or plain indifference to employee safety and health. A serious violation is defined as one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard. Pate & Pate has 15 working days to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Construction workers pulled from hole

By LARRY HARTSTEIN, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

One worker was seriously injured, and two others were taken to the hospital today after an accident at a construction site at Ga. 400 and Windward Parkway. Police did not immediately release the names of the injured, including a man who apparently received an electric shock and some burns while working in a 20-foot hole. The shocks knocked the employee of Dillard Smith Construction Co. off the ladder, officials said. "We're not quite sure what caused the shock at this point," said Alpharetta Police Sgt. Chris Lagerbloom. The shock victim was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, but his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, Lagerbloom said. Two other workers received lesser injuries and were taken by ambulance to North Fulton Medical Center, he said. According to Alpharetta firefighters, the call came in about 11:15 a.m. A team of Alpharetta firefighters rappelled into the hole, using ropes. They stabilized all three workers on stretchers and then lifted them out by a crane. "They were just anxious, wanting to get out of the hole," said firefighter Randy Jenkins. "One was in a good bit of pain." Windward Parkway was closed to traffic for about two hours. Dillard Smith Construction was working at the site as a Georgia Power Co. contractor, officials said. The crew was working with a large power conduit, Lagerbloom said.

Jury awards $1.69 million to man injured in trench collapse
REED CITY — A jury on Friday awarded what is believed to be the largest-ever judgment in an Osceola County civil suit. After two hours of deliberation, the jury rendered a verdict of $1,696,500 against Franke’s Septic Tank Service of Cadillac to plaintiffs Rex and Helen Loop of Reed City. According to the Loops’ attorney, Courtney E. Morgan Jr., Rex Loop’s leg was crushed when the sides of a trench dug by Franke’s Septic Tank Service collapsed on March 6, 1997. According to Morgan, the excavation techniques did not comply with federal and state safety standards. Loop suffered multiple fractures to his leg and ankle which were repaired with plates, screws and wires. The accident left him permanently disabled. The trench had been dug to replace a water pipe at Tubelite of Reed City, where Rex Loop had been employed as a maintenance worker.  Attorneys for Franke’s Septic Tank Service had argued that Tubelite was partially responsible for Loop’s injuries; however, the jury found no liability on Tubelite’s part. “It was truly an unfortunate accident and we truly regret Mr. Loop’s injuries,” said Terry Franke, manager of the septic tank service. However, Franke added, “There have been conflicting views by experts on trench methods and there were other factors involved.” While declining to reveal whether his firm intends to appeal the judgment, Franke predicted the amount ultimately received by the Loops would be “substantially less.”

Gas leak forces evacuation of downtown Grand Rapids buildings

By Associated Press

GRAND RAPIDS -- Crews were able to cap a gas leak Friday that led to hundreds of workers being evacuated from downtown buildings, officials said. Gas from three separate lines leading to the leak was shut off by 4 p.m., Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. spokeswoman Amy Messano said. The leak was first reported about 9:40 a.m. "It took a long time to fix because it was a labor-intensive process," Messano said Friday. A contractor not employed by the gas company was working on a water main and road reconstruction project and damaged a 12-inch gas main, Messano said. The area was closed Friday morning, and at least eight buildings, including the Kent County courthouse, were evacuated, Grand Rapids police Lt. Ralph Mason said. Power was shut off in at least five buildings, he said. Messano said crews would go through the evacuated buildings and perform a safety check to make sure that no residual gas remained. She said electricity would then be restored and people who were evacuated would likely be allowed to return to the buildings by Friday night. City crews also had shut off all traffic lights in the area to minimize the chance of a spark igniting the gas. One woman was treated after she said she was overcome by fumes, but no other injuries were immediately reported, The Grand Rapids Press reported. Workers at several buildings said they smelled natural gas and voluntarily left buildings before the fire department started evacuations. Kent County Circuit Judge Paul Sullivan was hearing motions in his 11th floor courtroom Friday morning. "We were just suddenly becoming overwhelmed" by the smell of gas, Sullivan said. "I could smell it really heavy." Sullivan adjourned the hearing and told everybody to leave. District Judge Jeanine LaVille was to preside over a wedding in her chambers Friday morning. She had hoped to move the ceremony to the Calder Plaza. "I've got my robe and my wedding vows," LaVille said. "But there will definitely be no unity candle."

Phone service cut off

Telephone service for some residents and businesses in Lower Bucks was knocked out for a few hours yesterday when construction workers mistakenly cut an underground phone cable. Telephone service for some residents and businesses in Lower Bucks was knocked out for a few hours yesterday when construction workers mistakenly cut an underground phone cable, said a Verizon representative. Areas in Bristol Township, Tullytown, and the Eddington section of Bensalem lost service at about 2 p.m., said Sharon Shaffer, Verizon media relations manager. Repair crews were working last night to fix the broken cable located on Route 413, in Bristol Township near the Rohm and Haas facility, Shaffer said. Some service was restored by 5:30 p.m. yesterday. A contractor working on Route 413 cut the cable while digging, she said.

Rescuers Lift Workers From Madison County Trench

Two workers who were trapped in a trench at a construction site were lifted out by rescuers Friday afternoon. The trench is at a home construction site east of Pendleton on County Road 150 West, south of State Road 38, the Madison County Sheriff's Department said. The workers were trapped by dirt shortly before 2 p.m. when parts of the trench's dirt walls collapsed, officials said. One worker was freed after 15 minutes and had no serious injuries; the second worker wasn't lifted out until about 3:50 p.m. The second worker, who was alert, was taken from the trench to an ambulance with leg injuries, RTV6 reported. Information on the workers' identities were not immediately available. The second worker's condition also wasn't immediately known. Before lifting the second worker, rescuers shored up the sides of the trench to ensure it didn't collapse, the department said. One trench worker who was not trapped, Chris Mount, said the trench's dirt walls weren't secured by a "trench box" -- an item that holds dirt walls in place. Workers were planning to put one in when the walls collapsed, he said. "We shouldn't have been down there that deep -- working in loose gravel. Everything just caved in," Mount said. "We were getting ready to get a trench box, but (it was) too late."

Gas Leak Forces Evacuation In Mustang; Crews Hit Natural Gas Line

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A Mustang neighborhood was evacuated Tuesday due to a gas leak. A Duke Energy construction crew struck a natural gas line near Whippoorwhill Lane. About 70 homes were evacuated. No injuries were reported. Residents were allowed to return later in the day. Mustang fire and police officials are at the scene.

Gas leak snarls traffic at Bush Intercontinental

By MIKE GLENN  Houston Chronicle

A gas leak at Bush Intercontinental Airport today prompted officials to temporarily block vehicle traffic to two terminals. The leak was reported about noon when construction contractors nicked a 2-inch natural gas line between Terminal C and Terminal D. Houston Airport System spokesman Ernest DeSoto said the leak did not result in the evacuation of any passengers from the terminal. Passengers could still enter the terminals through the airport tram system, he said. "They've got it all under control," DeSoto said. A Houston Fire Department hazardous materials team checked the terminals and determined they were safe, Houston Fire Department officials said. There were no reported injuries. Some airport workers complained of being ill but later said they felt better, officials said. "We were going to transport them to the hospital," said HFD Capt. Mike Nieto. "They refused to go to the hospital. They said they were OK." Terminal C houses Continental Airlines flights, while international flights at the airport are based in Terminal D.

Worker killed in trench collapse; Officials say heavy rainfall led to unstable ground

By Kelli Wynn, Dayton Daily News

MIAMISBURG | Torrential rain that soaked the Miami Valley on Thursday night is being blamed for contributing to the death of a construction worker who was buried alive Friday when the trench he was in collapsed. A rescue operation that began at 2:10 p.m. when the cave-in occurred turned into a recovery operation that ended about 9:30 p.m., when the body of the 22-year-old employee of Mason-based Moeves Plumbing was removed from at least nine feet of earth. Officials would not release his name pending notification of relatives. He was taken to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office. He was part of a crew working on the Sycamore Walk Ranch Condominiums on Bending Branch Way off Leiter Road, just west of Sycamore Hospital. "With the kinds of rain we had last night, it made the ground very unsafe," Miamisburg Fire Chief Bob Bobbitt said, referring to the 2 1/2 to 3 inches of rain National Weather Service meteorologists in Wilmington said fell throughout southern Montgomery County within a half-hour's time. According to Gary Giles, public information officer for the city of Miamisburg, two men were involved in a trench digging operation. One was in an excavator and the other was in the trench, digging a sewer line. "Apparently, the dirt in the trench became unstable and went on top of him," Bobbitt said. "You can last a couple of minutes, breathing-wise. . . ." Rescue workers began shoveling after another piece of machinery had to be used to move the excavator from the site of the collapse. Recovery efforts stalled at one point when rain began to fall and the trench again became unstable. "The more we dug, the more unstable the ground around us became," Bobbitt said. Trench rescue teams from Miami Twp. and Beavercreek, and fire departments from Moraine, Sugarcreek and Washington townships assisted.

Almost buried alive; Cemetery worker saved by firefighters

Jim Hague, Reporter staff writer

A West New York man is resting comfortably at home this weekend with only a broken collarbone and three broken ribs for his troubles. It could have been far worse for 38-year-old Manuel Pierrot after he was almost buried alive a week ago Friday. Nicholas McGhee has been digging graves for 27 years now. The manager of the Machpelah Cemetery on Tonnelle Avenue and 58th Street in North Bergen has seen a lot of frightening events at the long-time cemetery, but nothing like what occurred in the early hours of last Friday morning. "It was a tragedy," McGhee said, with his soft Scottish accent. "I tell you, I still can't believe what happened. It was a real freaky thing." Last Friday began like any other day for McGhee and his crew of gravediggers, which included Pierrot. After a heavy rainstorm Thursday night, the workers were preparing a grave for a burial later that morning, when disaster struck. "After digging a grave, we have to go in to check to see if the planks of wood we lay down are secure," McGhee said. "I've gone in over a thousand times. It's nothing big. It's part of the job." Pierrot went into the grave to check the foundation when the ground suddenly gave way and a massive pile of dirt, headstones, and concrete came crashing in on Pierrot, who stood inside the grave site. He was on the verge of being buried alive. "I really thought we lost the guy," McGhee said. "I couldn't believe what happened. There was no time to do anything. It just happened so suddenly." Two granite tombstones, including their bases, and two concrete footing platforms weighing more than 600 pounds each, landed on top of Pierrot. "I ran right away to the house and called 911," McGhee said. "He didn't say anything to me before I left. I kept saying, 'I'm going to get help, Manny.' But he didn't respond. I was so scared." When McGhee left to make the call, only Pierrot's right arm was visible under the debris. The emergency call went out to both the North Bergen Police and the North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue, which has a new unit in place to handle such emergency situations. A call was also made to the Jersey City Fire Department. "When I got back, Manny spoke to me," McGhee said. "Christ, I felt so great hearing him ask if we were getting help." Once help arrived, the tedious process of trying to extricate Pierrot from the pile of dirt and concrete began. According to NHRFR Chief Edward Flood, the NHRFR's rescue got to Pierrot as quickly as possible. "He was conscious when we arrived, but he was in a lot of distress," Flood said. "He was completely covered in tombstones and debris. He was barely visible." The NHRFR then utilized their confined space trench rescue method, first securing the sides of the grave with strong pieces of plywood and planks. "Because of the instability of the ground, our men were in constant danger," Flood said. "It could have collapsed again and they all would have been killed." The Jersey City Fire Department has specific equipment that is used to sure up the walls of a mine in case of a collapse. Once the walls of the grave were totally secured, the firefighters went to work removing the debris. Two emergency medical technicians from the Jersey City Medical Center climbed down into the grave to provide an intravenous feed to keep Pierrot hydrated. "We had to prevent shock and hypothermia," Flood said. "His body temperature was dropping rapidly. That was a major concern. Luckily, we had the EMT personnel on hand." The firefighters first dug into the pile with their hands. Then using stout ropes, the firefighters hauled up the tombstones and concrete footings. At 10:45 a.m., Pierrot was finally freed, with six firefighters carrying him from the grave. He was put on a stretcher and instantly immobilized. An ambulance transported Pierrot to a grassy area, where the New Jersey State Police helicopter awaited to airlift Pierrot to University Hospital in Newark. He spent three days in the hospital, and was treated and released, according to hospital spokeswoman Sharon Dilling. "That's the most fulfilling feeling to have," Flood said. "As firefighters, we are trained to save lives and protect property. There's a tremendous reward when a life is saved. It was a very meticulous effort, everything done step by step, not wanting any further collapse. It was the teamwork of about 60 firefighters who saved this man's life." The efforts were spearheaded by Battalion Chief Frank Montagne, who is the leader of the recently formed rescue unit in the NHRFR. "But I credit all the members," Flood said. "They were all valiant." McGhee said Pierrot refused a request to be interviewed for the story. "He's resting," McGhee said. "He spoke to me today [Wednesday] and he said he's feeling better." McGhee said he still can't believe what occurred. But he was back at work, digging another grave for burial Wednesday morning. "It was quite a day," McGhee said. "But we have to get back to work. It could have been me. We do the same job. We take turns who goes in and who doesn't. We've had foundations cave in with headstones before, but this was the first time anyone was in there."

2 Construction Workers Trapped In Ditch

Two construction workers were rescued Tuesday afternoon after being trapped inside a ditch in Montgomery County. The accident happened shortly after noon near the intersection of the S. Loop 336 and Owen in Conroe, which is about 40 miles north of Houston. Montgomery County fire officials told News2Houston that the men were from the city of Conroe public works division and were installing a sewer line when the ditch collapsed, trapping them in waist-deep mud. Hovering over the scene, NewsChopper2 showed that emergency crews used pumping equipment to drain the ditch of the muddy waters. Conroe fire officials said that they were prepared for this type of emergency. "We have a crew -- some of our crews have been practicing and are qualified in underground and trench rescue. We purchased equipment about five years ago. This is the first time in five years we've used the equipment. It's kind of hard, I know, to justify that sometimes. But we got it. We had it. It was what we needed exactly at the moment," Conroe Fire Department Chief Herb Williams said. The men were rescued about an hour later, and suffered only minor injuries, authorities said. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Airline gas leak

By staff, kris-tv
A stretch of airline road had to be shut down this afternoon because of a natural gas leak. A crew digging a trench for southwestern bell accidentally cut into a two inch gas line. When the fire department arrived, they decided to have police shut down a portion of airline near la bianca until the leak could be controlled. The leak did not affect service to residents in the area.

Gas main break halts Ga. 316
Andrea Jones - Staff
A punctured gas main forced officials to shut down both sides of Ga. 316 before noon Monday, snarling lunchtime traffic and sending grumbling motorists down detours. A construction worker operating a backhoe punched through the 24-inch-wide main about 11 a.m. near Winder Highway, said Gwinnett Fire Lt. David Dusik. "It was a really big line, so we were concerned," he said. "The natural gas didn't have an odorant --- meaning the leak couldn't be traced by smell." Traffic was halted in both directions on Ga. 316 between Cedars Road and Winder Highway, near the Gwinnett County Airport/Briscoe Field. As an added precaution, rail traffic on a nearby CSX rail line, as well as air traffic into and out of the airport, also was stopped. Dusik said the construction crew was repairing damage from a September 2000 train derailment when the backhoe struck the main. Crews capped a valve to the section of the damaged gas line, and officials let the remaining gas filter out, Dusik said. No charges against the backhoe operator or the construction company are expected, Dusik said. By noon, the threat was over, and the roads and runway were re-opened. "Gas is usually lighter than air, so it didn't take that long," Dusik said. Airport manager Matt Smith said the temporary flight restriction didn't last long enough to create problems.

Trench collapse traps two
Two workers engaged on drainage work were trapped in a collapsing excavation at a site on York University's Heslington campus. One of the men was trapped for over one hour and is in hospital receiving treatment for his injuries and the effects of oxygen deprivation. The excavation had to be made stable before rescue could be attempted. The other man was freed by emergency services from the 4-5-metre excavation, and is believed to have fallen in as the collapse proceeded, sustaining a shoulder injury. The main contractor on the project is HBG Construction of London whose spokesman said: "We can confirm that an incident has occurred at our site in York but it would be inappropriate to make any more statements while the appropriate authorities are investigating." HSE investigation will centre on establishing the adequacy of support provided to the sides of the excavation.

Gas leak forces evacuation near old carnation plant
James Roberts, Staff Writer

Residents on Hiestand and Coppock streets were evacuated from their homes for about 45 minutes after a gas line was ruptured on Friday. A demolition crew was tearing down an abandoned home on Hiestand Street when a bulldozer struck the line about 10 a.m. According to Campbellsville Fire Captain Bill Hall, Western Kentucky Gas had taken the meter off the line but failed to plug the line. The owner apparently didn't tell the gas company that the house was being torn down, Hall said. There were no complications, but Hall said there could have easily been problems. "If gas had gotten into another house around a water heater we could have had a problem," he said. A spark from a water heater could have caused a fire or explosion, Hall said. Hall said someone from Western Kentucky Gas arrived about 15 minutes after the first call to plug the line. There was also a small problem with the bulldozer operator, Hall said. "We couldn't get them to understand but once they understood the seriousness of it they shut it off," he said. "We just wanted it off in case the truck itself caused a spark."

Gas Leak Forces Evacuation in VC

No injuries reported in Friday morning incident, under control by 11 a.m.

By Nick Simonson, Times-Record Staff Writer

Area citizens were evacuated from their homes Friday morning by Valley City police, fire and medical crews as the result of a broken gas line. The break apparently resulted from an excavation project conducted by EBI Drilling in which a trenching machine came in contact with a natural gas line and created a hole approximately three inches in diameter. The break was reported at 9:24 a.m. Shortly before 10 a.m., police officers began going door to door to houses in the area informing residents of the danger and urging them to leave the neighborhood. "We are informing residents of the situation so they can take the proper precautions," stated Police Chief Dean Ross. Numerous cars began driving out of the neighborhood after receiving the warnings from police officers. Members of the Valley City Fire Department arrived on the scene in two fire trucks and put on protective suits to guard in case the gas leak ignited. "We're here in case extinguishments and rescue are needed as a result of this leak," stated Lt. Ron Burchill of the VCFD. Burchill, after viewing the leak described the hole in the gas line as being about the size of a saucer. Gas was steadily leaking out of it, he expressed. Burchill expressed his concern for the situation, saying that firefighters must proceed with caution, due to the explosive nature of natural gas. "If [the firemen] are digging down there, and a shovel strikes a rock, [the gas] would ignite." Burchill ordered for the firemen on the scene to put on heavy protective suits in the event of ignition. He also recommended that they wear masks as well. The line, part of the MDU gas system, was damaged when a trench was being excavated. The trench was apparently being created to house the new master lift main for the Valley City sanitary sewer system. This main will send sewage to the lagoons south of town. At press time the situation was still being handled by the Valley City Fire and Police Departments. For follow up information on this gas leak see Monday's edition of the Times-Record.

UPMC Shadyside Emergency Room Evacuated

A leaking gas line forced the evacuation of a section of UPMC Shadyside Thursday afternoon. The line was struck by a backhoe on South Aiken Avenue, where a parking garage is being built. The emergency room and G-I lab were evacuated. Patients were taken to another part of the hospital. Six workers received treatment after they reported feeling light-headed. The shutdown lasted about an hour.

Construction Worker Trapped In Hole

A piece of heavy construction equipment broke down and trapped a construction worker inside a deep hole Friday morning while the man was working on a sewer project on Milwaukee's south side. The victim was in critical condition at Froedtert Hospital as of Friday night. Police told WISN 12 News he's a 40-year old man who works for Advanced Sewer and Water Inc. Police said the man was the foreman on this project. He was laying sewer pipe down on 18th Street when the accident happened. The worker was trapped in a hole 6 to 8 feet deep. Witnesses said part of a backhoe, the bucket, fell on the man, pinning him down below. A co-worker ran to Clarence Knoblock's house for help. "The guy came running over. I was here trimming. He asked me to call 911. I did and came back, and I went over there and looked in. He was down there and the bucket was right down there on him, and the bucket is full of gravel," Knoblock said. Fellow workers hoped for the best while the heavy urban rescue team, police, and firefighters tried to free the man who was trapped for about 40 minutes. They used rope, ladders, a stretcher and other equipment to get the job done. "He was conscious when we took him out and he remains conscious," Milwaukee firefighter Donald Doro said. Flight for Life then rushed the victim to the hospital. Knoblock is amazed by the daring rescue that happened in front of his house. "When I saw (it) I thought a miracle has just happened," Knoblock said. "I was totally amazed the guy's still alive." The company where the man works would not comment on the accident Friday night. Meantime, police, OSHA and the district attorney are investigating the accident.

Accident Prompts Evacuation At Monroeville Senior Home

Some residents were temporarily removed from the ManorCare Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Tuesday morning. An asphalt crew's backhoe accidentally punctured a 2-inch natural gas line under the parking lot at the facility on Macbeth Drive. Monroeville police Lt. Dave Palermo said half of the residents were briefly evacuated, while the rest were moved to another side of the building. "We isolated the whole area, especially the school district," Palermo said. "We had the Monroeville Sports Center on standby in case we had to evacuate people to it." Gas crews shut off the leak around 11 a.m. No one was hurt, and no gas was found to have seeped into the building.

Gas Main Break Keeps Downtown Streets Closed

Contract Worker Hits Two Lines

DETROIT-- Several downtown streets remain shut down after a contract worker hit two natural gas lines Wednesday night. The incident happened as the worker was drilling sometime after 8 p.m. in the area of Fort and Washington, DTE Energy told Local 4. Firefighters and a hazmat crew were called to the scene to contain the break. Tests showed the presence of gas outside in the area was at a hazardous level. Crews also tested the gas level in nearby buildings. Authorities cordoned off a six-block area between Lafayette and Congress and Cass and Shelby. MichCon workers were called in to cap off the lines.

Broken gas line snarls afternoon Treat traffic; Residents near De La Salle High School in Concord were told to evacuate or stay indoors

By Karl Fischer, CONTRA COSTA TIMES

CONCORD - A broken natural gas line shut down a busy stretch of Treat Boulevard during Friday's afternoon commute and forced residents near De La Salle High School to evacuate or shelter in place. No one was injured. The spewing fountain of gas closed both directions of Treat between Oak Grove and Bancroft roads about 1 p.m. All eastbound lanes and one westbound lane were reopened around 9 p.m. A contractor excavating in the middle of Bethany Lane at its intersection with Treat struck a 2-inch gas distribution pipe at 12:55 p.m., said Pacific Gas & Electric spokesman Jason Alderman. "We ask contractors to phone ahead when they plan to excavate so we can mark where the natural gas lines lay. Well, they did call, and we marked," Alderman said. "Clearly something didn't go according to plan." Police evacuated six condominiums on Bethany and Treat as a precaution, and gave residents of other nearby homes the option of evacuating or staying inside with the windows closed, Concord police Lt. Robin Heinemann said. Although the leak was directly across the street from the school's football field, students at De La Salle and neighboring Carondelet high schools were not evacuated. A dance at De La Salle on Friday evening proceeded as planned, police said. Treat, a commute artery between Interstate 680 in Walnut Creek and parts of Concord, Clayton and East Contra Costa, remained backed up for hours. Diverted traffic and motorists wary of the backup on Treat also congested Ygnacio Valley Boulevard, a parallel commute road. PG&E crews on Treat ripped up landscaping and curbs with backhoes on either side of the leak to reach gas pipes supplying the broken section. A private telecommunications company was laying fiber optic cable along Treat beneath Bethany when workers struck the pipe, said Capt. John Nunes of the Contra Costa Fire District. The right lane of westbound Treat remained closed Friday night. Alderman said PG&E is investigating the accident and could bill the company for the emergency work if PG&E finds that it excavated negligently.

Man rescued from trench By Rachel R. Basinger, DAILY COURIER
MOUNT PLEASANT - One man was flown by STAT MedEvac to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh on Wednesday after a trench where he and his brother were laying water lines collapsed at approximately 10:30 a.m. According to Mark Garletts, with Garletts Excavating of Dunbar, he and his brother, Steve, 36, were making the last connection with the pipe when the upper part of an approximate 10-foot-high wall fell in on them. "It just came down and hit us," said Mark Garletts. "I didn't see it coming. It caved in on both of us and I crawled up out, but he (Steve Garletts) was buried from about the waist down. "He just kept yelling, 'get me out, get me out, get me out,'" Mark Garletts continued. According to Dennis Taylor, second assistant chief for East Huntingdon Township Volunteer Fire Department, the actual trench was about 6 feet deep but the dirt that was excavated was piled about 10 feet high on the back wall. "The only thing we could use to get him (Steve Garletts) free was a hand shovel," said Taylor, who added that this was the first call the department ever had for a trench rescue. Steve, Mark and Rick Garletts own Garletts Excavating and were subcontracting for Sturge Construction Co. of Dunbar who is building a housing development called Lawrence Place off Bessemer Road near the Regional Family YMCA in East Huntingdon Township . According to Mark Garletts, when he got out of the ditch he ran down and got help from some people with a water company and they dug his brother out. It took them about 20 minutes. "The only thing I was thinking was that I just had to get him out and safe," he said. "I feel good that we got him free and that he's all right." Steve Garletts, who was transported by Mutual Aid from the accident site to the YMCA where the helicopter landed, was said to have one broken leg, according to Mark Garletts. "He was lucky," said Taylor . "He was kind of leaning to the side, so it did not fall onto his chest. Mainly we don't want all that weight to compress a person's chest. That's where the major injuries come from." Trooper John Swartz, with the Pennsylvania state police at Greensburg , was the investigating officer for the accident. This is the first time that anything like this has ever happened to them, according to Mark Garletts. "Banks caving in is something that you always have to worry about," he said. I think the danger from a wall caving in comes from the weight of the dirt and how wet it is." He believes the recent rain fall had a lot to do with the wall cave-in.

Trench Collapses on Man

SPOKANE , WA , May 15 - It took more than a dozen firefighters working for almost three hours to rescue Don Bailey. Bailey planned to spend his Tuesday afternoon digging a hole for his sewer line.  Shortly after three o'clock , Bailey got off  his back-hoe and climbed down into the hole to take some measurements.  That's when the walls of the hole collapsed on him, trapping him in dirt up to his waist. Unable to move for fear he would sink further, Bailey used his cell phone to call a friend for help. When rescue teams arrived, their first goal was to shore up the hole to make sure the ground didn't continue to give way.  Bailey admitted  he was ver concerned, even though he doesn't scare easily. It took more than two and a half hours, and a lot of careful planning by firefighters, to free him.  Bailey was finally able to climb out of the hole. Bailey told Q6 he feels very lucky, and very grateful to rescue crews, that the trench didn't collapse again.  As a result of firefighters' efforts, he emerged unscathed.

Thousands cut off as water main hit

By Emily Taylor

Thousands of people in Shrewsbury town centre were left without water today after workmen hit a mains pipe. Water was accidentally cut off at around noon , but was back on just over 30 minutes later. A spokesman for Severn Trent said he believed council workers had hit a trunk main, knocking out three district metred areas. Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council said this afternoon that it was investigating. The spokesman for Severn Trent said: "The council knocked out quite a large area, including Shrewsbury town centre. Someone from Severn Trent was immediately sent out to investigate." Places affected by the water delay included the Castle Street , St Mary's Street , Cross Hill, Pride Hill, College Hill and Dogpole areas. It is believed contractors carrying out work in the Quarry Park area were to blame for the loss of water. Backup Barbara Forsythe, of the Bear Steps Coffee Shop, said: "We just kept going and I think everyone else probably did the same." A spokesman for Costa Coffee in High Street added: "We didn't have to turn anyone away. We were without water for about 40 minutes, but we have backup tanks and because of the nice weather we were not too busy anyway." Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council assistant chief executive Celia Bahrami said officials from the authority were looking into the incident.

Duckels charged for errant blast

By Gary E. Salazar, Staff Reporter, Thursday, May 16, 2002

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Fred Duckels has been charged with a felony and a misdemeanor for an errant dynamite blast that injured a young girl and caused damage to a neighboring property. On Monday, Duckels, who owns Duckels Construction, was charged with two counts of fourth-degree arson by Deputy District Attorney David Moffat. Duckels faces a felony because flying debris from the dynamite blast allegedly injured a 6-year-old girl. He faces the misdemeanor charge for damaging a shed owned by Ashley Gruber in the 27000 block of Moonlight Way . A felony summons for Duckels to appear in Routt County Court in June was sent out Monday. On Wednesday, Duckels could not be reached for comment. Duckels faces the charges for allegedly setting off a dynamite blast at about noon May 1 within the third phase of the Silver Spur Subdivision.  At the time, Duckels was blasting a trench to install water and sewer pipes in the ground. Because of the blast, pieces of shale and dirt clumps were sent flying onto the adjacent homes on the north end of Steamboat II. Flying debris hit a 6-year-old girl in the head. The girl, who was playing with her twin sister in the front yard of a home on Moonlight Way , suffered minor injuries that did not require medical attention. Flying debris also reportedly caused damage to four homes, two cars and two sheds. Moffat filed the two counts of fourth-degree arson against the 62-year-old man because he said it fits the facts of this case. According to state statutes, a person could be charged with the crime if a person knowingly or recklessly causes an explosion on his own property or that of another, and by doing so places another in danger or places any building or occupied structure in danger. Fourth-degree arson is a class four felony if a person is endangered. The charge is a misdemeanor if it involves property. Because of the incident, Duckels' explosives licenses issued by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment have been suspended. The department has suspended the licenses that allowed Duckels to purchase, store and blast explosives during construction projects. The department alleges Duckels did not get a permit for the blast, did not follow safety regulations and used too much dynamite. All of Duckels' explosives and tools used to set off dynamite have been confiscated by the Routt County Sheriff's Office. Duckels can appeal the suspension during a hearing in Denver in June.

Damaged power line causes outage

Published Thu, May 9, 2002 , By CHRIS BENDER, Gazette staff writer

A damaged power line and upgrade work on Lady's Island left 1,569 South Carolina Electric and Gas customers without power Wednesday afternoon, according to SCE&G spokeswoman Christy Farrell. The power went down at about 2:19 p.m. , Farrell said, and in some areas even traffic lights went out. She said the outage was caused by two events. A contractor on Cat Island was digging near the primary power line there and cut the line, Farrell said. SCE&G workers also were in the area doing upgrades to power lines, she said. SCE&G sent crews out to repair the line and get the power back on, Farrell said. Power was restored to all but 50 customers on Lady's Island by 2:55 p.m. , Farrell said. The rest had their power back by 3:45 p.m. Farrell said the power line was being moved out of a marsh area near Cat Island to make it more accessible to repair crews. Improvements to the power grid will continue for the next few months, Farrell said. The upgrades aim to make outage times shorter and increase capacity. A power outage Thursday night in the Pigeon Point area left 400 customers without power for four hours, Farrell said, and was caused by a tree limb falling on a power line. The primary line in that area is scheduled to be upgraded later this month, she said

Day Care Evacuated Due To Gas Leak

There is a natural gas leak in North Olmsted , according to NewsChannel5. Police say that a construction crew hit an underground gas pipe at the construction site of a new Tops grocery store on Brookpark extended Road. Dominion East Ohio gas crews are on the scene. As a precaution, 25 children at the Kiddie Kollege day care were evacuated.

Backhoe mishap kills 75-year-old

A Pulaski Township man was killed Sunday after he was crushed by a backhoe in his backyard, state police in New Castle said. Darrell Ellsworth Hoover, 75, of 2620 Pine Glen Road, was pronounced dead at 5:15 p.m. at the hospital of Jameson Health System by Dr. Ira Ungar, police said. Hoover suffered massive internal injuries, police said. According to police: At 4:30 p.m., Hoover, who was partly disabled, was servicing a Ford backhoe. He was attempting to charge the backhoe's battery and was standing between the front and rear wheels near the ignition switch. Hoover failed to realize the vehicle was in gear and attempted to start it. The backhoe moved forward, knocked Hoover to the ground, ran over him and crushed him, police said. Hoover was found by family members a short time later, police said.

After 9 hours, man freed from 14-foot trench

05/04/2002, The Associated Press

HOUSTON - Rescue workers said they had to dig "a spoonful at a time" to free a man who was trapped in a collapsed 14-foot trench. The man, who was not identified, was freed shortly after 8:30 p.m. Friday after being trapped in sweltering soil for nine hours. He was reported in critical condition at Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he was transported by Life Flight. The man climbed into the trench late Friday morning to install plumbing for a southwest Houston strip mall. The trench collapsed around him, covering his body, officials said. "When we got here, all we could see was a patch of hair," Greg Armstrong, a Houston Fire Department rescue worker, told the Houston Chronicle. "We did not know where his arms and legs were. We had to move very slowly." The hole, which had no shoring device or grading to prevent collapse, did not meet standards of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, officials at the scene said Friday. Another construction worker, the only other on the site at the time of the accident, called the Fire Department. A nearby rescue crew was able to uncover the man's head to keep him breathing. But freeing his body - trapped by heavy clay-laden soil that threatened to suffocate and dehydrate him - proved an arduous task. A HFD rescue team of about 40 people worked at a painstaking pace, first to shore the opening to prevent further collapse, and then to remove the dirt. Two-person rescue teams, digging by hand, slowly cleared the hole, manually removing dirt using a pulley system of buckets and shovels. After four hours of digging, the team was able to free the man's left arm and to administer intravenous fluids and begin feeding him ice chips. "His body is under tremendous pressure," said Dr. David Persse, the Fire Department's physician director of emergency medicine. "It is hard to fight off body heat but we have to move slowly as we release pressure because all of his blood vessels will dilate as he is freed. "It is truly amazing for a man who has been packed in dirt for nine hours to survive," Persse said. The team also was able to equip the man with a headset for communication and pumped oxygen into the hole. "He was telling us he was thirsty, but that's about all," said Jay Evans, a fire department spokesman. "His primary concern seems to be, `Get me out,' " Evans said. "He is not answering other questions." The man was working for a subcontractor for the mall. OSHA standards require trenches more than five feet underground to be secure with shoring or slopes to prevent collapses.

Ford Field Workers Evacuated

A broken gas line evacuated hundreds of workers at Ford Field and at the power plant located next door Tuesday morning, Local 4 learned. A contractor hit a gas line, according to DTE officials. The 6-inch main was shut down, Local 4 reported. MichCon crews were on the scene to fix the rupture. The area -- located near St. Antoine and Gratiot Avenue -- is secure, the station reported. Some workers were allowed to return back to work and some went home for the day, Local 4 reported. Workers said that the evacuation was quick and efficient. No injuries were reported. No other information was available. Ford Field will become the new home of the Detroit Lions this fall.

Man rescued after falling in trench

Authorities rescued a man who fell into a sewer trench Monday morning.

According to the Punta Gorda Police Department, Matthew Whitney, 20, was helping dig a sewer line behind a housing project at 404 East Charlotte Ave. when he slipped on gravel and fell into the 8-foot-deep trench at 10:23 a.m. Police said a portion of the trench wall collapsed, burying Whitney up to his knees in dirt. Wooden planks were placed along the walls of the trench to prevent dirt from falling onto the Charlotte County Fire & EMS medics stabilizing Whitney's broken ankle. "What you see here is precautionary," PGPD Lt. Jason Ciaschini told reporters at the scene, where about a dozen medics and firefighters stood by to lend assistance. Ciaschini said Whitney's life was never in danger and authorities weren't concerned about the trench caving in. Medics lifted Whitney out of the trench at 11:38 a.m. He was transported to Charlotte Regional Medical Center.

Gas line break evacuates homes, businesses

By Corrie Cutrer and Amy McLaughlin Daily Herald Staff Writers

A Friday morning gas line break in Elk Grove Village forced dozens of people from their homes and businesses, and shut down traffic along a portion of Tonne Road for more than 10 hours. A contractor digging underground to install a cable line hit an 8-inch gas line, authorities said. The break was right underneath electrical wires. Elk Grove Police Deputy Chief Officer Larry Hammar said the contractor, SMC Operations of Chicago, was installing underground cable when workers hit the gas line around 9:30 a.m. Friday. Residents from 15 homes and employees from 20 businesses within three blocks from the leak were immediately evacuated. "Because of the amount of gas, there could be a fire," said Elk Grove Fire Department Lt. James Denna. "We're trying to be cautious." Nicor spokeswoman Janelle Jones said that 60 pounds of pressure travels through underground gas lines. To give people an idea of how much pressure this is, Jones said, it is helpful to keep in mind that only quarter of a pound of gas pressure is used in homes when various appliances are activated. Police and fire officials did not know what utility company contracted SMC Operations to do the work. Shah Quaiyoom, a spokesman for ComEd, said at the scene that the contractor was not doing work for the utility company. About 50 firefighters and Nicor officials worked throughout the day to seal the leak and then turn off the gas to assess the damage. There was a strong smell of gas throughout the area. Although SMC had hired SMP Utility and Resources to mark the underground gas lines for construction workers, Hammar said that it can be difficult to determine exactly where the lines are located. "It's not an exact science," Hammar said. "There's so much stuff underground." The stretch of road along Tonne from Laurel Street to Elk Grove Boulevard was blocked off all day as officials tried to control the leak. Jones said the damaged line was probably buried 3 to 4 feet underground. Nicor officials worked to seal the line within half a block on each side of the leak before turning off the gas and examining the damage. "This is something through the summer months that (can) occur as construction works goes on," Jones said. Preschool workers at Elk Grove Presbyterian Church sent 20 students home on Friday afternoon as they evacuated the church building on the corner of Tonne and Elk Grove Boulevard. Preschool director Linda VanCuyk said the police began evacuating the church around 12:30 p.m. "They were going up and down the block telling everybody they needed to get out," said VanCuyk. Children from the morning class had already left and she was able to tell parents who were dropping off their children for the afternoon class to take them back home. Employees at Grecian Delight, a food manufacturing company, were evacuated Friday morning. Account manager Dorothy Maram said she left for an early lunch but assumed she would be able to enter the building a few hours later. "We thought we could just come back and go to work," Maram said. "But the police said you can't go back. "No shipments can come in," Maram said. "This is the end of our accounting period so we need to make sure we finalize our bills and let shipments in." Maram eventually decided to go home because she could not enter the building. But Francisco Sarmiento, who was arriving Friday afternoon for a shift with the sanitation crew for Grecian Delight, said he would just wait around until it was safe to go back. "We've got to do our job," Sarmiento said. "If we go home, we've got to come back." Gas: Damaged line 3 to 4 feet underground.

UPDATE, Fatal Trench Cave-In Brings Alabama Company $99,000 In OSHA Fines

FORESTDALE, Ala. -- Failing to protect workers from a possible trench collapse may cost Bessemer, Ala.-based waterproofing contractor Jeff Reid $99,000, according to the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. On Jan. 14, three laborers Reid hired for the day were excavating a trench around a Forestdale residence in preparation for waterproofing the basement walls. When the nine-foot deep, three-foot wide unprotected trench collapsed, two workers escaped but the third was buried and suffocated before he could be rescued. "Placing workers in harm's way by allowing them to enter an excavation without protection against a treacherous cave-in shows plain indifference to employee safety and OSHA standards," said Roberto Sanchez, OSHA's Birmingham area director. Following an inspection of the fatality, OSHA cited Jeff Reid with one alleged willful safety violation and proposed a penalty of $63,000 for failing to shore or slope trench walls or otherwise protect employees from potential injury or death while working in an excavation. "Like many construction companies, Jeff Reid frequently hired Spanish speaking day laborers," said Sanchez. "Employers have a responsibility to provide these workers a safe work environment and training they can understand," said Sanchez. The area director pointed out that Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, recognizing the risks posed by a language barrier, recently announced special initiatives aimed at improving safety and health for the rapidly expanding Hispanic workforce. Five serious citations, with penalties totaling $31,500, were issued for additional violations of trench safety standards. These included failing to train workers, many of whom were day laborers, in excavation safety; not providing head protection; no safe means of entering and exiting the trench; failing to move excavated material a safe distance from the edge of the trench, and not assuring that a competent person inspected the excavation. Because the employer failed to report the fatality to OSHA within the required eight-hours, a further penalty of $4,500 was imposed. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. A serious violation is one where there is a substantial probability that death or serious harm could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard. Jeff Reid has 15 working days to contest OSHA's citations and proposed penalties. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Birmingham area office located at Vestavia Village , 2047 Canyon Rd. , Birmingham , Ala. 35216 ; telephone: 205-731-1534.

Gas line rupture spurs evacuation

MILFORD — Several businesses were evacuated early Tuesday after a backhoe excavating a sidewalk on Old Gate Lane ruptured a gas line. The incident occurred shortly before 9:30 a.m. when a backhoe working in front of Duchess Diner at 345 Old Gate Lane struck a utility line beneath the surface, rupturing the pipe and sending dangerous gas vapors into the air, Capt. Richard Mohr said. The Fire Department responded to the incident with a "full assignment" that included three fire engines, an aerial truck and paramedic crews, as well as a hazardous materials officer and safety officer. Firefighters evacuated the restaurant and nearby businesses, including a gas station, Mohr said. Authorities also closed off all roads leading to the area and cordoned off a stretch of Old Gate Lane between the Exit 40 off-ramp of Interstate 95 and Woodmont Road . The businesses were evacuated to remove any potential source of ignition from the area, Mohr said. Fire officials used meters to check the area for dangerous gas levels, which were kept to a minimum because of windy conditions that dissipated the threat, he said. A crew from Southern Connecticut Gas Co arrived shortly after and clamped off the leak to avert further danger. The gas line leads into the diner, which reopened shortly after the incident. The road was reopened at about 9:43 a.m. , Mohr said.

Man burned in pipeline explosion

April 23, 2002 , by Shane Benjamin, Herald Staff Writer

A Durango man suffered burns over 78 percent of his body Monday morning after striking a natural gas pipeline with a backhoe in southern La Plata County . Scott Newbold, 44, was taken to Mercy Medical Center , then flown to the University of New Mexico Medical Center in Albuquerque , where he was in critical condition at 7:30 p.m. Monday, said a nurse at the hospital. Firefighters believe Newbold was installing one of two large wooden posts to be used to support a metal gate in front of a residence in High Flume Canyon, about 15 miles south of Durango, when he struck the gas line. The line began leaking gas, which was ignited by a spark or heat source. It was unknown if the residence was Newbold’s or if he was hired to install the gate. Someone called 911 at 11:15 a.m. , and firefighters arrived 19 minutes later to see a stream of fire shooting 50 feet into the air, said Mick Stowers, of the Durango Fire & Rescue Authority. "It was blowing pretty high," Stowers said. Although the backhoe was destroyed by the fire, the blaze stayed contained within the area and only burned a few trees. The pipeline, which is owned by BP, is a 6-inch fiberglass gathering line used to carry natural gas from about a half dozen wells to a central system for processing, said Daren Beaudo, director of public affairs for BP in Houston. "It’s kind of like a spoke on a wheel," Beaudo said. BP officials shut off the gas flow in the line and called in the company’s local emergency response team, made up of area gas workers, to help coordinate communications and resources, he said. "It just provides a good response network," Beaudo said. It appeared that Newbold failed to make use of the "one-call system," which asks people to call a 1-800 number before digging in certain areas, he said. A yellow post with the warning and phone number was located 15 feet away from the site of the accident. "It doesn’t appear that that number was called," Beaudo said. The number, (800) 922-1987, works for the whole state of Colorado , and when called, someone from the industry will go out to the property and identify exactly where pipelines exist. The Durango Fire & Rescue Authority responded with two engines, two tankers and a brush truck, said spokesman David Abercrombie. Reach Staff Writer Shane Benjamin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Co-workers save Taunton man's life

KEVIN SALEEBA, Gazette Staff Writer

EASTON -- After being buried alive in a sewer trench yesterday, a Taunton man was rescued and taken by helicopter to a Boston hospital.  About 2 p.m. , Rui Resendes, 39, of 27 Pearl St. , was installing a sewer line in a 12-foot trench for the Rolling Pine Condominiums at 1 Meadowbrook Lane when the trench collapsed, burying him alive. "It was definitely a life threatening situation," said Lt. Tom Kominsky of the Easton Police Department. "His fellow workers and rescue workers were able to free his face fast enough so he could breathe. That probably saved his life." It took rescue workers a little more than an hour to completely free Resendes from the trench. Kominsky said the collapse occurred when the trench was dug too deep. "After a certain depth, there needs to be enough support or it will collapse," he said. The Easton Police and Fire departments and the Department of Public Safety assisted in the rescue effort. Resendes is employed by Pride Environmental and Construction Inc. of Taunton .

UPDATE, Port Deposit contractor accepts state settlement in fatal trench collapse; MOSH orders safety training and work rules

By Michael White, April 18, 2002

The contractor at the site of a trench collapse that killed a North East man last December settled with Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) officials in a recent informal hearing. The case is now closed, said Stephen Miller, Region III supervisor at MOSH. The Port Deposit-based M&M Paving and Construction Inc. was cited in March with seven violations of the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Act for the mishap in which one worker, Norman Pyle McCann, 50, was killed and another worker injured when the dirt walls of a 17-foot-deep trench collapsed on top of them. The incident occurred Dec. 10 at a large dairy operation near Rising Sun, where M & M Paving was contracted to install a nutrient management system - a holding pond for animal waste - mandated by state law. Proposed fines against the company had totaled $12,750. But the final settlement amount was unknown. MOSH officials did not return phone calls from the Whig on Wednesday. The case was heard in an informal meeting before the state's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, of which MOSH is a part. As a result, the contractor was ordered to initiate a safety and health program with policy, hazard assessment and work rules. The contractor was ordered to also train employees in the recognition and avoidance of hazards associated with excavation and trenching work. The abatement date for those items was set for March 30. The aim of the informal meeting is to lower fines that violations carry with them by showing prompt rectification of the violations, said MOSH Public Information Officer Joseph Seidel in an earlier interview. Miller, the regional MOSH supervisor, said 95 percent of cases are settled during the informal hearing. "They showed various forms of abatement," he said. "The settlement was reviewed and accepted and we were able to settle the case. That happens a lot. Ninety-five percent of cases are settled during the informal (meeting)." Attempts to reach the contractor's lawyer were unsuccessful.

OSHA investigates fatal accident near Rehoboth

By Kerry Kester

The Delaware State Police Major Crimes Unit and Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) are investigating an industrial accident that claimed the life of William H. Harris II, 22, of Felton. The incident occurred at 10:55 a.m. , April 6, at the Kinsale Glen construction site behind Baltimore Trust. Harris was in a trench laying drainage pipes for Marvel Contracting, when a section of the trench collapsed on him. Although coworkers and rescue workers were able to get Harris out of the trench and transported to Beebe Medical Center , he was declared dead at 11:44 . The state police is investigating the case as a matter of policy, not because foul play is suspected. The investigation is now under OSHA's jurisdiction. A witness at the accident site stated the trench was about 10 feet deep and did not have a shoring system, which may be a violation of federal law. Federal regulations for excavation sites are as follows: "Each employee in an excavation shall be protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system...except when excavations are made entirely in stable rock...excavations are less than 5 feet in depth and examination of the ground by a competent person provides no indication of a potential cave-in." The law also states "protective systems shall have the capacity to resist without failure all loads that are intended or could reasonably be expected to be applied or transmitted to the system." Federal regulations include sloping systems, sloping and benching systems, shield systems - such as trench boxes - as typical types of protective systems. "The employer shall be responsible for providing a safe and healthful working environment," said Vincent Soss, OSHA assistant area director from the Wilmington-area OSHA office, citing a decades-old OSHA act. Pat Horsey, representing the contracting work under way at the Jungle Jim's work site, said she was not at liberty to make any comments about the Rehoboth Beach accident. Because the Rehoboth Beach case is open, said Voss, he is also unable to comment about any specific investigation details. However, he said the investigation process in general involves three aspects: an opening conference, walk-around and closing conference. OSHA investigators have six months from the time of an incident to determine whether citations should be issued and if warranted, begin the process of doing so. The opening conference and walk-around, said Soss, generally occur at about the same time. Investigators in the Rehoboth Beach incident did both the day of the accident. The opening conference, said Soss, is when inspectors go to a work site and outline the nature of their visit and why they were summoned. The closing conference, he said, involves OSHA representatives explaining to company personnel, usually owners, whether investigators found compliance violations and outline the company's rights and responsibilities. In some cases, said Soss, it is during the closing conference when an OSHA representative could also offer methods of abatement if a company is found in violation of OSHA standards. Soss said convictions for compliance violations are divided into three categories: other than serious, which carries up to a $1,000 fine; serious, which carries up to a $5,000 fine; and intentional disregard or plain indifference to the standard, which carries up to a $70,000 fine. In the most serious cases where willful disregard causes a death, OSHA may then turn the case over to the Department of Justice, which in turn would determine whether to file criminal charges. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 49 deaths in 2000 that occurred at excavation sites. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports cave-ins occur because of unstable soil conditions. Soss said specific regulations relative to how a site is shored vary depending on soil classification, but he could not say how the soil at the Rehoboth Beach site is classified because that information pertains to an aspect of the investigation. Depending on the soil classification, at certain depths, the sides of the trenches must be braced in some manner, which can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Sites in close proximity to backfilled areas or that could be subjected to vibrations from heavy machinery, such as railroads, have even more stringent regulations for shoring a trench. In fact, although NIOSH is not a regulatory organization, it recommends employers provide shoring systems or employ sloping strategies whenever a trench is between 5 feet and 24 feet deep, regardless of the soil classification - unless it is stable rock. In "Trenching and Excavation: Safety Principles," by Larry C. Brown, Kent L. Kramer, Thomas L. Bean and Timothy J. Lawrence of Ohio State University, soil can weigh more than 100 pounds per cubic square foot. "A cubic yard of soil [3-by-3-by-3 feet], which contains 27 cubic feet of material, may weigh more than 2,700 pounds. That is nearly one and a half tons...in a space less than the size of the average office desk," the paper states. The paper further notes that during excavation, the balance normally found in soil is upset, which can cause soil movement at the base of the trench wall. Once the base fails, the remainder of the wall will quickly begin collapsing.  For more information about construction-related safety regulations, visit the OSHA website at www.osha.gov/index.html.

Gas main break disrupts traffic for most of day, Repair work goes late into the night

From staff reports, Published April 11, 2002 11:29 AM CDT

LONDON -- A stench encircled the intersection of High Street and Keny Boulevard yesterday as crews worked late into the night to repair yet another road construction problem. The air shimmered with leaking gas above the pit where construction equipment had been digging until about 10:30 a.m. when it hit the six-inch gas main in front of Advanced Drainage Systems. No one was evacuated. Reports have not indicated that anyone was out of service because of the damage to the major transmission line that supplies the factories on Route 142 as well as a large portion of the northern half of the city. Another pipe was installed by Columbia Gas to bypass the damaged line and provide service to customers. "By my understanding, no customers were ever out of service," said Frank Davis, operations center manager with Columbia Gas in Springfield. "We kept them all in service and worked throughout the night. We had a crew there until the repairs were made." Rob Green, superintendent with Fort Defiance Construction, working on the East High Street project, said his crew was digging to put in a sanitary sewer force main when the gas line broke. "We called in as required by state law to have everything marked," he said, pointing to small orange flags behind the earthmover Wednesday afternoon. He said the flags, left by Columbia Gas, had marked the gas line as running 30 feet from where it was broken. London Safety-Service Director Steve Hume said there were no markings in the vicinity of where the crew hit the line. "We accept no responsibility for this," Green said, adding that the company lost a day's work because of the break. To repair damages, a Columbia Gas crew was on site until 3 a.m. cutting out a section of the pipe and fittings and welding a new piece of pipe in place. "The damage only affected about 20 feet of pipe, but the bypass installed to keep customers in service affected about 100 feet of pipe," Davis added. London firefighters, police and members of the street department directed employees of Stanley Electric and ADS and residents of the area to alternative routes while repairs were made into the night. Employees of London Industries and The Madison House also suffered headaches getting to work throughout the day. "It's tough on the residents out there who have to put up with it," Hume said. "It left an awful lot of folks scratching their heads trying to figure out a way around. It's not an easy task when the normal road pattern is messed up to start with. "They were all able to get to where they needed to, but not the way they are used to. By all means I'm sure the residents are frustrated. This was something not anticipated whatsoever." The London Fire Department was on the scene until 9 p.m. with the Jefferson Township Fire Department covering the city until 3 p.m. and responding to two actual fires in the city, according to firefighter Chad Lawhun. Central Townships Fire Department took over city coverage until 9 p.m. while a crew of five city firefighters helped direct traffic around the area until the problem was fixed and stood by in case of an emergency. According to an incident report from the London Police Department, Keny Boulevard was closed for a majority of the day and High Street was adversely impacted by automobiles needing to find other routes. "We appreciate the patience of customers and the general public. We appreciate the huge cooperation from the police and fire departments. We couldn't have done work without their huge help," Davis said. As for assessing responsibility for the break, Davis said that would have to wait. This morning, Davis said Columbia Gas had not gotten to the investigative part yet. "We want to know what happened, but safety is the first concern, protecting the lives and property of our customers, and to keep people working," he said. "We're not looking to place blame right now." Today, traffic flow patterns returned to normal and Ft. Defiance construction crews were able to return to finishing up sidewalks along High Street and infrastructure work on east of Keny Boulevard and west of Maple Street.

Good deed almost dooms man; Hole collapses as he tries to fix a clogged pipeline

April 8, 2002 , BY NANCY A. YOUSSEF, FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Jesse Brown of Detroit went to work Saturday to avert a large problem. Instead, he landed at the heart of one. Brown, an electrician for the City of Detroit who does construction work on the side, said he likes to voluntarily fix water-line problems for people who couldn't otherwise afford it. But when he went to dig a trench to fix a clogged pipeline that afternoon, the hole collapsed around him, and he was trapped for nearly nine hours. At one point, only his head and neck were visible amid tons of dirt. "I was worried the whole time that the wall was going to fall on my head, and I wouldn't be able to breathe," Brown said. Fire department personnel rescued Brown. He was transported to St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit , where he was in good condition Sunday night. Officials also rescued his brother, Harvey Brown, 33, who was trapped in the same trench for two hours. On Sunday, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Service, which oversees worker safety, said it will investigate the cause of the collapse and determine if any state regulations were violated. Among the things the department regulates for trenches are what kind of structure should support a trench's wall and what the slope should be. Both variables depend on the width and depth of the hole, said Maura Campbell, a spokeswoman for the department. Brown said he was there to fix a pipe at the home of an elderly woman in the 12800 block of St. Louis Street in Detroit and who could not afford the estimated $3,000 it would cost to remove the tree root blocking her sewage line. "My mother and father lived on a fixed income. I know how much the elderly struggle" financially, said Brown, 42, from his hospital room Sunday. "And having a clogged sewage pipe is a health issue." Brown said that as he began working Thursday, a neighbor called the city's Water and Sewage Department, concerned about what Brown was doing. A department employee inspected Brown's work twice, he said, as late as one hour before the collapse. "They said everything was OK," he said, adding city residents are responsible for maintaining any sewage lines that run from their house to a city pipe. By around noon Saturday, Brown said he and his brother had finished digging the 16-foot trench and had found the clog. "We were getting ready to shore the walls," Jesse Brown said. "After that, we just needed to replace a $50 pipe and we were out of there." But as Harvey Brown was making his way out, his left foot slipped and he began to fall. Jesse Brown said he tried to help his brother, and that's when the walls around him began to collapse. Fire personnel built supports around the wall and sucked out the dirt using a vacuum. Then they pulled Jesse Brown out of the hole around 9:30 p.m. Now, he is trying to determine what effect the accident had on his right leg, which is still numb. Brown estimated that he does about half of his construction work for free in an effort to help the community. Contact NANCY A. YOUSSEF at 586-469-8087 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Construction accident kills man

By Veronica Chapin, Times-Union staff writer

A 21-year-old construction worker died this morning when the trench he was working in caved in about 8:15 at a Jacksonville office condominium site. Mounds of heavy, wet dirt barreled down on the man at about 40 to 50 mph, crushing and burying him to about his chest, said sheriff's Sgt. Randy Justice. He and some men were laying electrical pipe in the ditch, about 6 feet deep and 5 feet wide, in the 6800 block Belfort Oaks Place. The other man in the ditch was able to get clear of the landslide as two others were handing them the 5-inch PVC electrical conduit pipe. The victim's name has not been released. Morales Construction Co. Inc. had started to clear the bare piece of property for the Belfort Oaks Village. The victim worked for subcontractor Rey Electric Co., Justice said. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Sheriff's Office are investigating the death.

Worker Rescued in Trench Accident
Reported by Val Clark
A worker who was rescued from a trench in Auburn Hills was taken to the hospital with serious injuries Monday evening. The man was buried when the ground around him caved in. The injured worker is a 57-year-old man from Hazel Park . As soon as he is able to talk, investigators will want to ask him exactly why he jumped in at the wrong end of the trench. For now, he is undergoing surgery for internal injuries. During the half hour the worker was trapped in the eight-foot hole, the weight of the dirt that collapsed around him was enough to compress his abdomen and lower body. Stunned coworkers frantically tried to free him, and EMS technicians completed the rescue effort. An inspector for the city happened to be on site. "A couple of people went down in the trench and started giving mouth to mouth. I was busy on the radio with 911 police and everybody." "How dangerous is this type of job?" Channel 7's Val Clark asked the city inspector. "Very dangerous, but contractor was taking precautions." The digging was taking place in the median on Squirrel Road in Auburn Hills. Sheets of steel needed to hold back the dirt were being used. "Any time they're working in the shaft, we put that in and then they shore it up so that the walls don't cave in. He was in an area that hadn't been shored up yet," said John Burmeister of the Auburn Hills Fire Department. "Should he have been in that area?" Clark asked. "I can't really say." "It's very dangerous. Any time you go 10 feet below ground, it's dangerous," the city inspector said. "It was very frightening. One minute you are alive, and the next minute you're trapped." The man had been working with a company that was doing some excavation for Detroit Edison. MIOSHA is in charge of this investigation, and for now that agency has shut the job site down.

UPDATE, OSHA will cite Dallas firm for violations at site of death
By DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR., Star-Telegram Staff Writer

GRAPEVINE - A Dallas engineering company faces up to $15,000 in fines for alleged safety violations at a Denton construction site where an employee died in February after being buried alive, officials said Monday. Three citations are to be sent later this week to Reed Engineering Group of Dallas , said Mike Talmont, assistant area director of the Occcupational Safety and Health Administration. Elan Allen, 41, of Grapevine, suffocated after being buried alive in a construction trench. His death was ruled accidental by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office. Allen, who was buried in the trench for a week before his body was found, was employed by Reed at the time of the accident, officials said. Allen's body was found 12 to 15 feet below the surface, police said. "I haven't seen the citations so I can't comment," Ron Reed, president of Reed Engineering Group of Dallas , said Monday. Julie Ann Allen of Grapevine, Elan Allen's wife, could not be reached Monday for comment. The citations state that the Dallas company did not provide cave-in protection; that Allen lacked training; and that there was no one at the site competent to supervise Allen, who was taking soil samples. "These are considered serious violations," Talmont said. The citations stem from a month-long investigation by OSHA officials who interviewed witnesses and viewed photographs taken by authorities at the scene. The Dallas company faces a maximum fine of $5,000 on each citation, officials said. Fines are determined by the company's safety record, the size of the company and its safety program, Talmont said. The company had no recent history of safety violations, OSHA officials said. Allen was reported missing Feb. 22 after he failed to meet his wife for her birthday dinner. He was last seen at the construction site in the 1400 block of South Loop 288 in Denton . Crews searched the site for a week before Denton city workers using an excavator found Allen's body. Allen's body was found upright in the trench with a piece of concrete on top of him, Talmont said. OSHA officials could not determine whether Allen died because of a cave-in or dirt was dumped on him with a backhoe. Workers were using heavy equipment in the area on the day Allen died. No citations are expected to be issued against Lacy Construction of Dallas, the company building a shopping center at the construction site.

Area residents urged to stay indoors, close windows

The Associated Press

ABINGDON -- Residents of four subdivisions and three other neighborhoods near the site of a gas main break were being asked to remain indoors with their windows closed, Harford County officials said today. County spokeswoman Merrie Street said the affected homes were in Crystal Ridge Court, Timbers Court, Mill Road and Deer Chase Court. The request also applied to residents living in the 3600 block of Philadelphia Road and portions of Wilson Avenue and Peverly Drive, she said. The sheriff's office was calling the homes to issue the request, according to officials. Street said a backhoe struck a 4-inch gas main in the 400 block of Abingdon Road about 10:30 a.m. this morning, allowing fumes to escape into the air. Baltimore Gas and Electric crews were digging to find the valve that will close the leak, she said. The backhoe was still on top of the broken line, officials said.

Dead man’s family gets $1 million

03/28/02, By TOM QUIGLEY, The Express-Times

FLEMINGTON - The family of a man killed while working in a drainage ditch at Hunterdon Central Regional High School’s baseball field eight years ago has received $1 million in a settlement with the school’s insurance company. Matthew Pfenninger, 29, of Raritan Township died Aug. 24, 1994 when the walls of the 8- to 9-foot-deep ditch collapsed and crushed him. Clinton Township attorneys Michael Midlige and Victor A. Rotolo announced the settlement Wednesday from their Route 31 offices. Their firm represents the victim’s family. Pfenninger was the owner-operator of Countywide Paving and was laying sections of perforated PVC pipe in the ditch he excavated alongside the baseball field. The two attorneys said the school contracted with Pfenninger to provide labor and equipment for the job, while the school would handle the purchase of supplies. The contract called for the school to purchase 100-foot rolls of so-called poly pipe for the job, the attorneys said. Instead, the school ordered 8- to 10-foot sections of the PVC pipe. That forced Pfenninger to climb down into the ditch to lay the pipe sections, the attorneys said. They said Pfenninger was under enormous pressure to complete the job before classes resumed the following month. Rescuers tried unsuccessfully to pull Pfenninger from the ditch. His body was retrieved later that night. The victim’s wife, Lisa Pfenninger, their two children and another family went to the job site to have lunch with Pfenninger and left just 90 minutes before the incident. Lisa Pfenninger - who remarried six years later - said the settlement shows her Matthew Pfenninger was not at fault. School officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday and the district has not admitted any wrongdoing in the case. Lisa Pfenninger said the size of the settlement indicates the district is accepting blame. "I was pleased that we were going to have some closure," she said. She described the settlement as "bittersweet." "It’s not going to replace Matt," she said. "He’s not coming back." She said she didn’t want her children to think their father was careless in his work. "He was very meticulous and ran a good business," she said. Lisa Pfenninger is now married to Rudy Heierling and lives in the Flemington area. She retained her first husband’s surname. "We were inseparable, definitely soul mates," she said. "I was there for him all the time and he was there for me all the time." The two knew one another since attending Hunterdon Central. The case - in the state courts for years - was settled March 8 after being assigned to a retired judge for mediation. About 23 percent of the settlement will go the attorneys.

Construction worker freed from trench in Cobb

By DOUG NURSE, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

Federal safety investigators are examining why a trench wall caved in on a construction worker at a Cobb County elementary school Friday morning. Two Cobb government spokesmen said they were told by another construction crew member that the crew didn't put in required shoring because it would have damaged a pipe uncovered in the trench. If confirmed, the lack of shoring would be a violation of federal guidelines, said Susan Johnston, area director for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. "OSHA standards require that whenever someone is in a trench more than five feet deep, there has to be protection for the employee," she said. "You have to make it safe before an employee enters it." Officials for the contracting company, Red Hawk Construction from Duluth, could not be reached for comment. The worker, Curtis Williams, 45, was being treated at North Fulton Regional Hospital after being extricated about 2 p.m., about 5 1/2 hours after the wall caved in on him. Williams was part of a crew installing sewerage pipe as part of an expansion of Tritt Elementary School. A heavy equipment operator at the site said the crew didn't want to install a device to shore up the sides because it would damage a pipe in the bottom of the trench, according to Dan Dupre of the Cobb County Fire Department and Jay Dillon, Cobb County Public Schools spokesman. The worker told Dupre and Dillon that the crew was trying to widen the trench to make it safer. The trench measured 12 to 14 feet deep, 10 feet wide and 30 feet long. Dupre said the co-worker saw the wall cave in on Williams, who was buried up to the top of his head. Fellow employees cleared his head, and alerted authorities who responded with about 35 to 40 rescue workers and supporting personnel. OSHA regulations require that crews either slope the trenches so they can't cave in; install trench boxes, which are large steel walls; or install other shoring to make the walls secure, Johnston said. Failure to make trenches safe is punishable by a $7,000 fine, although if federal investigators determine it was willful or a repeated violation, the fine could range as high as $70,000.

Pit has been dug, filled for years

By Henry Winckel, The Porterville Recorder

The 15-foot-deep pit in which two young girls died Wednesday afternoon is on 10 acres of property owned by the Porterville Cemeteries District. The pit has been continuously dug and filled by the district for years, said Manager Carlos Martinez. The dirt is used to backfill burial plots at the cemetery. It is also used to deposit excess dirt following burials. The pit, at the east end of Orange Avenue, is directly across from John J. Doyle Elementary School. A school custodian said he frequently sees children either playing in the lot or using it as a shortcut to get home. A 5-foot fence topped with barbed wire partially surrounds the property, but the fence has holes through which children can easily crawl. Additionally, a large section of the fence is missing. It was destroyed in a traffic accident and never repaired. The date of the accident hasn't been confirmed. A neighbor of the property said he has often seen children playing in the pit. He said he called the cemeteries district several weeks ago and warned them, but the district responded it was OK as long as no one was hurt. Martinez denied the allegation. "That's not true," he said this morning. "We welcome any information from the public and would never answer them in that manner." Martinez also said that the district was advised to fill in the pit by sheriff's deputies. Witnesses said that two backhoes were working at the pit at 3 a.m. Thursday. Martinez said Thursday he could not comment on the tragic incident because of an ongoing investigation, except to express his "deepest regret" to the family of the girls. The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration, also known as Cal-OSHA, is investigating the deaths.

WORKER DIES IN FREAK ACCIDENT

09:00 - 14 March 2002

A man was crushed to death by a mechanical digger in a Devon village yesterday. The 37-year-old unnamed worker from Dorset was digging a site close to the Drum Inn at Cockington, near Torquay. Police said the control joystick of his JCB excavator caught his coat while he was trying to climb out. The stick then got out of control and turned the bucket arm towards the worker, crushing him. An ambulance helicopter arrived soon after the accident but the worker died on the way to Torbay Hospital. A spokesman for the Drum Inn said: "It was a terrible tragedy."

Broken gas line fuels explosion

Tracey Read Staff Writer, March 12, 2002

Lynn Diederich left work early Monday afternoon after learning a broken natural gas line caused an explosion in his Maple Heights neighborhood. But the Lee Road resident wasn't too concerned about possible damage to his house. "I came home for her," he said, gesturing to his poodle, Patsy, who was cradled in his arms while Diederich watched the action outside his house. "She was scared to death! I wanted to make sure the dog was safe." Diederich was one of several residents who live near the commercial Lee/Libby Road area who were told to evacuate their homes as a precaution after a private construction crew ruptured a 20-inch gas line around 3 p.m., said Jeffrey Zidonis, a spokesman for Dominion East Ohio. "We, by chance, had some crews in the neighborhood, so we got there very quickly," Zidonis said. "Then the initial explosion occurred about 30 minutes later. Something ignited the gas that was spewing out. Something like this is very, very rare." By 4 p.m., the fire burned out, after the natural gas was shut off. Officials still were investigating what ignited the gas Monday evening. "The fortunate thing in all this is that we were in place when it happened, and that nobody was injured," Zidonis said. "We also didn't lose any service to any of our customers, except for about 40 homes and businesses we cut off as a precautionary measure." The fire caused flames more than 150 feet into the air, and caused substantial damage to Walgreen's Drug Store and some heavy equipment. In addition, a number of vehicles - including a police car - near the scene were engulfed in flames. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Engineering firm fined after death

BY JONATHAN BARNES, March 12, 2002 04:39

ONE of the region's top engineering firms has been fined #30,000 after the father of two young children was killed in an horrific workplace accident. Thirty-four-year-old Neville Cook, of Lowestoft, was crushed between a concrete pipe and a 21-tonne excavator as he laid sewage pipes in November 2000. He lost both his legs in the accident and died 10 days later in Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. The father-of-two was working at the construction site in Lowestoft for Christopher Nicholson, a sub-contractor for Ipswich-based firm Jackson Civil Engineering. Company chiefs sat in the dock at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterdayas the firm was given a #30,000 penalty after admitting it had failed to ensure a safe working area. Mr Nicholson, 58, of High Road, Needham, near Diss, was also fined #7,500 after pleading guilty to failing to ensure the safety of his employees. Prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive, Sam Mainds said Mr Cook had been working on a #1.9 million contract to install new sewage pipes beneath the Birds Eye Ness Point car park. He said the disaster was "an accident waiting to happen" as the excavator had moved too close to a pile of pipes in the trench in which Mr Cook was working. He was struck as the back of the JCB digger swung around and then crushed against the 1.1 tonne pipe. Mr Mainds claimed the firm had not reacted sufficiently to a fatal accident in Milton Keynes just seven months earlier, when a worker had died in "almost identical" circumstances. But James Ageros, mitigating for Jackson Civil Engineering, said the disaster was "an isolated event" which resulted in the company's first prosecution in 50 years. This was in no way an accident waiting to happen," he said. Mr Ageros said safety improvements had been made since the accident at Milton Keynes - where the firm was not the principle contractor - and stressed the circumstances were "very different". David Lamming, for Nicholson, said his client also had an "unblemished" safety record in 27 years of work. He said a combination of unfortunate circumstances had contributed to the accident. Judge Christopher Ball QC accepted the firm had reacted to "warning bells" after the accident at Milton Keynes - and said Mr Cook's death was "a tragic accident". But he added: "For a short period of time risks were taken and systems that were in place failed to deal with situations arising." He also awarded costs of #10,000 against Jackson Civil Engineering and #4,991 against Nicholson. Mr Cook, of Clemence Street, had been with his partner, Tracy Wilson, for seven years and the couple had two children, Megan and Liam. Following 10 years working at a chicken processing plant, he had been employed at the construction site with Tracy's brother Gary, who was the site's foreman.

UPDATE, Contractor to contest trench collapse fines

By Michael White, March 07, 2002

A lawyer representing M & M Paving and Construction has requested an informal conference with state safety officials to discuss citations filed after the fatal trench collapse Dec. 10 near Rising Sun. The company was cited last week with seven violations of the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Act for the mishap in which one worker, Norman Pyle McCann, 50, of North East, was killed and another worker was injured when the dirt walls of a 17-foot-deep trench collapsed on top of them. Elkton lawyer Joseph Mahoney said the case will be heard before the state's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation to discuss fines imposed. The current proposed fines against the company total $12,750. "We've requested an informal hearing. As far as that's concerned, we are contesting," Mahoney said. "It's a procedural thing to show abatements about correcting some of the problems, and to (negotiate fines accordingly). "That's my understanding of how it works," he said. The incident occurred at a large dairy operation near Rising Sun, where M & M Paving was contracted to install a nutrient management system - or holding pond for animal waste - mandated by state law. Three days later, a state MOSH official held an opening conference and interviews with the corporate officers of the construction company, including Michael Brooks and Harvey McNatt. McNatt was on scene when the ditch caved in. The conference took place with MOSH Region III Supervisor Steve Miller at the MOSH satellite office in Bel Air, according to state investigator Ken Johnson's 84-page report obtained by the Whig Monday. The groups met again in Elkton at a closing conference Feb. 6. All interviews and conference details are being withheld from the public at this time, safety officials said. The citation of notification and penalty document issued to the contractor on Feb. 25 stated the corporation must abate violations by the dates listed, and pay the penalties. M&M Paving may contest either all citation items or individual items. The corporation may also challenge the penalties and abatement dates without contesting the underlying violations; according to the citation document they have 15 working days to do so. Company representatives must bring to the conference supporting documentation of existing conditions and abatement steps taken thus far. If conditions warrant, the agency may settle the case without litigation or contest. Mahoney did not say exactly what violations, if any, or fines the company will contest, but he said abatement steps will be documented during the informal hearing. With the exception of on-site violations dating back to the Dec. 10 incident - including unprotected excavation - the corporation must initiate a safety and health program with policy, hazard assessment and work rules, and train employees in the recognition and avoidance of hazards associated with excavation and trenching work. Proper documentation for the installation of these programs includes photographs, receipts, copies of programs, training certification and the like. The abatement date set for these items is March 30. Prompt rectification of the alleged violations often serves to lower fines violations carry with them, said MOSH Public Information Officer Joseph Seidel, explaining the aim of the informal meeting.

Missing engineer is found dead
By DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR. and MIKE LEE, Star-Telegram Staff Writers

DENTON - The body of a missing Grapevine engineer was found Friday morning in a deep trench at a construction site, a week after he disappeared while taking soil samples, police said. Denton city workers using an excavator found the body of Elan Allen, 41, about 9:15 a.m. in the 1400 block of South Loop 288. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office is expected to make a ruling on his death in a few days. Police said there were no signs of foul play. "Absolutely, it was an accident," said Julie Ann Allen, Allen's wife, as she fought back tears at a news conference in Heritage Church-United Methodist in Grapevine, where the couple were members. "He was the most awesome man. Everyone that knew him loved him." Allen was reported missing Feb. 22 after he did not meet his wife for her birthday dinner. Allen, who worked for Reed Engineering of Dallas, was taking soil samples from five deep trenches at the construction site, police said. The site, the future home of a shopping center, is at least 10 acres and consists mostly of freshly turned dirt. Officials at Lacy Construction of Dallas, the company building the shopping center, did not return a telephone call seeking comment Friday. The incident has prompted an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said Rick Ranck, OSHA's assistant director of the Fort Worth area. "We'll have an inspector at the site as soon as possible to gather information," he said. "We'll be checking for any violations." Ranck said the investigation could take six months. The medical examiner will not positively identify the body until Monday at earliest, but detectives tentatively identified Allen from information in a billfold, said Jim Bryan, a Denton police spokesman. Detectives and workers in the Denton drainage department had been digging with the excavator for about two hours when they found the body, Bryan said. Detectives found other items in the trench, including sample-collection jars and what appeared to be a dirt-caked roll of blueprints. Several other personal items were removed in paper and plastic bags, and workers loaded several large clumps of earth onto a city truck. After the body was removed, detectives continued to search the mounds of dirt with shovels and a hand-held metal detector. Allen's body was found 12 to 15 feet below the surface, police said. "Workers had dug in that area before," Bryan said. "They apparently did not dig deep enough the first time. Today, they dug deeper and wider, and that's when they found him." After the initial search last Saturday, police used dogs, a helicopter and aerial photographs. Bryan said earlier searches may have failed because it was difficult to locate the site of the original trenches. They were filled Feb. 22, when workers believed Allen had finished sampling. When trenches are filled back in, "you can no longer see the distinct trench," Bryan said. It was unclear when the engineer was buried, whether he was injured before he was buried, and whether he was trapped when a trench collapsed or was inadvertently buried when workers filled the trenches. After Allen's family reported him missing last week, police and workers converged on the site and began digging. Julie Ann Allen said the discovery Friday brought some closure. "I didn't want it to end this way," she said at the news conference, her voice cracking. Elan Allen is also survived by a 5-month-old son and a 7-year-old daughter. His wife has been a music and choir teacher at Heritage Middle School for nearly 10 years. "Our hearts ache," said Robin McClure, a spokeswoman for the Grapevine-Colleyville school district. "Right now, people are just stunned." Before leaving the news conference, Julie Ann Allen thanked her church, the school district and others for their support. A $20,000 reward had been offered for information leading to her husband's whereabouts. Crisis counselors are available at Heritage Middle School and Colleyville Heritage High School to help students, former students, fellow teachers and parents. The funeral had not been scheduled as of Friday night. Staff writer Jennifer Radcliffe contributed to this report.

Freeport firefighters rescue Brian Myers after he was buried under 12 feet of dirt in trench.

FREEPORT - A man who was buried under 12 feet of dirt when the trench he was working in collapsed was successfully rescued, thanks to the combined efforts of the Freeport Fire Department, Public Works Department and Water and Sewer Commission on Friday afternoon in Freeport. Brian Myers of Cedarville was in the 12-foot trench working on sewer lines along West Spring Street in Freeport when the walls of the trench caved in and he was buried. Myers' co-workers immediately called for help and Fire Chief Jim Blackbourn said firefighters were on the scene quickly. "When our first crews got there, he was totally buried," Blackbourn said. "It was a questionable situation at first, because we weren't sure where he was." Firefighters successfully located and dug out Myers, who was conscious throughout the ordeal. He was transported to Freeport Memorial Hospital where he remains in stable condition according to a hospital official. Blackbourn said Myers may have sustained chest injuries. Blackbourn said the Fire Department received a lot of help from city Public Works and Water and Sewer officials, who provided essential equipment in getting Myers safely out of the trench. "We were digging for a full hour," Blackbourn said. "What really helped us was the fact that the Public Works Department and the Water and Sewer Commission took care of the shoring. They stabilized the trenches and the banks to make sure no further collapses took place on the rescue workers." The victim's brother, Brent Myers of Freeport, was at the scene and expressed great concern over the situation. "It is a potentially serious situation," Brent Myers said. "He was 12-feet under and loss of air was a big concern." Brian Myers runs Myers Digging Service in Freeport, a private contracting company. Travis Morse can be reached a 232-0178 or via e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Crews puncture water main

By Jeff Tucker

South Shore passengers will have to take an alternate route through Michigan City for the next few days since a water main was punctured beneath the railroad’s line at 11th and Tennessee streets Thursday, causing workers to excavate a massive foot hole beneath the tracks. Police said city buses will meet train passengers arriving at either the east or west ends of town, and transport them around the construction site, hooking passengers up with another South Shore train on the opposite end of town. The patchwork rerouting was necessary since the road bed supporting the tracks was heavily excavated, creating a massive 10-by-30 foot hole, allowing workers to access the damaged water main. Officials pledged the 12-inch water main would be repaired by today. At least one basement in the area of 11th and Tennessee streets was flooded, with 10-15 residences cut off from water after the 4:25 p.m. mishap, said Dick Collins, distribution superintendent for the Water Department. But Water Department Superintendent Randy Russell said at 10:30 p.m. only two homes were still without water and a boil advisory was unnecessary. Collins said massive amounts of water were released by the punctured line. He said both of the department’s 1,000,000-gallon tanks at Carroll Avenue and Hitchcock Street were depleted after the rupture, affecting the water supply at about six blocks of homes on Chicago, Green and 11th streets. "We lost about three feet in our tanks, so that’s quite a bit," Collins said. "Once we get this water pumped, we’ll see what we need to do to fix it. There’s probably only about 10-15 people out of water, not a whole lot." John Doyle of John A. Doyle & Associates Inc. of Michigan City, which is managing the project for the Sanitary District, said the puncture resulted in "a hell of a lot" of water being released. "We thought we had plenty of clearance of it with our sleeve, but something went wrong," Doyle said at about 5:30 p.m. Jim Drader, general manager for D&M Excavating Inc. of Michigan City, said the accident occurred when a D&M subcontractor attempted to bore beneath the South Shore Railroad at 11th and Tennessee streets as part of the Ohio/Barker Sanitary Sewer Separation project. The work is part of the city’s ongoing sewer/storm water separation projects, which are intended to reduce the amount of storm water that flows into the city’s sewer system, and therefore reduce the amount of water that must be treated by the Sanitary District. Sanitary District General manager Al Walus said workers Thursday were relocating the water main from the south side of the of the tracks to the north side. L.J. Keefe Co. Tunneling Contractors, Mt. Prospect, Ill., punctured the water main with either an auger blade or one of the 24-inch steel sleeves that hold the actual sewer pipes, causing a massive flood at the intersection, Drader said. The punctured water main stretches along the south side of the tracks beneath 11th Street, just couple a feet from a gas line, which was not punctured. A South Shore train came through at a snail’s pace at 5:35 p.m. as engineers tested the tracks to see if the road bed could support the train. Jeff Lowe, assistant chief operating officer with the railroad, said officials were worried the tracks might collapse. After workers used a backhoe to cut the giant hole in the asphalt, South Shore officials decided trains had to be rerouted around the mishap, since the tracks had little support beneath them once the hole was dug. Vanessa Paul, 1015 Tennessee St., said her home at the intersection of 11th and Tennessee streets was not flooded, and her water pressure started to return to normal by 5:50 p.m. "So far we haven’t had any flooding, but I don’t know what it may be later on because on this corner it usually does flood right here. If this stays like this, it may back up," Paul said. Paul said the storm water drain near her home, which is downhill from the spot of the water line puncture, is one of the main drains in the area, where water frequently backs up during heavy rains. "I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t start coming up (in the basement)," she said. Paul said work started on the project a couple weeks ago when trees were removed. Excavation work began about a week ago in front of her home, she said. "I rather it be a water line than a NIPSCO gas line," Paul said. A neighbor of Paul’s to the north at 109 Tennessee St. said her water pressure was fine, with no flooding in her basement. However, south of the tracks, Ladoraw Young said her home at 802 W. 11th St., had 3-4 inches of water in the basement at 6:10 p.m. "I was laying down and there was a loud noise," Young said. "I went to take a shower because I was going to work, but the water was off. "I had to send my kids out there to tell us how long it was going to be off, and he couldn’t tell me. It’s messed up. I couldn’t go to sleep and they’re making all this loud noise." Drader said he understood the inconvenience caused by the mishap, adding the best way to address the problem was to fix it immediately. "It’s dinner hour, so I’m sure people are not happy about it," Drader said. "The response time was great. The South Shore was out here immediately, so we got everyone responding. It’s one of those unfortunate situations. It will be fixed tonight, no doubt." Drader said workers would use snowplows to move the water into storm drains, and heavily salt the area throughout the night to prevent it from freezing. About 20 workers from the Water Department, Sanitary District, L.J. Keefe Co and the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which operates the South Shore, were all at the scene. Michigan City police also closed all nearby streets shortly after the accident.

UPDATE, Lack Of Cave-In Protection At Dorchester Jobsite Leads To Fines Against Franklin, Mass. Contractor

BOSTON -- Continued failure to supply cave-in protection for its workers has resulted in $62,000 in proposed fines against a Franklin, Mass., contractor. Zenone, Inc. has been cited by the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for alleged willful and serious safety violations at a water/sewer line installation site located at Westville and Draper Streets in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. "OSHA's inspection found two employees working in an excavation up to seven feet deep that was not shored or otherwise protected against a collapse of its sidewalls," said Brenda Gordon, OSHA area director for Boston and Southeastern Massachusetts. "Had a cave-in occurred, workers in this trench could have been struck and buried beneath tons of soil before they had a chance to react or escape." This marks the fifth time in three years that Zenone, Inc. has been cited by OSHA for inadequate cave-in protection. The contractor had previously been cited in 1999, 2000 and 2001 following inspections at jobsites in Lynn and New Bedford, Mass. As a result, OSHA has classified this citation as willful, its most severe category of violation, and proposed a fine of $56,000. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations. Zenone, Inc. was also cited for two alleged serious violations, with $6,000 in proposed penalties, for allowing employees to access the trench without a ladder and for operating an excavator within 10 feet of energized power lines. A serious violation is one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard. The contractor has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to either elect to comply with them, to request and participate in an informal conference with the OSHA area director, or to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Braintree, Mass., area office. The telephone number is (617) 565-6924.

Details

Parent Category: Incident Alert Archives

Category: Trenching & Excavation Alerts

Published: 10 September 2010

Trenching & Excavation Accidents #2

This page was last updated on 05/06/2010

Backhoe Severs buried Electrical Power CABLE

On February 12, 2002, at the construction site for the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a backhoe operator struck and severed a buried 240-volt temporary power cable with his backhoe bucket. This tripped a circuit breaker and the operator was not injured.  The contractor reported this as a near miss.  (ORPS Report ORO--ORNL-X10SNS-2002-0001) The buried cable supplied electrical power for the construction of the SNS Front End Building, and was included in surveys for buried electrical lines.  This temporary power line was noted in the original excavation permit, and was marked at the construction site for information.  However, since the cable lay outside the area being excavated, no particular care was taken to preserve its markings, and the markings were substantially obliterated during the excavation.  As the excavation progressed, the height of the earthen mound forming around the excavation became a safety concern, and the excavation crew decided to slope the wall.  This sloping activity entailed digging beyond the area originally planned, and into the location where the temporary power line was buried. The investigation of this occurrence is still ongoing, and there are no formal causal analyses or lessons learned at this time.  However, it appears clear at this point that the excavation permit should have been amended to address the new area being dug.  If done correctly, the amendment process would have identified the buried electrical line from the previous surveys. On January 30, 2002, a similar event involving a backhoe severing a 480-volt buried line occurred near Buildings 52 and 58 at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility.  The site utility drawing incorrectly indicated that there were no electrical lines in the vicinity.  (ORPS Report ORO--SURA-TJNAF-2002-0001)  On February 18, 2002, a contractor cut through a 110-volt conduit with his concrete-cutting saw while installing a shower drain line at the Argonne National Laboratory.  As-built drawings were inaccurate, and there had been no instrument surveys for embedded conduits.  (ORPS Report CH-AA-ANLE-ANLEPES-2002-0002)  There were no injuries in either occurrence. The Office of Performance Assessment and Analysis has issued a lessons learned on Electrical Intrusion Events through the Society for Effective Lessons Learned Sharing (SELLS).  This document (Identifier:  HQ-EH-2002-01) can be accessed from the SELLS database at http://tis.eh.doe.gov/ll/listdb.html. The Office of Performance Assessment and Analysis is also requesting information from DOE and subcontractor offices on good practices in excavation and electrical penetration safety.  The scope of electrical intrusion events includes accidental contact or penetration of underground utilities and embedded or hidden utilities within structures (i.e., walls, floors, and ceilings).  These good practices should come from facility programs that have been successful in preventing penetration-type incidents.  We intend to compile this information and share it throughout the DOE complex. Individuals or organizations wishing to respond to this request may contact Jim Snell, (301) 903-4094 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Worker Freed From Trench

Emergency crews have freed a man after he was knocked into a ditch Wednesday morning. The construction crew was working on a sewer line at State Route 128 and Highway 50 when the incident occurred. WLWT Eyewitness News 5's Brian Hamrick reported that Richard Kidd, 24, was knocked into the trench by the bucket of a backhoe. Kidd was partially covered in the ditch, Hamrick reported. It took rescue crews an hour to free him. Hamrick reported that he fell into a safety area of the ditch, which prevented the trench from collapsing around him. Kidd, a native of Ironton , Ohio , was taken to University hospital and was expected to be released later in the day, WLWT reported. Crews had to work quickly because of the cold temperatures. "In this type of weather hypothermia becomes an issue because it took a little time to get all the equipment to him," Whitewater Fire Chief Bill Darby said. Hamrick reported that the bucket on the backhoe was a "quick-release" style, which allows workers to quickly change tools. For some reason the mechanism snapped, the bucket rolled down a hill and hit the worker, Hamrick reported. Rescue crew officials told Hamrick that this was the second time they've dealt with this type of incident. WLWT Eyewitness News 5 and ChannelCincinnati.com will continue to update this story as additional information becomes available.

UPDATE, OSHA Cites Warner Robins Company; Proposes $58,800 In Penalties for Endangering Workers in Trench

WARNER ROBINS , Ga. - Exposing employees to trenching hazards, which led to the death of one employee and injury to another, may cost Pro Choice Construction, Inc., $58,800 in proposed penalties. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued the proposed penalties today and cited the company for alleged serious and willful safety violations. On Aug. 23, two employees were inside a trench box installing and aligning sewer pipe. Rather than moving the trench box, management officials allowed the workers to step outside the box to install a final section. As the employees worked unprotected in the eight-foot-deep, seven-foot-wide trench, the sandy walls of the excavation collapsed and trapped them. OSHA cited the company for one alleged willful safety violation, with a proposed penalty of $49,000, for not providing employees with adequate protection while they worked in the trench. A willful violation is one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. "Management officials were aware of the hazards. They knew how quickly trench walls could collapse," said G. T. Breezley, OSHA's Atlanta-East area director. "In fact, there had been several wall collapses at the site before this fatal accident, yet employees were routinely allowed to work outside the trench boxes when a job was near completion." OSHA also cited the Warner Robins-based company for two alleged serious safety violations with proposed penalties totaling $9,800 for failing to remove employees from hazardous areas and failing to train employees to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions. Serious violations are those in which a substantial probability of death or serious physical harm could result, and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard. Pro Choice Construction, Inc., has 15 working days to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Inspection of the Warner Robins job site was conducted by OSHA's Atlanta-East area office located at the LaVista Perimeter Office Park , Bldg. 7, Suite 110 , Tucker, Ga. ; phone: (770) 493-6644.

Explosion singes houses, cuts gas to neighborhood
By Jill Blackman, Tribune staff reporter, Published February 26, 2002, 5:33 PM CST
Dozens of households remained without natural gas service this evening after a gas main exploded on the Southwest Side, shooting flames into the air and sending two city workers to the hospital, officials said. The fire was extinguished at about 4:40 p.m. after firefighters battled the blaze for more than three hours and Peoples Gas shut down 17 gas main valves to cut off the fuel supply for the flames. At one point, about 200 customers in the area were without gas. That number had fallen to about 130 by 5:30 p.m. and was expected to decline as the night went on and as Peoples restored service to the neighborhood. The explosion occurred at 1:39 p.m. near 107th Street and Kedzie Avenue in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood when a city Sewer Department backhoe struck a six-inch gas main, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Will Knight. City Fire Commissioner James Joyce said a six-inch main was struck, but that it could have been connected to a 20-inch main. The victims, both city sewer workers, suffered minor burns, said Denise Stillman, a spokeswoman for the Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park . Both victims were sent home in good condition late this afternoon, Stillman said. There were two other city sewer workers on the scene, but they apparently refused treatment, Joyce said. Local television reports showed large flames leaping out of the ground where the gas main was broken for most of the afternoon. Kedzie Avenue was blocked off from 103rd to 108th Streets as firefighters poured water on the fire and on three adjacent houses, one of which had its entire front singed black by the heat. Tribune staff reporter Karen Rivedal contributed to this report.

Sewer trench collapses; Cave-in buries construction worker

By Christina DeNardo, Staff writer
A construction worker installing a sewer line died Monday when the trench he was in collapsed. The man’s name was not released because his family had not been notified. He was 50 years old and lived in South Carolina , said Carolyn Hinson, spokeswoman for the Fayetteville Public Works Commission. Hinson said the accident happened at about 3 p.m. at the intersection of McArthur Road and Sussex Drive . Sussex Drive runs south from McArthur Road between Ramsey Street and Rosehill Road . The area was recently annexed by the city. The man was in an 11-foot-deep trench installing an 8-inch diameter pipe. It took 11/2 / hours for rescue workers to get his body out. The man worked for McClam Associates, a contractor from South Carolina that was hired by the city, Hinson said. The man had worked for the company for more than 10 years. The sewer project started in November and is scheduled to finish in June. Construction has stopped, pending an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Hinson said. Seven other people were working on the site at the time of the accident. Some live near Little Mountain, S.C., where the contractor is based. Staff writer Christina DeNardo can be reached at 486-3574 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Disruption after gas pipeline cut

Commercial users of gas are making alternative arrangements as a result of a cut in supply in the lower North Island. A 10-to-16 metre section of pipe was damaged by a contractor's bulldozer west of Palmerston North on Monday, but the Natural Gas Corporation says the problem should be fixed by midnight Tuesday. Timber processor Panpac Forest Products Limited shut down two-thirds of its pulp line because of the gas shortages, and there will be no production at Heinz-Watties plants in Hastings. Wellington and Kenepuru Hospitals are also affected. And Contact Energy says it hopes the Natural Gas Corporation can deliver on its claim that the pipeline will be repaired by midnight. Contact's corporate affairs manager David Hunt says its biggest 120 customers are not using gas to try and ensure the existing gas in the pipeline is sufficient to maintain supply. That would ensure the company avoids a major logistical problem in relighting thousands of pilot lights for individual consumers once supply was restored.

Okolona gas service disrupted

Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2002, Staff report

OKOLONA - Natural gas service here was disrupted Tuesday after a third-party contractor struck a natural gas pipeline in a construction area, officials with the Mississippi Valley Gas Company said. About 1,525 MVG customers in Okolona were affected by the accident which happened just before noon. The natural gas company sent 31 service personnel to the area to begin lighting pilot lights and providing other assistance. Service was expected to be fully restored by Tuesday evening.

Explosion, fire injure three in Chesterfield

BY MARK BOWES, TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER, Feb 20, 2002

Three workers were injured, one critically, when a natural gas line ruptured yesterday near Southside Speedway in Chesterfield County, triggering an inferno that sent flames high into the air. A 21-year-old employee of W.E. Curling Inc., an underground utility company that contracts with Columbia Gas of Virginia, was critically burned in the 3:40 p.m. explosion and fire at Genito and Warbro roads. The worker, whose name was not released, suffered third-degree burns to his hands and first- and second-degree burns to his face and chest. He was flown by Medflight helicopter to Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia Hospitals. Two co-workers suffered less serious injuries. One was taken to MCV, and the second refused to be transported, said Chesterfield fire Capt. David Bailey. Bailey said the men were working on a Columbia Gas line on Warbro Road, just south of Genito Road, when an explosion rocked the area, sending gas-fed flames into the air. The fire burned a nearby pickup truck and backhoe, and melted some siding on the Clodfelter Machine Inc. building at 3017 Warbro Road. "They were actually working on the gas line," Bailey said. "I understood that they were nearing completion of their work for the day" when the line apparently ruptured. "I'm not sure if they were filling the hole back up or not." Bailey said it's possible that static electricity sparked the explosion, though the incident is still being investigated. Firefighters had the situation under control within 40 minutes, but they let the fire burn until workers could shut off the gas supply about 100 yards away. The line was capped at 5:15 p.m. "We put these fires out by eliminating the source of the fuel," Bailey said. "We could put the fire out, but then it would just explode back up." Bob Innes, a spokesman for Columbia Gas, said about 900 of the utility's customers in the Brandermill area could possibly lose service overnight as workers repaired the damaged gas line. Innes said the workers involved in yesterday's incident were putting the finishing touches on a gas-line relocation project tied to the widening of Genito Road.

Cut natural gas line forces Salina Town Hall evacuation

Friday, February 15, 2002

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Salina Town Hall was evacuated for nearly four hours Thursday morning after a maintenance worker severed an unmarked natural gas line in the basement of the former school building on School Road. Among those evacuated were children in a day-care program and a Head Start program. The day-care children moved to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church about a block away, while the Head Start children went to Kirnan Real Estate's office at School and Old Liverpool roads. Parents picked their children up at those sites. The accident happened shortly before the town offices opened at 9 a.m. The building reopened, following repairs and inspection, about 12:30 p.m., said Salina Deputy Supervisor Christine Slocum. Town Justice Andrew Piraino presided over a wedding, which went off pretty much on time. Jerry Rosen

Worker pulled from grave

A grave digger was trapped for almost four hours on Thursday when a grave collapsed, burying him in thick clay up to his waist. The 25-year-old man was partially buried when the walls of the trench collapsed at a cemetery in Melbourne's south-east about 2:30pm (AEDT). Rescuers worked frantically to free him, bringing in specialist digging equipment to avoid further injury. A spokesman from the Country Fire Authority said the man was rescued about 6.20pm. "We've now rescued that chap from the grave, the Springvale Necropolis," the spokesman said. The man was taken to Monash Medical Centre, where he is reported to be in a satisfactory condition with leg injuries. Earlier, a Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS) spokesman said the man was conscious throughout the ordeal. Crews from the State Emergency Service and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade were also on hand and reinforced the walls of the grave to prevent further collapse. MAS officers said the man, from Narre Warren, had been treated for shock at the scene and an intravenous drip was used to prevent dehydration. It is believed the man was using a shovel to put the finishing touches to the grave after the bulk of the work had earlier been done with a digging machine.

Contractor ruptures natural gas line; High school cleared for safety

By Sherris Moreira-Byers, Herald Staff Writer

Students at Hickory High School were evacuated for about 15 minutes when a four-inch gas line was broken near the south entrance of the school. "It smelled like propane from a grill," sophomore Amanda Mlakar said, describing the odor in and around the school. The line break occurred around 2 p.m. when a contractor for the water company broke the line as part of work for the widening project of state Route 18, said Ken Baumann, vice president and general manager of Consumers Pennsylvania Water Company, Shenango Valley Division. "It was hit by a contractor that is installing the water line that relates to the relocation of the water lines because of the road widening," he said. "We're putting in a 12-inch water line up there, and in every case, water lines are below gas lines to prevent freezing." The water company notified 911 and the school and students were evacuated as a precaution, Baumann said. "The kids responded beautifully and the adults responded beautifully," Karen Ionta, Hermitage School District superintendent said. "Fifteen more minutes and they would have been out of school." Nancy Taylor, a media spokesperson for National Fuel, said the line was shut off after 20 minutes, and that it was being repaired Friday afternoon. She added it was not a high-pressure line and that no one was out of service. Baumann said the water company tries to avoid hitting gas lines, but information about their whereabouts isn't always accurate. "We usually do a pretty good job of avoiding them," he said, adding that he did not have specific details about how the actual break occurred Friday afternoon.

2 die, 1 in coma as gas leaks from pipe

YOKOHAMA -- Two workers were killed and another lapsed into a coma when they inhaled gas that leaked from an old pipe they were trying to remove from beneath a sidewalk early Saturday, police said. Taichi Ikejima, 24, and Kinichiro Ohira, 37, died in the accident while the 52-year-old father of Taichi remains unconscious. Ikejima, his father and Ohira were working in a hole they had dug for the removal work. Six other workers were sickened only slightly because they were above the ground, officials of the Tsurumi Police Station said. The nine workers apparently began digging a 1-meter-square hole at about 9 p.m., Friday, before working on the old gas pipe in Yokohama's Tsurumi-ku. They collapsed one after another at about 12:40 a.m. A security guard sleeping at a nearby factory told reporters that "shortly before 1 a.m., I was awoken by the gas leak." According to Tokyo Gas Co., which operates the pipes in the area, gas leaked apparently when attachments to the old pipe came loose. (Mainichi Shimbun, Feb. 9, 2002)

Gas Line Rupture Kills 1 in Okla.

Fri Feb 8,11:00 AM ET

PERRY, Okla. - A worker testing digging equipment ruptured a large natural gas line early Friday, touching off an explosion that killed one person and forced nearby residents to evacuate, authorities said. It was unclear whether the person killed was the man testing equipment at the Charles Machine Works plant. There was no serious fire after the 22-inch gas line ruptured at 7:15 a.m. Gas could be heard rushing out of the line two hours later as emergency crews worked to shut it off. "It sounds like a jet engine," said Noble County jailer John Vasek, who was nearly two miles away. "You can hear it blowing off pressure." About 15 people residents were evacuated. The line is owned by a subsidiary of Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co., said Matt Skinner, spokesman for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the state agency that regulates utilities. The rupture occurred about two miles northwest of Perry, which is about 60 miles north of Oklahoma City.

Gas leak clears train station

From AAP, 02feb02

FIRE authorities say 30 people have been evacuated from Sydney's Central Railway Station following a gas leak. Workers at the corner of Chalmers and Elizabeth streets caused the leak by accidentally cut a gas main about 4.30pm (AEDT). Fire crews and the Hazardous Materials unit joined gas company crews on the scene to contain the leak.

Cut gas line halts traffic on U.S. 19

A crew doing roadside excavation punctured a 6-inch natural gas line. Traffic was halted for nearly three hours. By RYAN DAVIS, Times Staff Writer, St. Petersburg Times, published January 30, 2002

NEW PORT RICHEY -- An excavation crew punctured a gas line along U.S. 19 Tuesday afternoon, shutting down both directions of the road and making Gret Kocian wish she had never left home. "It's hell," the Elfers woman said while stopped in a car on Main Street. "I want to make a left and go back." It turned the McCarthys' 12-mile round trip from Bayonet Point to New Port Richey into a two-hour excursion. It gave physical therapist Todd Williams time to do paperwork in his car. It reduced Stutzman Electric workers to crawling along at 3 mph in an overheated van. It sent Genesis Elementary first-grader Alfred Jennett from his classroom to a nearby county building where teachers read him Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It halted a multiagency U.S. 19 speeding crackdown. Officials had been issuing tickets since 7 a.m. along the road. "No one's speeding now," Michele Baker, the county's emergency management director, said during the shutdown. In fact, no vehicle was even moving for more than 2 miles to the north or south of Main Street, sheriff's spokesman Kevin Doll said. Commuters said the lines were even longer than that. U.S. 19 was closed from Main Street north to Sunset Road and some drivers were diverted even farther north of the leak. A crew from S and S Directional Boring was digging along the east side of U.S. 19 at Green Key Road, which is just north of Main Street. The company was contracted to lay cables for Time Warner, police said. About 1:10 p.m., the crew found what it thought was a marked Clearwater gas line. The workers started to dig next to it. Turns out it was an abandoned line, and when they dug in, they punched a hole in a 6-inch diameter natural gas line, said S and S company spokesman Neil Schearouse. Within minutes, emergency officials closed the road. Rescue workers evacuated the Davis Center strip mall, Whole Works restaurant and Genesis School, which has 130 students. Other businesses and the New Port Richey Marine Institute, a school for troubled teenagers, voluntarily emptied. Rescue workers from the county and New Port Richey sprayed water off a nearby palm tree, creating a mist designed to force the gas toward the ground. "Gas is flammable and it's an inhalation hazard as well," Baker said. Traffic across west Pasco ground to a halt. According to state transportation statistics, 64,000 cars pass Main Street on U.S. 19 each day. Based on traffic counts, about 13,800 cars would pass through the intersection between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., roughly the times it was closed. The three southbound lanes reopened about 3:40 p.m. and the three northbound lanes about 15 minutes later. "When you've got a river on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, there's nowhere to divert anyone," said New Port Richey police Capt. Darryl Garman. Martin Hawley, who was trying to pick up his sick daughter at Genesis School, can attest to that. "I've been trying to get around for 45 minutes," he said. "I'm a little concerned." - Staff writer Matt Waite contributed to this report. Ryan Davis is the police reporter in Pasco County. He can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6245, or toll-free at 800-333-7505, ext. 6245. His e-mail address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

OSHA Proposes $148,500 in Penalties Against Olshan Foundation Repair Co. in Houston, Texas, for Safety and Health Violations

DALLAS -- An Olshan Foundation Repair Co. employee in Houston was electrocuted during a tunnel excavation beneath a residence undergoing a foundation repair. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company with alleged safety and health violations and proposed penalties totaling $148,500. The OSHA Houston south area office conducted the investigation that began July 30, 2001, and cited Olshan with two willful, one serious and one other-than serious violation. Two willful violations were issued for failing to ensure that electrical equipment was free from hazards, such as missing ground prongs, exposed conductors and damaged insulation. The second willful violation was for failing to use proper ground fault circuit breakers or an assured equipment grounding program to automatically trip off any leakage of electrical current. A willful violation is defined as one that is committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations. The serious violation was for failing to train employees in recognizing and avoiding hazardous conditions such as confined space, working in a conductive and damp location with defective electrical equipment. A serious violation is one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard. The other-than-serious violation was failing to document injuries and illnesses on the OSHA 200 log. The law requires employers to log in any occupational illness, injury or fatality. The company did not log in the fatality. An other-than-serious violation is a hazardous condition that would probably not result in serious harm or injury to employees. Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health standards can call the nearest OSHA office. OSHA's toll-free hotline may be used to report workplace accidents, fatalities, or situations posing imminent danger to workers. The number is 1-800-321-6742. The employer has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to either comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA area director, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Pipeline ruptures near Little Swan Lake; residents evacuated

By Sarah Kenney - Staff Reporter

A ruptured propane pipeline in the southeast part of Warren County kept all emergency personnel on their toes, Tuesday. At approximately 12:09 p.m. Tuesday, the Warren County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call reporting a ruptured gas pipeline. Warren County Sheriff's Lieutenant Don Shamblin, who served as the on-scene incident commander, advised that an eight-inch propane pipeline had been ruptured by a field tiling crew approximately one mile south of Little Swan Lake, near the intersection of 10th Avenue and 140th Street in Warren County. A command post was established at the southeast corner of Little Swan Lake and approximately 15 residents, within a two-mile radius, were asked to evacuate to a safe area. A perimeter was established and the public was, and as of press time, are still requested to stay at least two miles away from the evacuated area. Valves were secured on the Mid-America propane pipeline at approximately 12:58 p.m., stopping the flow of propane. The evacuated area will remain secured until the pressure in the pipeline has stabilized and the area is safe for residents to return. Persons affected by the evacuation should listen to local radio stations for announcements concerning official information on when they may be allowed back into the perimeter. The Roseville, Avon, and Bushnell-Prairie City school districts were all notified of the rupture, due to changes in their transportation that affected the students who rode buses to the evacuated area. Mid-America Company representatives and repair crews were on the scene all night and will be throughout the day to evaluate and begin repairing the rupture as soon as possible. The Warren County Sheriff's Department issued a press release last night stating that around 5:40 p.m., the Warren County Sheriff's Office, working in cooperation with the Mid America Pipeline, decided to evacuate eight additional residents on the McDonough-Warren County Line. A three-mile stretch on the county line between 140th Street and 170th Street was evacuated by the Warren County McDonough County Sheriff's Departments. Also, additional residents were later evacuated due to the change in weather. At approximately 9:45 a.m. this morning, the Warren County Sheriff's Department issued another news release, stating that at 8:15 a.m. the residents on the Warren/McDonough County Line were allowed to return to their homes. The Sheriff's Office, in cooperation with employees of Mid-America Pipeline, have closed the perimeter of the scene to approximately one square mile. It has been deemed it is no longer a danger area. However, the radius and county roads that will remain closed will be 140th Street from the McDonough/Warren County Line to 23rd Avenue and 10th Avenue, one mile west of 140th Street and two miles east of 140th Street. The employees of Mid-America are working as quickly as they can to get the matter under control and hope to open the remainder of the roads as soon as possible. The high concentration of LP gas that had already escaped the ruptured pipe on Tuesday, along with the incumbent weather, is hampering the Mid-America Pipeline employees from gaining access to the ruptured pipe. The Warren County Sheriff's Department is asking for cooperation in this matter. They ask that you stay clear of the area until it can be deemed safe. "We apologize for any inconvenience," stated Lt. Shamblin. Responding agencies besides Warren County included the Illinois State Police, McDonough County Sheriff's Department, Roseville Fire Department, Avon Fire Department, Bushnell Fire Department, Roseville Ambulance, and Galesburg Area Hospital Ambulance Service. Additional news releases will follow as information is made available.

Gas leak interrupts traffic, lunch

By JAMIE JONES, Times Staff Writer, St. Petersburg Times, published January 25, 2002

BROOKSVILLE -- Construction crews working on U.S. 41 Thursday afternoon ruptured a natural gas line, shutting down traffic for about a half hour and causing the evacuation of dozens of people working and eating lunch along the busy thoroughfare. Capt. Frank Phillips said the Brooksville Fire Department got a call at 12:25 p.m. saying crews widening U.S. 41 near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard broke a 2-inch gas line while digging in a ditch. As the smell of gas filled the air, Brooksville firefighters evacuated everyone eating at a Checkers restaurant across the street and asked everyone in the nearby Golden Corral to stay inside, Phillips said. They instructed several restaurants to immediately turn off their stoves. Sheriff's deputies shut down U.S. 41 between Martin Luther King Jr. and Candlelight boulevards for about a half hour. Hope Sanderson, manager of Checkers, said the restaurant's gas was shut off for about 45 minutes during the lunch rush hour. She said the restaurant luckily had enough food for everyone in line when employees shut off the stoves. She said customers continued coming into the restaurant, but employees were forced to turn them away. She said she did not know how much money the restaurant lost. "Before too long, we were back in business," Sanderson said. TECO workers arrived within 20 minutes to shut off the gas and were working to repair the line, Phillips said. Representatives of Smith & Co., which is responsible for the road widening project, did not return calls Thursday.

Gas leak in Lodi causes evacuation of 30 homes

By Nicholas Grudin News-Sentinel staff writer

A punctured natural gas line on Stockton Street forced the evacuation of about 30 homes Tuesday as leaking gas whistled through a hole in the plastic pipeline. Online Construction was installing lines for Pacific Bell in a 4-foot-deep trench at the intersection of Stockton Street and Century Boulevard when a tooth of a tractor's shovel stuck into the side of a 4-inch plastic Pacific Gas and Electric Co. natural-gas pipeline, said Whitey Craft, a supervisor for Online Construction. The punctured pipeline released highly pressurized natural gas, Battalion Chief Jeff Larson of the Lodi Fire Department said. Firefighters and police responded to the gas leak at 9:20 a.m. and closed the stretch of Stockton Street between Almond and Idlewild drives while PG&E workers hurried to halt the leak. About 30 homes just east of that section of Stockton Street were evacuated as a light wind blew the gas into the neighborhood. Nearby businesses to the west were alerted to the situation, but the workers were not required to leave. No one was injured in the accident, although the construction workers were flustered by the initial loud burst of natural gas. We were in the ditch. After the initial boom we started running, Craft said, speaking in a shout over the loud rush of gas still screaming from the pipe. I'm still a little shaken up. Craft's son, Duke, 21, who is also an employee of Online Construction, was in the trench along with his father when the pipe burst, and was equally shocked by the noisy rush of gas. These incidents are not uncommon, Larson said. This happens fairly frequently. Every few months, Larson said. This instance may have been more difficult to respond to, however, since the punctured gas line was fed from two different sources. To stop the leak, PG&E workers had to dig two separate holes, each around four feet deep. One was through concrete. This would not have been too pressing if the gas wasn't creating such a mounting health hazard. There was a strong scent of natural gas in the neighborhood just east of Stockton Street and a spark near the leak could have ignited the gas, causing a large explosion, Larson said. The initial explosion would be followed by a high column of fire into the sky, Larson said. There was no spark, however, and crews had stopped the leak by 11:15 a.m. PG&E spokesman Jonathan Franks said that everything would be repaired by Tuesday evening. Reports vary as to whether or not the four inch gas pipeline that was punctured was marked or not.

Gas leak snarls traffic

By Trista Talton, Staff Writer, January 19, 2002

A ruptured gas line forced the closure of a busy, mile-long stretch of South College Road for nearly three hours Friday, stalling rush hour traffic and cluttering side streets. J and B Communications pierced the pipeline while boring under utility lines in the ground, said Wilmington Fire Capt. Freddie Powers Jr. The drillers' job was to bury new communication lines. They didn't locate the line properly, Capt. Powers said. Traffic had to be rerouted to side streets around the blocked-off section of South College between Oleander Drive and Shipyard Boulevard, a stretch normally throbbing with cars on a Friday afternoon. The line was struck about 3 p.m. in front of a BellSouth office near Hugh MacRae Park on South College, said Lt. Tim Smith of the Wilmington Fire Department. The leaks were clamped and the road reopened around 5:45 p.m. It's a pretty good leak, Lt. Smith said . Some of the gas drifted into the BellSouth building, which was evacuated shortly after the line was ruptured. Students at Roland-Grise Middle School on Lake Avenue were getting out of school around the time the line was hit. Buses had to be rerouted to 41st Street, but the school schedule was not otherwise interrupted. Lt. Smith said the school was not endangered. Wilmington Police cars blocked entrances to the closed stretch of South College as officers directed traffic away from the area. Fire trucks and HAZMAT workers waited nearby. Meanwhile, crews with Progress Energy dug to reach the ruptured line, which divides into two, 2-inch lines. Crews planned to clamp both lines to stop the leak. Gas fumes permeated the wind blowing toward Shipyard Boulevard and seeped into storm drains and through cables into the BellSouth building. The building's windows and doors were opened to let the fumes dissipate and fans were placed in the storm drains to push gas fumes out. Under a Wilmington city ordinance adopted in 1999, contractors draw a citation and automatic fine of $4,000 if they damage underground natural gas lines. J and B Communications was cited as a result of the incident, but has 10 days to file an appeal.

Punctured gas main forces evacuation

By Karen Rivedal, Tribune staff reporter

Published January 18, 2002, 2:06 PM CST

The Chicago Fire Department evacuated a city block this morning and was working with a natural gas utility crew to contain a gas leak caused by a construction crew near Jefferson and Taylor Streets on the Near West Side, officials said. The leak in the 24-inch main occurred at about 9:45 a.m., when a Commonwealth Edison crew working in the 900 block of South Jefferson Street partially sheared the medium-pressure line by accident, said fire department spokeswoman Molly Sullivan. Workers from Peoples Energy located the cutoff pipe to stop the flow of gas at about 12:30 p.m., said Peoples Energy spokeswoman Karyn Pettigrew. Crews expected to restore service by late afternoon, after repairs to a 2-inch tap into the main were completed. Meanwhile, fire crews were putting down chemical foam to contain the gas, Sullivan said, while an undetermined number of people have been evacuated from low-rise commercial buildings along one block of Jefferson, from Taylor to Polk Streets. The fire department had no reports of anyone injured or sickened by the break, but ambulances were standing by, Sullivan said. The Chicago Fire Academy, located just east of the leak, was not affected, nor was the University of Illinois at Chicago campus a few blocks west, she said. A CTA spokeswoman said train and bus service in the area also was not affected.

Backhoe ruptures gas line in front of judicial center

By: Kristi Jones-Headliner News, January 16, 2002

Construction work in front of the county's new multi-million dollar judicial center damaged a two-inch steel gas pipe Jan. 10, causing natural gas to flow into the air for several hours that afternoon. The unidentified worker said he hit the T which goes up close to the ground, while digging with a backhoe, and pulled the cap off of the pipe. Though the leak looked hazardous, the scene was quickly controlled, Ozark Fire Chief Jake Archer said. "Because of the open air, there isn't too much danger right now," Archer said. "The only thing we could do to help the situation is to wet down the walls." If the gas had ignited, the gas-permeated walls of the new jail could have burst into flames, Archer said. Presiding Commissioner Roy Matthews said the danger was minimal because natural gas is lighter than air and quickly rises. Still, the incident posed a risk to nearby workers. The pipe that was damaged carried a higher pressure than a residential pipeline, which pumps at 11 pounds of pressure, Ozark Code Enforcement Officer Al Gonzales said. The higher pressure caused more gas to leak at a faster rate. Missouri Gas Energy workers, Ozark firefighters and construction site workers combined their efforts to plug the gas leak by blocking the pipe up-stream from the leak. "In order to keep our men safe, we're working farther down the line to plug up the gas leak because of the danger of the blowing gas," MGE Area Supervisor Kyle Edwards said. The same workman who struck the gas line on Jan. 10 struck a water main the next morning. That caused water to pour out onto the streets of the square, firefighter Chris Heslip said.

UPDATE, Contractor fined for damaging phone lines

UNION-TRIBUNE, January 12, 2002

A fencing contractor who caused $625,000 damage to underground phone lines in Kearny Mesa when he failed to check on the location of utility lines was ordered yesterday to pay $12,320 in fines and court costs. Robert Flud of South Coast Fence Co. damaged the phone lines in March 1999 when he dug multiple holes for fence posts at a construction site on Kearny Villa Road, said Deputy District Attorney Tricia Pummill. Severing the phone lines knocked out telephone and computer service to several area businesses and damaged the Sheriff's Department's 911 emergency line, which remained operational. Flud, a licensed contractor since 1997, agreed to pay Pacific Bell $625,000 in a separate civil case as reimbursement for costs to repair the damage he caused, Pummill said. Contracting companies are required under a state "dig alert" law to notify officials at least two working days before beginning excavation to determine if underground utilities are in the area. "You can create so much damage by not paying attention to this," Pummill said. "We have to make it a priority for people to pay attention. It is not worth it for people to start digging without knowing what's underneath." Flud's attorney did not return calls seeking comment.

Buried worker lucky to be alive

Wednesday January 09 08:38 AM EST, By Tom O'Konowitz Daily Herald Staff Writer

A construction worker in South Elgin managed to walk away with only minor injuries Tuesday after a trench collapsed around him, completely burying him under mounds of clay and dirt. Brian K. Stillmunkes, 27, of Bristol, remained in the emergency room at Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin Tuesday evening. It appeared Stillmunkes suffered cuts, bruises and possibly broken bones in the accident, but the exact extent of his injuries was not immediately known, according to the South Elgin paramedics who treated him at the scene. "He's very fortunate to even survive something like this," said Joe Cluchey, assistant chief of the South Elgin and Countryside Fire Protection District. Stillmunkes, who works for Yorkville-based S&K Excavating, was digging a trench for a new sewer line around 10:30 a.m. when the walls of the 10-foot-deep hole caved in on top of him, fire officials said. A new house is being built on the construction site at 841 Sunrise Drive in the Thornwood subdivision near Randall and McDonald roads on the village's far west side. Scores of builders and contractors were working on the village's newest street at the time of the collapse and rushed to help Stillmunkes. "He was buried over his head, but he had a hand up and was able to wave - his co-workers saw him and were able to start digging him out by hand," Cluchey said. A team of about 18 rescue workers from the fire department and South Elgin public works department arrived at the scene minutes later and started to reinforce the walls of the trench with specialized plywood and hydraulic jacks to prevent a secondary collapse. According to South Elgin Fire Chief Louis Oine, secondary collapses are common in this type of rescue effort and often can cause more serious injuries than the initial cave-in. The rescue workers then used their hands and hand shovels to dig out Stillmunkes, who remained conscious and alert throughout the rescue effort. After about 45 minutes the pile of frozen clay was fully removed and Stillmunkes shocked rescuers by insisting that he walk out of the hole himself, with only some help from a firefighter and a police officer. The construction site was shut down after the industrial accident so officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration could begin their investigation, said South Elgin Deputy Police Chief Christopher Merritt. The site reopened to construction workers later in the day, but a spokesman for OSHA said it could be several days or weeks until the investigation is complete. According to police, the trench in which Stillmunkes was working did not have proper "shoring," or special reinforcements, to stabilize the walls. Cluchey said any hole or trench that is more than 5-feet deep should have special supports before workers enter them.

Accident shuts down part of pipeline

A construction accident near Spotted Horse Saturday afternoon shut down a section of methane gas pipeline. A bulldozer snagged an 8-inch methane gas pipeline where Melgaard Construction is building a reservoir well for Devon Energy at a site about 2 miles north of Spotted Horse, said Campbell County Fire Department investigator Eric Acton. Emergency services workers had to shut down compressor stations above and below the damaged pipeline, where the accident happened about 2:40 p.m., and everything was under control by about 4:30 p.m., Acton said. No one was hurt, and no property was damaged except the pipeline, Acton said. "We're glad to know no one was injured," said Stacie McDonald, safety coordinator for Thunder Creek Gas Services, a firm partially owned by Devon. "We are doing a complete investigation, and we'll get to the bottom of it." Thunder Creek's investigation into the accident is expected to begin today, McDonald said. -- By The News-Record staff

Two Workers Freed From Trench In Avon

Two construction workers were rescued Wednesday evening after being trapped in a trench. The men became trapped up to their waists in mud and cold water while installing sewer pipes in a subdivision. A rescue crew worked for two hours before freeing the men. Both workers were treated for hypothermia, but were expected to recover.

Rescuers free man from trench

By PAT PANKRATZ, Herald Times Reporter

WHITELAW - A Whitelaw man was rescued Wednesday after a trench he was digging from a well to his new home collapsed. James Cigler, 35, was trapped for more than an hour after the trench he was digging caved in around him. Emergency personnel were called to 4202 Hempton Lake Road shortly after 11 a.m. Whitelaw firefighters arrived first and helped dig the dirt from around Cigler's face in the 7-foot deep trench. The firefighters erected plywood supports, to prevent further collapse, prior to arrival of the Manitowoc Fire Department's trench rescue team. The team further shored up the plywood support system by using air jacks, and pumped warm air into the trench with other specialized equipment. Valders ambulance personnel fed Cigler with warm fluids through an intravenous line. After rescuers were able to free the victim's legs by digging down about 4 feet with small shovels, the trench rescue team secured a harness around him and lifted him out with a ladder truck apparatus. More than 20 people were involved in the rescue effort, including 11 from the trench rescue team. Herzog credited the quick work of the Whitelaw firefighters. By 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Cigler was transported to Holy Family Memorial Medical Center, where he was later listed in stable condition.

Work crew ruptures gas main in Whitman

By Debbie Seele, Enterprise correspondent

WHITMAN -- Displaced residents returned to their evacuated homes and Route 27 reopened in time for this morning's commute after an excavator ruptured a gas pipe Monday afternoon, sending fumes as far away as Abington. No injuries were reported from the 1:45 p.m. incident at High and Temple streets. But 60 homes and businesses lost gas service, traffic became clogged when Route 27 closed and some school dismissals were delayed after the ruptured pipe sent a geyser of dirt and drifting gas fumes into the air. By this morning, four or five gas customers were still without service because utility crews were unable to get into the houses to turn pilot lights back on, said Whitman Fire Chief Timothy P. Travers. The DiLorenzo Co. of Everett was working for the utility company Keyspan at High and Temple streets, replacing existing 2-inch pipes with 6-inch plastic pipes, when workers ruptured the gas main. It took workers 3 1/2 hours to locate the shut-off valve to stop the leak. Temple Street is Route 27. Keyspan spokesman Mike Bruno said utility officials were investigating the circumstances surrounding the ruptured gas pipe. Travers said the work was an ongoing pipe-replacement project and the contractor had notified Dig Safe as state law requires for such excavation projects. Dig Safe, a quasi-state agency, works with contractors to avoid hitting utility lines during excavations. When the break occurred, Muffler Master at 470 Temple St. and an adjacent home at 462 Temple St. were evacuated. Windows in the basement of the Temple Street home were broken to ventilate a build up of gas fumes. As winds shifted, fumes from the leak were reported as far away as Ashland Street in Abington, and traffic was backed up on Route 18 north into Abington as commuters looked to find alternate routes home from work. Route 27 remained closed to traffic overnight while the pipe was repaired, and manholes on the south side of town were opened to ventilate gas fumes that had infiltrated the town's sewerage system. The state road reopened in time for this morning's rush hour. Ed Rivera was working in the garage at Muffler Master when he noticed the smell of gas. At first, he thought one of the gas tanks he uses for welding was leaking, until he saw workers running away from the gas leak in front of the business. "They were cutting a pipe or something and then they came running. They told me to stop working because there was a gas leak," said Rivera, who was sent home early after the business was closed for the day. The timing of the break required rerouting of students being dismissed from Whitman Middle School, whose main entrance is on Corthell Avenue, a side street adjacent to the site of the gas leak. The middle school was ordered shut down at 2 p.m., and students were not allowed to leave the building until school officials made alternate plans for dismissal. Buses were rerouted through a back entrance to the school through Homeland Park and Hogg Memorial Drive, and an extra bus was provided to students who normally walk home from school along Route 27. Middle school student Justin Almeida, 13, said he had to walk the long way home due to the detour, but said most students were calm. "It wasn't really scary, but some people were yelling. I was in the library when people said to go to the cafeteria to be dismissed," said Almeida. School Superintendent John McEwan was at the middle school to oversee the dismissal plans. "It went pretty smooth. "We opened Lot 25 to Hogg Memorial Drive and it gave us an alternate way for parents and buses to get in," said McEwan. McEwan said buses were delayed leaving the middle school, which caused subsequent busing delays in transporting students home from the Conley and Park Avenue schools, which have a later dismissal time. Keyspan crews worked for hours to locate the correct shut-off valve before stopping the leak, eventually having luck with the third valve closed. "It is a process of shutting down segments of the line and isolating the gas main. We had to shut down one valve at a time to see if it can shut down the gas leak. It takes a while," said Bruno, of Keyspan. Department of Public Works employees began to open manhole covers on Route 27 up to Oakwood Avenue and adjacent side streets to ventilate gas that had built up in the sewer system. "There is a potential danger due to the build-up of gas in the sewer lines. There was no potential damage to homes, but there may be to the sewerage pumping stations," said Assistant Superintendent Donnie Westhaver, who said the manholes would remain open until repairs to the gas lines were completed. At 3:40 p.m., Travers and Police Chief John Schnyer expanded the area closed to traffic due to a shift in the wind direction and delay in shutting off the gas. Whitman officials called in all off-duty police and department personnel. Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonough provided a mobile command center and 20 men to control traffic on side streets. Lt. Tom Majenski from the state police's Norwell barracks arrived on the scene with 10 troopers to provide perimeter traffic control along routes 18 and 27. The East Bridgewater Fire Department assisted at the scene, and the Hanson Fire Department provided coverage at Whitman's station. "The biggest snag was getting the gas main shut down," said Schnyer. "When the wind shifted to a northeasterly direction, Abington Fire Department had calls from residents on Ashland Street in Abington. It kept us on our toes." The senior center and the high school were opened as evacuation sites. One couple stayed at the Days Inn in Rockland overnight.

UPDATE, Construction accident probe continues

A 50-year-old North East man was killed after a trench caved in at a Rising Sun-area dairy farm. Rescue workers found Norman Pyle McCann's body around 11:20 p.m. Monday. He suffocated under 17 feet of soil, Maryland State Police said. The employees of M & M Paving Contractors of Port Deposit were installing a drainage pipe and manure storage pit at Long Green Farms off Crothers Road when the trench caved in. McCann was one of four construction workers involved in Monday afternoon's accident. Donald Crabtree, 30, of North East was pulled from the collapsed trench by firefighters from Community Fire Company of Rising Sun, the first responders. He was transported to Christiana Hospital in Stanton, Del., where he was treated and released, police said. Two other workers escaped injury. Walter Long of Rising Sun, who declined to comment on the situation, managed to free himself from the dirt and clay before rescue workers arrived, police said. The co-owner of M & M Paving Contractors, Harvey McNatt, 35, of Port Deposit, was also there when the trench collapsed. Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) is investigating the construction accident. Officials said about 132 firefighters and rescue workers assisted in the nine-and-a-half hour recovery effort. Rising Sun Fire Chief Karl Reichenbach said had the construction crew taken the proper safety precautions, this accident, like any other, might have been prevented. "The proper safety precautions in place might've prevented it, or at least the severity of it," he said. Reichenbach said the volunteers worked in "total cooperation," and no unforeseen problems arose during the recovery operation. "It went extremely well," he said. "All the rescue teams were volunteers, with the exception of Baltimore County (which was on standby and wasn't needed). We have a large list of resources and we tapped them very heavily last night." It was also the first time the county's command bus, Mobile 1, had ever been used for such a serious incident, Reichenbach said. The bus rolled right up to the scene and ran county dispatch operations from the farm. "It was marvelous," he said.

Trench collapses in R.S. * Rescuers search for buried construction worker

By Michael White, Whig Staff Writer, December 11, 2001

RISING SUN - Rescue teams worked into the night Monday searching for a construction worker buried under 15 feet of collapsed clay and sand in the Rising Sun area. Around 2:20 p.m., the walls of a 15-foot deep, 2-foot wide trench collapsed on top of two workers at a site off Crothers Road. Firefighters pulled one man, Donald Crabtree, 30, of North East, from a waist-high pool of dirt at roughly 2:30 p.m. Maryland State Police transported him to Christiana Hospital in Stanton, Del., where he was treated for minor injuries. He was listed in good condition Monday night. Rising Sun Community Fire Company Chief Karl Reichenbach offered no speculation as to the status of the second victim - whose name was not released. At 10:30 p.m., the rescue efforts were still underway. Reichenbach said rescue workers were close to where the man is believed to be buried, with 10 or 12 workers inside the trench digging. Reichenbach explained the efforts were taking a long time because firefighters and rescue personnel "won't give a life to save a life." Four construction workers were working on the project at the time of the collapse, police said. Three were down in the trench and one was on top. Rescue personnel figured there was little room to breathe beneath the dirt, police said. Crews were pumping air into the dirt in an effort to give him breathing room, police said. Officials determined the trapped man did not have a cell phone or pager with him. Rescue workers have had no contact with him since the collapse. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded numerous news helicopters after rescue workers expressed concern that the choppers could cause ground vibrations, emergency officials said. The victim's family and fellow construction workers were found crying at the scene. They drank hot chocolate and tried to keep warm while observing the recovery operation from about 60 yards away. Collapse teams from both Claymont, Del., and Aberdeen were put in charge of the recovery operation. Fire companies from Cecil, Harford, Baltimore, Chester, Pa., Lancaster, Pa., and New Castle, Del., counties responded to the call.

Office complex evacuated after gas pipe broken

CAPE COD TIMES

FALMOUTH - A gas leak forced the evacuation of several buildings yesterday afternoon in the Homeport office complex on Gifford Street.No injuries were reported from the incident. Just after 1 p.m., Falmouth Fire and Rescue responded to a report of a gas leak in the area of 332 Gifford St. Capt. Michael White said a construction crew doing excavation and grading in the area ruptured a high- pressure gas line. When the gas company, Keyspan Energy, had difficulty finding a shut-off valve, about five or six buildings in the Homeport complex were evacuated for more than an hour, White said. Employees in the complex encountered a strong smell of gas after the leak occurred, but fire officials said no one became sick from the fumes. It was not known how many people were evacuated. Although the evacuees were evacuated away from the scene, many could hear a roaring sound from the burst gas pipes. Utility officials ask that people who plan to excavate to call the DIGSAFE number at 888-344-7233 to find out if there are any utility lines in the area.

Gas Leak Forces Evacuations

A gas line ruptured Wednesday, forcing businesses and a condominium complex to evacuate, Houston authorities said. Houston Fire Department officials told News2Houston that a sub-contractor, who was trying to install fiber-optic lines, hit a 4-inch gas main, sending natural gas spewing from underneath the streets. Natural gas mixed with the right amount of air can cause an explosion, fire officials said. "Hazmat has taken some air samples," HFD district Chief Jack Williams said. "They checked the manhole up there (and) there's 100 percent gas fumes inside the manhole." Authorities said that most of the 100 people being evacuated are from the Westwood Garden Condominiums, located at 9350 Country Creek Drive. Fire crews asked Houston METRO buses and the Houston Red Cross to help shelter the evacuees. Reliant Entex workers shut down the gas line, so that repairs could be made.

Worker Trapped In Trench Presumed Dead

A man who tried to rescue his co-worker, who slipped into a water-filled trench at an Irwindale quarry Friday morning, is presumed dead. According to news wire reports, two men were working on a conveyor belt at the Vulcan Quarry, located east of the 605 Freeway, when the earth reportedly began to give way, and one of the men slid down a steep embankment and into a body of murky water. The second man, who was originally reported as having escaped any danger, jumped toward his co-worker to help him out, but instead slid into the water and drowned as the first man eventually pulled himself to safety. Firefighters and sheriff's divers were called to the scene to search the murky waters of the quarry, according to television reports. But after about two hours, the mission shifted from rescue to recovery.

Gas leak causes THS evacuation

November 08, 2001

Tullahoma High School students were briefly evacuated to the Wilkins Stadium late Thursday morning because of a gas leak. Tullahoma Fire Chief C.B. Watkins said Tullahoma Utilities Board employees were repairing a water leak at nearby Advance Auto Parts on North Jackson Street and inadvertently cut into a gas line. He said as a safety precaution, a decision was made to evacuate the high school. "Nobody was hurt, and everybody was safe," he said. "That's the main thing." Watkins said students were allowed back into the high school about 10 minutes after they were directed to evacuate. He said traffic on Jackson Street was briefly detoured through the Regions Bank parking lot to Atlantic Street until the gas leak was repaired.

Man dies at Waterford building site

online.ie 02 Nov 2001

A man has died in an industrial accident in Waterford. The incident happened this morning in a field in Kilbarry on the outskirts of Waterford City. The man was laying water and sewerage pipes in an eight feet deep trench when part of a digger fell on him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The gardai have called in Health and Safety Officers to carry out checks of the area.

Water firm workers escape uninjured

Vada Mossavat, Daily Mail staff , Thursday October 25, 2001; 12:40 PM

Several West Virginia-American Water Co. workers escaped injury this morning in the Alum Creek area when a small fire and explosion erupted from a break in a main gas line. Lou Aiello, operations supervisor for the water company, said Bobby Love and Mike Ferrell were digging to install a water meter for a new house on Daley Branch Road in the Alum Creek area about 10 a.m. today. "We were just digging and it blew," said Ferrell, who said this is the first time he had seen anything like it in his 22 years at the water company. Aiello said he thinks a backhoe hit a rock, causing a spark that may have ignited the gas coming from the plastic line. Ferrell said he was standing over the hole when the gas line broke. "All I remember was the heat. It was like a big cloud," he said, making a big circle with his arms to show how it had surrounded him. "Then I turned around and was running," Ferrell said. "Lord, I never want to go through that again." Ferrell, the foreman, said he had called gas company officials and told them they planned to dig in the area. When he came to dig this morning, he said there were no flags indicating that there were gas lines in the area. So, he said, he assumed there were no gas lines there. Firefighters from South Charleston and Alum Creek responded. At first, they let the fire burn. Acting as a pilot light, it kept the gas from just leaking into the air. But when firefighters tried to control the fire so they could move the backhoe away from the flames, they accidentally extinguished the fire. Tensions were high as emergency personnel waited for the gas company to arrive and shut off the gas that was leaking into the air. Representatives from the gas company were not immediately available for comment.

Gas leak in Ardsley Park evacuates schools, neighbors

A private construction crew hit gas line near Savannah Arts Academy and Blessed Sacrament School.

By Anne Hart , Savannah Morning News

Authorities evacuated Ardsley Park residents and hundreds of schoolchildren Wednesday morning after construction workers hit a gas line. No one was injured. About 750 students and staff at Savannah Arts Academy and some 360 more at Blessed Sacrament School left after the line started leaking. Academy students were expected to return today. Blessed Sacrament reopened by noon. A private construction crew boring a hole under the street at 49th Street and Atlantic Avenue cut a gas line, Savannah firefighters said. The gas came up through a storm drain. "You could smell it instantly," Clanton said. Neighbors in a four-block area leak between Paulsen and Reynolds and Washington and 50th streets were evacuated for nearly four hours. Authorities went door-to-door notifying neighbors. Elizabeth Stadt said she was a little alarmed when she heard the loud knock at the door. But she said the firefighters were calm and reassuring. She quickly got her dog, Sadie, and walked to a park. About two hours later, she said she and the dog were ready to go home, but had to wait until about 12:30 p.m. After evacuating, students and staff gathered in Daffin Park. "It went kind of like a normal fire drill," said Blessed Sacrament chaplain the Rev. Tim McKeown. The academy students were taken by bus to Savannah High School gym, where they had lunch and started an optional early dismissal. Buses took them home as usual.

OSHA hits O'Hara Construction with additional violations after fatal trench collapse

By Denise Allabaugh, Citizens' Voice Staff Writer, October 24, 2001

A construction company hit with $96,000 in fines after a fatal trench collapse in Wilkes-Barre recently was slapped with additional citations and proposed fines from Occupational Safety and Health Administration. James T. O'Hara Construction Co. of Moscow was charged with several violations that OSHA labeled "serious" in a copy of the recent citations OSHA filed. OSHA filed these citations following an inspection of the site at Blackman and New Frederick streets in Wilkes-Barre from Sept. 12 to Sept. 19. A report from OSHA's Wilkes-Barre office charged that O'Hara Construction used a Fiat-Allis loader, which was not equipped with a reverse signal alarm distinguishable from the surrounding noise level. Proposed penalty for this citation is $900. OSHA filed three more citations that must be corrected by Nov. 15. The first states that O'Hara Construction did not install a trench shield in a manner to restrict lateral or other hazardous movement of the shield in the event of sudden lateral loads. The proposed penalty for this citation is $1,125. The second states that trench box was used with procedures that deviated from the specifications, recommendations and limitations issued or made by the manufacturer. The third, a repeat violation, stated a stairway, ladder, ramp or other safe means of escape was not provided so as to require no more than 25 feet of lateral travel for employees. The proposed penalty is $2,400. OSHA also cited O'Hara Construction for several violations, which were corrected during an inspection. One citation charged O'Hara Construction did not provide adequate protection to protect employees from loose rock or soil that could pose a hazard by falling or rolling from an excavation face. The second cited O'Hara Construction for permitting an employee to enter an excavation to a level more than 2 feet below the lowest portion of the trench shield.

Trench collapses

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. (AP) -- A Lee's Summit firefighter working an off-duty job for an excavation company was killed when a trench collapsed Monday. It took nearly four hours to free Roger Moorhead, 49, who was dead at the scene.

UPDATE, Two firms cited in fatal trench cave-in

BY HANNAH ALLAM Pioneer Press

Two Northfield construction firms were each levied a $25,000 fine for failing to protect a plumber who was killed in a July trenching accident, a Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokesman said Thursday. Richard P. James, 55, and his two adult sons were digging to install sewer lines for a new housing development in the 1400 block of Blue Flag Court in Northfield when the trench collapsed, burying him. Both Steve Schmidt Construction-general contractor for the site-and Bakken Construction- which dug the trench -were cited for improper sloping and design problems that apparently led to the cave-in, according to OSHA documents. The Schmidt firm already has contested the ruling; Bakken has until Monday to contest. Under a recently revised statute, construction companies whose OSHA violations caused or contributed to an employee's death will pay a minimum of $50,000 for willful or repeated citations, and at least $25,000 if the errors were not willful or repeated. OSHA found that the violations in this case were not willful or repeated. James' death is an example of the dangers of trenching, said OSHA spokesman James Honerman. The worker's sons, aided by other construction workers, used a backhoe to remove the soil after the trench's collapse. By the time Northfield police arrived, the men were digging James out with their hands. He was later pronounced dead at Northfield Hospital. "Proper procedures for safely working on a trench were not followed," Honerman said. "Trenching is a very high-hazard industry." Last year, OSHA handled 63 violations of trenching standards -- the second most frequent construction citation, Honerman said.

Construction accidents endanger downtown Cherokee businesses

Times Staff Report, October 18, 2001

CHEROKEE-Cherokee firefighters and Alliant Energy workers averted yet another potential disaster Tuesday in downtown Cherokee. Firefighters were summoned to the alley behind the Lewis Hotel for a small fire which produced a large amount of smoke in the basement area. "We got the call at 1:10 p.m. and we had a lot of smoke visible in the basement," said Fire Chief Jack Olson. "We looked in the building and found nothing. It gave us the impression it was on the inside when it was on the outside." In searching the alley, the firefighters found that workers tearing up concrete in the alley had accidentally set an old doorframe afire with cutting torches. The doorframe had been uncovered by the work and the workers had been cutting away some metal in order to better fill the void. The fire caused quite a commotion for residents in the Lewis Hotel and firefighters remained on scene 30-45 minutes to make sure the fire was fully extinguished. Firefighters were promptly recalled at 4:03 p.m. for a gas leak behind the White Rose. During the course of their work, employees of Deer Valley Land Improvement accidentally snagged a gas meter line with a backhoe. The leak was large enough to allow residents on Maple Street to hear the whistling. "They pulled it pretty good," Olson said of the leak. "Basically we had enough of the pipe sticking out that we could pinch it off." In shutting off the leak, all that stood between downtown Cherokee and disaster was a vice grip. Some buildings were evacuated, but only long enough to ventilate them and get rid of the fumes, Olson noted. The perimeter extended from just near Letsche's Bike Shop west to Fourth Street and south to Maple Street. This was the sixth gas leak suffered in downtown Cherokee since work on the alleys started in early summer. After the first several leaks, Alliant Energy workers were sent to supervise the digging.

Man pulled from trench after four-hour ordeal

JASON MCKEE, Mercury Staff Writer, October 12, 2001

COLEBROOKDALE -- Rescue crews worked frantically Thursday afternoon to free a man who had fallen nearly 20 feet into a trench and had become buried up to his chest in loose gravel, according to emergency personnel at the scene. William Bradford, 28, of Conshohocken, had been working for Eastern Diversified Services, excavating a septic system for a rural residence along Powder Mill Hollow Road, emergency personnel said. While a backhoe was excavating the trench, Bradford was working at the surface when the ground gave way, sending him on an 18-foot drop and burying him up to his chest in gravel that continued to spill in from above. Rescue crews arrived at 61 Powder Mill Hollow Road at 12:15 p.m., minutes after the accident, and worked quickly to save Bradford, who was, at the time, quickly working to save himself. "He was extremely helpful," said Boyertown Friendship Fire Co. volunteer Rick Becker. "He was digging out the front of his legs with a small garden shovel while we were digging out the back." A lot of time is usually spent calming the victim in rescue attempts, but Becker said there was no need to calm Bradford. "He's a fire chief at Lincoln Fire Co. in Conshohocken," Becker said. "He definitely made it easier. We would have been here another hour or two without him helping." Bradford suffered only minor injuries in the accident, possibly a hyperextended knee, according to an emergency medical technician at the scene. He was pulled from the hole at about 4:15 p.m., four hours after the rescue efforts began, and flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital Center where he was in satisfactory condition Thursday night, according to hospital officials. The rescue was difficult because each bucketful of dirt and gravel that could be lifted out of the hole was countered by about the same amount of gravel falling back into the hole, rescuers said. Adding to the problems was a 14-foot deep stone wall, part of the foundation of the residence, that was putting constant pressure on the trench wall, rescuers said. "All this stone was pushing down right where he was," Becker said. Initial rescue efforts focused on "rapid shoring" around the victim, using scrap wood and anything else available to build a makeshift retaining wall to prevent the trench wall from collapsing and completely burying Bradford, Becker said. Dozens of rescue trucks, medics and about 100 firefighters assisted at the scene. It took a string of men heaving on a pulleyed rope to bring Bradford back to the surface. It was a group effort, according to Becker. "It's not something we do every day," he said. "And all these people coming out from all over; it's really a community effort."

Workers accidentally hit gas line

More than 500 people were evacuated from Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada on Wednesday morning after a construction crew accidentally struck a gas line. Catholic Charities' St. Vincent Plaza -- on Main Street between Owens and Washington avenues -- has been under construction to expand shelter space for the valley's homeless people. Tony Verdin, field superintendent for TBA Construction, said crew members had been digging the trench for a 4-inch water line when they struck and ruptured a 2-inch gas line.  Verdin said the gas company had not properly marked the location of underground gas lines before allowing the crew to dig.  "It was basically their oversight," Verdin said. "The whole site had to be evacuated until the line was pinched."  Roger Buehrer, spokesman for Southwest Gas, said the incident is under investigation. "There are two gas lines in the area and it appears that one was marked and another was not," Buehrer said. "Now, we're looking to see just what happened." Buehrer said the line ruptured about 7:30 a.m. and the gas company was able to shut gas flow to the line by 8:22 a.m. The 556 people who had been evacuated returned to the building two minutes later, he said. No fire erupted from the gas leak and nothing else on site was damaged, he said.  Catholic Charities spokeswoman Sharon Mann said no one was injured in the incident.

UPDATE, Trencher-accident victim remains serious

A Billings man remains in serious condition at St. Vincent Healthcare after receiving injuries Tuesday in a construction accident. Mark Anderson, 44, suffered serious cuts to both legs and left forearm and lost his left thumb when he apparently fell into the blades of a trench-digging machine. Anderson was employed for Huppert Bros. Construction of Billings working on a new golf course on Larimer Lane near Shepherd when the accident occurred.

Natural gas leak closes streets

By Alex Branch, The Wichita Eagle

A broken gas line closed traffic on Central Avenue for several hours Wednesday afternoon and disrupted businesses near Hillside Avenue. Contract workers with Kansas Gas Service apparently struck the line about 1 p.m. while laying a new gas distribution line along the south side of Central, said Tim Richards, a company spokesman. The punctured line belongs to Peoples Natural Gas. Richards said workers detected gas seeping from nearby manholes and a crack in the pavement. Police blocked traffic from Hillside to Clifton Avenue, and one block north and south of that area, fire crews said. No businesses were evacuated. But some businesses were disturbed. A dentist on the eighth floor of the Wesley Medical Tower had to cancel afternoon appointments because elderly patients couldn't find a way into the complex. Several employees had trouble getting back to work after lunch. "I just hope they take care of this so I can get out of here when I get off work," said Mary Ellen Lynch, who works for Progressive Home and Health Care. Workers opened manhole covers and storm drain grates to allow the gas to seep out. By 3 p.m., they managed to shut off the gas line and began working on repairs. Westbound lanes of Central were reopened by 4 p.m. Eastbound lanes remained closed Wednesday night and were not expected to reopen until this morning.

Airport gas leak forces evacuation

BY WANDA J. DeMARZO

A ruptured gas line forced the evacuation of more than 600 people for nearly two hours Friday morning from a terminal at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.  The trouble began at 10:15 a.m. when a construction crew cut a two-inch natural gas line in an airliner taxiway expansion project area behind Terminal 1, where Continental Airlines is the main carrier. ``The evacuation was orderly. No problems,'' airport spokesman Steve Belleme said. ``And the good thing was that the curbs were packed with people, which means we have a lot more people flying. Good thing to see,'' he said.

More than 20 firefighters and members of the county's hazardous materials team secured the area around the gas leak. After plugging the cracked pipe, fire-rescue crews took gas readings in the terminal before allowing anyone back inside. Belleme said incoming flights were diverted to other terminals during the evacuation.

Worker Pulled From Ditch In Sherman Oaks

A construction worker, who was rescued after falling into a trench near Sherman Oaks Saturday, is recovering in the hospital. The 25-year-old, who is said to be in good condition, was buried up to his neck in dirt for about two hours, CBS2 News reported. He was extricated by Los Angeles Fire Department crews shortly after 10 a.m., according to a local news wire. The television station said that the worker is part of a crew that has been building new homes in the area.

Trench Cave-In Kills Washington County Man

A 21-year-old man was killed Sunday night when a trench that he was working in caved in. Justin Davis of Washington County died after the cave-in in Bethlehem Township. Davis was doing work on sewage pipes on Lawrence Avenue when the trench caved in.

Trench collapse kills three boys

ASSOCIATED PRESS, September 17, 2001

RIO LINDA - Three young Rio Linda boys died Sunday evening when a construction trench collapsed and covered them in a dirt and asphalt. The boys - 8, 9 and 12 years old - were playing in the 8-foot-deep ditch with a fourth child when one of them tugged a tree root, unleashing a wall of dirt, said Capt. Patrick Ellis of the Sacramento County Fire Department. The names of the victims were being withheld pending notification of their families, though some of the parents were on the scene, neighbors said. One of the four boys playing in the ditch, the only survivor, was taken to Kaiser Permanente Medical Facilities with minor injuries. Ellis said the construction site is a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. project. Neighbors said work began Sept. 4. A PG&E spokesperson said the company was unable to provide information late Sunday.

Cut gas line creates headaches

Portion of Lee Avenue closed during incident

By SUE THACKERAY, Herald Staff Writer

SANFORD - A cut gas line Friday afternoon on Lee Avenue caused major headaches for anyone trying to drive through the area. Lee Avenue from Juno Street to Wilson Road, including Cameron Drive, was shut down for about 45 minutes after a utility contractor laying telephone cable struck a Public Service Gas line, said Sanford Fire Chief Wayne Barber. None of the buildings in the area had to be evacuated, but employees at Gaines Motor Lines Inc. were not allowed to move any of the vehicles in the yard and a neighboring irrigation business was inspected by firefighters to make sure its normal activities would not cause the airborne gas to ignite. Since the incident occurred just after 3 p.m. and fire crews were on the scene until just before 5 p.m., the mishap caused major headaches for some Static Control employees trying to get home from work.

UPDATE, Survivor of cave-in stood watching as dirt poured in

By Dan Wilson, For the Press-Gazette

A rural Waupaca man considers himself lucky to be alive after a trench collapsed around him Wednesday. It all happened so quick, all I could do was watch it, said Douglas Fletcher, 47, N4253 E. Ware Road. Fletcher, a hobby farmer who works full time at the Waupaca Foundry, was burying a water line for his house when the accident happened.  I had a trench about 5 to 6 feet deep and about 2 feet wide I had dug with a backhoe,  he said. The trench was more than 200 feet in length. However, the soil in the area is sandy and can be unstable. I was standing up and I was just about to jump out of the trench when it caved in. It went right up to my armpits. It fell in fairly quickly. It just freezes you in place and you can't even move.  Firefighters and highway workers dug Fletcher free after he became trapped about 2:30 p.m. He suffered no major injuries. Fletcher said he felt confident the soil would not bury him completely, given the depth of the trench. He was able to breath. Fletcher said his three children were nearby and they called 911. Rescue workers were on the scene quickly. I told them to use the backhoe but they used tools instead, he said. Firefighters feared that using the backhoe might cause a further collapse. The procedure took about 45 minutes. While they were digging, Fletcher was being given fluids intravenously to keep him hydrated, and he wore an oxygen mask. After he was checked out at the hospital, he was sent home. I just have some sores and bruises, Fletcher said.

Gas spills when backhoe gashes pipeline at airport; LEAK: Temporary repair limits fuel loss to 50 to 100 gallons.

By Rachel D'oro, The Associated Press, Published: September 8, 2001

Gasoline leaked out of a Tesoro fuel pipe Friday at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport after a backhoe struck the underground line while digging a trench. The 8 a.m. accident left a 1-inch gash in the 10-inch line, according to investigators with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Tesoro officials estimated the spill at 50 to 100 gallons. Company spokesman Ron Noel said workers clamped a temporary sleeve on the damaged pipe section around 11:30 a.m., plugging the leak. Tesoro also began the cleanup work, which will include removing contaminated soil. A high-pressure replacement sleeve has been ordered, Noel said. It will be welded on the line, which transfers gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel from Tesoro's Nikiski refinery to the airport and the Port of Anchorage. At the time of the accident, the fuel was being moved to the Port of Anchorage, said DEC investigator Bob Petit. The spill occurred between the airport's north/south runway and a taxiway at the north end of the airport. Petit said the gasoline pooled in the excavated section near the pipeline. "I could see the fuel shooting out, but it wasn't a huge stream," Petit said. Project officials said it's unclear why the work area wasn't marked to indicate the presence of the pipe, which is two feet below ground. Dave Berg, the field project engineer, said the project contractor had reviewed underground utility locations. Berg said the oversight is being investigated. The backhoe driver was digging a trench for an electrical duct bank. Berg said the work is part of a federally funded project by the state Department of Transportation for taxiway improvements. Friday's spill is the second involving the pipeline in less than two months. A leak was discovered July 31 about 14 pipeline miles from the refinery inside Captain Cook State Recreation Area. The pipeline was shut down for four days while workers found the problem and welded a sleeve over three pinhole leaks discovered at a weld. Tesoro officials said cleanup workers collected 35,000 gallons of contaminated water, recovering 500 gallons of fuel from it. Workers brought 120 cubic yards of contaminated soil from the spill site to the refinery.

Man caught in collapsed ditch is rescued

By Jim Kirksey , Denver Post Staff Writer

Thursday, September 06, 2001 - Rescue teams freed a man buried up to his waist Wednesday night in a trench that collapsed at Front Range Airport near Watkins, officials said. The man, whose name was not released, was stuck in the soft dirt for more than three hours, as rescuers worked to shore up the ditch before digging him out by hand, said Mike Bek of the Bennett Fire and Rescue Department. The victim was in stable condition and talking to his rescuers. He complained of knee and back pain, officials said. "The patient is breathing on his own and having no problems, just stuck," Bridgette Cumley, a spokeswoman for the Bennett fire department, said earlier in the night. Workers were digging a trench with a piece of heavy equipment when the victim saw something in the ditch. He jumped down in the ditch to see what it was, and the trench walls caved in almost immediately, Bek said. He said the trench was being dug for water and sewer lines for new hangars at the airport. Rescue teams received the call about 8 p.m. and found the man trying to dig himself out. Crews began shoring up the trench, which was 8 to 10 feet deep.

TRENCH RESCUE

DAVE SOMMERS, Staff Writer

It took rescue personnel more than an hour to rescue the worker from the 15-foot-deep trench. Rescue workers spent over an hour freeing a construction worker who was pinned under a 1,500-pound drill at the bottom of a 15-foot-deep trench in Bristol Township yesterday. Randy Hebalo, 45, of Birdsboro, Pa.,was flown to Hanneman Hospital in Philadelphia around noontime after being rescued from the bottom of a ditch near Riverside Industrial Park off Radcliffe Street, said officials. Officials said Hebalo was drilling a ditch for a new water main for Philadelphia Suburban Water Company when the auger drilling machine he was usingstruck something extremely hard and twisted uncontrollably. Hebalo, who was at the bottom of a deep trench, was trapped under the heavy equipment in the mud for more than 60 minutes as co-workers and rescue units determined the best way to hoist him out, co-workers said. Eventually, the Edgely Fire Company along with colleagues maneuvered a backhoe above the trench which enabled them to attach cables to the heavy drill bit and lift it out. "We stabilized the walls of the hole, got oxygen down to him, and then worked to get him out," said Edgely Fire Company Chief Jim Mulholland after the rescue was complete. Helabo was flown to Hanneman Hospital in Philadelphia where he was reported in stable condition last night. Helabo is a employed by the Missouri Valley Boring company, a subcontractor for Chaddick Construction Company, in Birdsboro, Pa., said officials. The company is installing a water main for the Philadelphia Suburban Water Company from Radcliffe Street to the Riverside Industrial Complex near Tullytown.

Worker Hits Electrical Cable; Escapes Injury

A construction worker at North Scott High School miraculously escaped injury after the equipment he was operating struck a buried 12,470-volt electrical cable last Wednesday.  "I'm sure glad nobody got hurt or killed. It could have gone that way, easily," Eldridge Utility general manager Ron McGill said of the accident, which occurred about 10:20 a.m. on Aug. 29. According to McGill, a worker for Davenport-based Scott County Fence Co. was digging fence postholes in an area on the west side of the high school when the auger of the Skidster machine he was operating hit the power line. Luckily, the line has a built-in safety feature which no doubt saved the operator's life. "There's a band of wires around the outside of the cable. When it's cut, it pushes the band into the main cable and it shorts it out," explained Tom Rudd, owner of Scott County Fence. "It worked. That's all I know about it." "It's supposed to short out right at the wire, which it did, thank God," noted McGill. The cut line caused a power outage that forced officials to dismiss school early. "It blew two mainline fuses. We had probably about a fourth of the town out for about an hour" - including Eldridge City Hall, he said. "We did some switching and isolating and got everything back on line." Power to the high school and adjacent Ed White Elementary School was restored just before 4 p.m., McGill said. The general manager attributed the accident to an equipment failure. He said his employees had marked the location of lines in the area, but they were evidently relying on some faulty readings. "We marked it where our locating equipment showed (the line) to be. But that wasn't exactly where it was. Our locating equipment was off," McGill said. "They (Scott County Fence workers) weren't at fault. I want to make that clear." Rudd, who declined to name the employee involved, said cable cuts are just a hazard of the job. "We were almost 30 inches away from that (locator) mark when we hit the cable. But these things happen. It's happened before," said Rudd, whose workers were installing fencing for a detention pond when the cut occurred. He speculated that another unidentified cable that was in the same location - and also was cut - may have somehow affected the readings.

UPDATE, Workers ignored safety warnings, report confirms

2001-08-30, By Bob Doucette, Staff Writer

A final report released Wednesday by the state Labor Department confirms that two Muldrow city workers killed in a sewer trench cave-in ignored warnings that could have saved their lives.  The report showed that the bodies of Dwight Rhodes and Larry Matthews were underground for about an hour before being found. Private contractor Ronnie Vest, who was working with the city, escaped the cave- in with minor injuries. Labor officials initially said that Rhodes and Matthews were working outside a protective trench box that is designed to prevent injuries from cave-ins. Vest was in the box when the accident occurred. A Muldrow police report, which was included in the Labor Department's findings, showed that the workers were told by supervisor Joe Shamblin to stay inside the box. "He repeatedly told the men to stay in the box," the report stated. "Joe said he could not keep the men in the box. Joe told me the men at the scene complained to him that by using the box, the work was going too slowly and they (would) rather just dispense with the safety box and work without it." Shamblin told the workers again to work inside the box. Moments later, the trench started to collapse. "About that time, he (Shamblin) noticed the dirt began to shift and slip," the report said. "He said he also noticed that Dwight and Larry had walked away from the safety box. He screamed for them to run to the box." Vest dove for the box, but the other men went the opposite direction -- where the cave-in was at its worst. "Joe advised that if the two men had joined Mr. Vest, they would in all probability survived the mishap," the report said. After 30 minutes of digging, rescue crews found their shovels. A baseball cap was later recovered. But it was nearly an hour before the bodies were removed. Both men died from suffocation, the report said.

Sapphire-mine collapse kills 1, injures student

By the Associated Press

PHILIPSBURG - An Idaho man was killed and a young female employee was injured Wednesday when a portion of the open-pit Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine collapsed, officials said. The injured woman, a University of Montana student from Philipsburg, was in serious condition at a Missoula hospital. The accident occurred about 20 miles from Philipsburg, along the Skalkaho Highway, about 3 p.m. Granite County officials said witnesses reported a group of six people were digging at a remote location when the cave-in occurred. The 51-year-old man died at the scene. The woman was dug out of the gravel and airlifted to Missoula in a helicopter. "They were digging when the ground above them gave away," said Granite County Sheriff Steve Immenschuh. "It just kind of cracked off." Names were not available.

UPDATE, Accident death toll rises to three

By John Milburn, Associated Press Writer, Wednesday, August 29, 2001

Topeka — Authorities continue to investigate a construction accident that claimed the lives of three workers in a sewer connection. Autopsies were being performed Tuesday on the victims, who were employees of Emerson Construction and died while checking a new sewer line for leaks in a new subdivision in southwest Topeka. The three workers were pulled Monday afternoon from a 23-foot-deep manhole. Authorities have identified the victims as Norman Emerson, 64, of Tecumseh; Lawrence Saloga, 53, of Pratt; and Brian Phelps, 22, of Topeka.  Emerson had been with the company since he founded the business nearly 40 years ago with his brother, Harley, said Todd Emerson, the victim's nephew. "We honestly don't know what happened entirely," Todd Emerson said. "Until they can find something wrong, we do not know."  He said the deaths have hit the company hard. Saloga had worked for the company for about nine years, while Phelps had for a shorter time. "We're all family," Todd Emerson said. The company employs about 35 people. Fire Battalion Chief Greg Bailey said officials have shied away from saying what caused the deaths, adding that anything without the autopsy results "is purely speculative." He said the autopsies on the victims were completed Tuesday and results will be released later in the week. Emerson was confirmed dead at the scene, and the other two were taken to hospitals, where they later died, Bailey said. Sharon Mandel, chief medical examiner for Shawnee County, said it will be several weeks before additional toxicology tests of blood and other tissue are complete. The men were discovered in the concrete-lined manhole by a co-workers, who called 911 from the housing subdivision around 3 p.m. Bailey said the first man was in the manhole for about 30 minutes before he was pulled out by rescuers. Nearly two dozen rescuers responded to the scene, an undeveloped area near the city limits which was being prepared for construction of roads and new homes. The three for were vacuum testing a manhole that joined several sewer lines in the subdivision. Emerson Construction said it likely would have a news conference to discuss the accident, although the time and place has not been determined. Officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration continue to investigate the accident. Todd Emerson said the company is working with the agency.

Gas leak forces evacuation
By Aeron Marcott, Of the News Herald

A ruptured natural gas main at Nelson-Jameson Inc. caused evacuation of three Marshfield businesses Thursday morning at 10:28 a.m. near 2400 E. Fifth St. According to Jim Schmidt, Deputy Chief of Marshfield Fire and Rescue Department, excavation for a future warehouse by a front-end loader ruptured a six inch natural gas main and emitted an audible leak for one block. Marshfield Bus Services, Nelson-Jameson Inc. and Central Manufacturing Co. were evacuated without report of injury. Marshfield Fire and Rescue Department responded to the emergency and notified Mid-Wisconsin Gas of the leak. "They came in and decided to dig a hole down further on the gas main and pitched the main off," Schmidt said. "The rest of the gas dispersed in the air before it could reach an ignition source." Schmidt added that the fire department provided fire protection in case the gas reached an ignition point and was available in case of injury.

Ministry continues probe into gravel pit deaths; Two men were crushed by pile of concrete sand

CAMBRIDGE - The provincial Ministry of Labour is continuing its investigation into the deaths of two men at a gravel pit west of the city on Aug. 8. Scott Mason, 29, of Paris, Ont. and Chris Priestman, 23, of Guelph, were conducting quality tests on a mountain of concrete sand when it shifted and covered them at the Blue Circle Aggregates gravel pit on Regional Road 97. A ministry stop work order is still in effect, meaning the gravel pit is closed until Ministry of Labour officials complete their investigation. An inquest into the two deaths has also been called, although no date has been set. Normally, the regional coroner's office will set a date after the ministry of labour wraps up its investigation. The ministry is also investigating the death by electrocution of 50-year-old Gerald Leader at the Toyota plant on Fountain Street July 31. Leader, an experienced electrician, died after he did not lock out the source of electricity on the panel he was working on.

Construction accident kills Perry man

By Sharon E. Crawford, Telegraph Staff Writer

WARNER ROBINS - A Perry man was killed Thursday afternoon after being crushed in a construction accident off Hunt Road. Investigators believe Darrell Lester, 42, was killed after the trench he was working in caved in. Another man, Cliff Nash, 20, of Warner Robins, was able to escape and was not injured. Lester and Nash were working for Pro Choice Construction, 102 Cherokee Forest Trail. Officials with Pro Choice Construction could not be reached Thursday evening. Houston County Coroner Danny Galpin said Thursday that Lester probably died shortly after the first amount of dirt fell on him and estimates the weight of the dirt was "like a ton of pressure" on Lester's chest. An autopsy is expected to be conducted this morning. Warner Robins Sgt. John Wagner said Lester and Nash were laying sewage pipes in a wooded area off Hunt Road shortly after 1:30 p.m. Thursday when their section of the trench caved in. They were working outside a protective trench box when the accident happened. The cave-in completely buried Lester and covered Nash up to his head. Workers were able to pull Nash out of the ground, but could not completely unearth Lester. Firefighters from Warner Robins, Houston County and Macon-Bibb County worked for several hours to free Lester from his 8-foot-deep entrapment. Emergency crews had to shore up the sides of the trench before one of the firefighters could crawl in to recover the body. Lester was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Warner Robins Police Department, Houston County Sheriff's Office, Houston County Emergency Management Agency and American Red Cross also responded. Officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are expected to investigate the scene today.

UPDATE, Cave-in kills two sewer workers in Muldrow

2001-08-24
MULDROW -- In a matter of seconds, Ronnie Vest watched a wall of earth nearly swallow him whole. He survived, but two co-workers -- Dwight Rhodes and Larry Matthews -- weren't as lucky. Vest pulled himself out of a collapsed sewer line trench the three were working in Wednesday. Rhodes and Matthews died despite frantic efforts by city workers using heavy machinery and even their hands to dig them free. Vest, a private contractor working with the city, said the cave-in quickly overtook the crew. "They were within arm's reach of you," Vest said Thursday. "It was seconds and it was over. "We took all the precautions we could take, and it just happened. It's just at the point that I really don't want to talk about it." An inspector from the state Labor Department was in Muldrow on Thursday. Preliminary findings showed that Rhodes and Matthews -- both city employees -- shouldn't have been in the area of the ditch where they died, said Trey Davis, a Labor Department spokesman. Workers were told by a supervisor to work inside a protective metal safety box designed to prevent cave-in injuries. Work outside the box was forbidden, Davis said. Rhodes and Matthews were told not to go into an unprotected part of the ditch, but that was where they were when the cave-in occurred, Davis said. Vest was inside the box. Earlier that day, workers attended a training session on how to safely dig trenches. The cause of the cave-in had not been determined by Thursday evening. Besides the safety box, several safety bracings were in place, officials said. The three men were laying a sewer line at a house near Quail Run Golf Course in east Muldrow. Labor Department officials aren't rushing to finish their inquiry because the pain of the deaths is so fresh, Davis said. It may be a few days before a cause of the collapse is established. "They're pretty torn up there, from what I understand. We wanted to give them a little time."

Details

Parent Category: Incident Alert Archives

Category: Trenching & Excavation Alerts

Published: 10 September 2010

Trenching & Excavation Accidents #1

This page was last updated on 05/06/2010

Gas leak forces evacuation of several homes
CUMBERLAND -- Several houses on Marshall Avenue were evacuated Tuesday morning after contractors working on a water main accidentally ruptured an underground natural gas line.  A police officer working traffic detail reported the break at 11:23 a.m., after a backhoe digging near 211 Marshall Ave. struck a service line to the home, according to police and Valley Resources spokesman Paul Fioranti.  The main gas line was not damaged, but firefighters evacuated five or six nearby houses as a precautionary measure, said Valley Falls Fire Chief Ernest Cimino.  "They were only out for roughly a half-hour as a precaution until the gas leak was capped off," Cimino said.  Each of the evacuated homes was checked to see if any natural gas had entered homes through spaces around underground pipes, but each test came up negative and the residents were allowed back into their homes, Cimino said.  He said yesterday's breeze helped to dissipate the gas quickly outside near the break, reducing the risk of ignition of the highly flammable gas.  Valley Resources responded to turn the service line off and repair it, and service was restored a short time later, Fioranti said. Only one home's service was affected.  The break caused a minor delay in work being done on Marshall Avenue for the Pawtucket Water Supply Board (PWSB), which supplies water to Valley Falls, Pawtucket and Central Falls.  Contractors have been working there for about a week and half on a project to clean and reline the water main that runs the length of the road on the south side, according to Pamela Marchand, PWSB chief engineer.  The project will take a total of about six weeks and will involve sending machines through the main to scour off corrosion and rust that have accumulated over years. After scraping, they will line the pipe with a fresh layer of cement.  In order to do the work, they must dig holes every 500 feet or so to give them access, Marchand said.  Since the water line must be shut down for the work, the PWSB has installed a temporary bypass line that runs from a fire hydrant near the intersection of High Street and Marshall Avenue to the bottom of the hill at the other end of the street. It sits above ground on the front lawns of every home on the street's south side, and temporary asphalt was laid over it where it crosses driveways. A similar project is also now being performed on Ann & Hope Way.

Gas leak prompts evacuation

August 16, 2001 - Streetscape contractors cut a 4-inch natural gas line at the intersection of Ohio Avenue and Court Street Wednesday morning causing the evacuation of several downtown businesses.  Sidney Fire Chief R. Stanley Crosley said his department received a call at 8:43 a.m. Firefighters deployed hose lines as a precaution while the police department halted street traffic in the area.  The Spot Restaurant at 210 S. Ohio Ave., Peoples Federal Savings & Loan, 101 E. Court St. and Jim's Barber Shop, 203 S. Ohio Ave., were evacuated at 8:50 a.m.  The incident was contained at 9:19 a.m. when a Vectren of Ohio crew arrived to shut off the gas and begin repairs to the line.  Crosley said that good atmospheric conditions Wednesday helped dissapate the escaping gas. HAZMAT assistance was not required.  The emergency situation required only about 30 minutes, to resolve, Crosley said.   Several other gas lines have been cut since the Courthouse Square street work began, all of them of minor consequence.

Waikiki gas leak evacuation

A construction crew this morning breaks an 8-inch natural gas line.  Honolulu police closed traffic to three major entrances to Waikiki and evacuated several buildings this morning after a construction crew doing some roadwork near the Kuhio Avenue intersection broke an underground gas line this morning near the intersection of Kalakaua and Kuhio Avenues.  The Ft. DeRussy office building, Waikiki Terrace Hotel, an ABC Store and Keo's in Waikiki Restaurant were evacuated at about 9:45 a.m. The evacuation is "going really smooth," said front desk clerk Tina Beach, noting that she was calling each of the approximately 230 occupied rooms to tell guests about the situation.  Beach said the odor of natural gas became detectable to her at about 9 a.m.  Steve Golden, a gas company spokesman, said they were notified at about 8:45 a.m. that the 8-inch natural gas line had ruptured. The company is putting in a temporary clamp to get Kalakaua Avenue open again, but he said eventually they will have to dig up the road and make a permanent repair.  Golden said he expected the temporary repair would be finished shortly after 11 a.m.  Honolulu Fire Capt. Richard Soo said that the evacuations were just a precaution.  "Fortunately the gas is leaking into an open area and there are tradewinds," he said.  "If it had been in a confined space, it would have been more of a problem," he added.  Five fire engine companies, one ladder and two HAZMAT team responded to the two-alarm call. There were no reports of injuries.  Police set up road blocks at the intersection of Atkinson Drive and Ala Moana Boulevard, Kapiolani Boulevard and Kalakaua Avenue intersection and McCully and Kapiolani for traffic going into Waikiki.  Motorists entering Waikiki from Kapahulu Avenue were allowed to travel on Ala Wai Boulevard but were not allowed to turn into Waikiki. Cars traveling on Kuhio Avenue were diverted onto Ala Wai Boulevard. "It's really inconvenient. I'm losing a lot of my stops because I can't go through the area," said Josh Garlutzo, a Fuji Films employee who was caught in traffic at Atkinson Drive and Kapiolani Boulevard.   It was even more of an inconvenience for Johan Wiklund and a companion who just arrived in Honolulu from Sweden with four suitcases.  Wiklund said he was stuck in traffic for 20-minutes near Kalakaua and Kapiolani avenues.  Finally, the cab driver dropped them off at the Hard Rock Cafe and they prepared to walk the rest of the way to their hotel at the Ohana Edgewater.  "It's not what I planned," he said.

UPDATE, Explosion forces evacuation
Officials today were maintaining a watch on a liquid propane pipeline that was accidentally ruptured Sunday evening, causing a massive explosion that had flames still burning more than 50 feet into the air this morning in the Western Lake Estates community south of Weatherford.  The rupture occurred about 7 p.m. Sunday on Marlboro Trail when the uncle of the homeowner was using a Bobcat (a small backhoe) to excavate a spot to build a carport next to the owner's mobile home. He hit the line, sending gas roaring into the air, according to Parker County Fire Marshal Jeff Edwards.  "He did have some slight burns," Edwards said. '"But I am assuming that he had a little bit of time for him to get away from it, because if it had gone off when he hit it, I don't see anyway he could have got out of it."  The mobile home was destroyed by the explosion, according to Edwards. Parker County Emergency Management Coordinator Brad Cathy said approximately 80 households were evacuated Sunday evening and the area is still cordoned off. DPS Trooper Gary Rozzell said the number of people evacuated totaled about 140.  Cathy said an elderly female resident near the explosion who had been evacuated was taken to Campbell Hospital with chest pains late Sunday night.  "We have flames still going about 50 feet in the air, and the pressure is still over 300 pounds," he said this morning. "We are going to be here with it burning for 12 to 15 more hours at least and possibly 24 (hours) for the gas remaining in the line to burn off."  A flare was shot into the pipeline at the Brock shut off point to attempt to blow off the remaining gas in the line at approximately 8 o'clock morning, but Cathy said it was unclear how effective it would be.  The 14-inch line is owned by Chevron and West Texas LPG Partnership. It has shut off points in Brock and Cleburne, according to Cathy and had "roughly 980 pounds of pressure when it was hit."  Cathy said Chevron officials are at the scene.  He said there are 14 miles of line between the rupture and the shut off points.  "It is like a big candle burning and if the wind picks up it is going to blow the flames over into a brushy area," Cathy said.  Tin Top and Horseshoe Bend volunteer fire departments are at the scene, with others on standby if the conditions worsen, according to Cathy.  Chevron put the evacuees who did not stay with relatives in Weatherford motels, according to the local Red Cross.  Witnesses said flames were burning up to 200 feet in the air Sunday night.  Edwards said six county fire departments were at the scene after the explosion and Parker County Sheriff's Deputies were going door to door evacuating area residents.  Though apparently unrelated, there were reports of several ruptured gas lines in Parker County last week.  "This is the first time that I have seen one of them catch fire," Edwards said.  Kathy Baldwin with Chevron and West Texas LPG (Liquid Propane Gas) Partnership said all concerned "are very fortunate."  "We need to do a formal incident investigation," Baldwin said this morning from the scene of the explosion. "But we believe that a third party hit our pipeline."  Baldwin said typically when an incident is caused by a third party, Chevron and West Texas LPG attempt to recover the costs.  "There is a process where there is supposed to be a call made before any excavation is done," Baldwin said. "We will go out and mark the pipelines and be there to make sure that they don't get hit. The pipeline markers were there, but we did not get a call."  Edwards said the pipeline's path was marked by a sign on a fence.

Parker County subdivision evacuated after pipeline explosion

08/13/2001, Associated Press

WEATHERFORD, Texas - About 150 people remained in temporary shelters today after a backhoe broke a liquid propane pipeline, causing an explosion that sent flames up to 100 feet into the air.  The Chevron-owned pipeline was shut off Sunday night, but propane was expected to burn through today, Parker County Judge Mark Riley told The Associated Press from the scene.  The accident happened about 9 p.m. Sunday in the Western Lake Estates subdivision, about 10 miles south of Weatherford. A homeowner moving dirt with a backhoe next to his mobile home tapped the propane line, unleashing a fireball that destroyed his home and a barn, officials said.  The backhoe operator suffered minor injuries. He was treated at the scene and released. No other injuries were reported.  Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution, with families spending Sunday night and this morning in motels and emergency shelters. However, Riley said their homes were not in danger.

UPDATE, Company to pay fine for trench collapse

OSHA has fined a Des Moines plumber for violating safety standards that threatened an employee's life.

By TARA DEERING, Register Staff Writer, 08/11/2001

A Des Moines plumbing company agreed Friday to pay $9,500 in fines for an Urbandale trench collapse that almost took an employee's life.  Chas W. Goering plumbing officials say that employee William Major violated company policy when he entered the 10½-foot-deep trench June 6 to connect a sewer line at 7418 Dennis Drive in Urbandale. The dirt walls of the trench collapsed, burying Major under several feet of dirt for more than five hours.  Major refused Friday to comment on the events of June 6.  "I'm back to work and I'm glad I'm alive," he said. "My interest is for my family and not really my career anymore."  The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration found in a two-month investigation that the company violated several safety standards, including allowing employees without effective training to work in a trench without shoring.  The state agency originally had fined the plumbing company $20,400 Tuesday, which included four serious citations totaling $5,700 and a $14,700 willful citation. A serious violation is defined by OSHA as conditions that could result in serious injury or death. A willful violation is the intentional disregard of safety rules.  The plumbing firm's total penalty was cut by more than half in an agreement reached Friday during a closed informal hearing with OSHA officials.  Jerry Skeers, labor safety officer for OSHA, said it's not unusual for fines to be significantly reduced when claims are settled out of court. He said reaching an agreement with companies avoids costly litigation.  "Resolving this citation will allow us both to work toward the common goal of all Iowans - when people finish a productive work day, they come home to their families undamaged," Skeers said.  Ken Goering, president of Chas W. Goering, 3211 Forest Ave., said he was happy a settlement could be reached. He maintains that his company's safety policy exceeds state standards.  Goering said Major, a nine-year employee of the company, will not face disciplinary action.  "He's been punished enough," Goering said. "He was buried."  Kevin Goering, purchasing agent for the plumbing company, said Major was properly trained and was the foreman on the site June 6.  "He's the last of our employees I would have expected to do something like this," he said. "He's one of those guys who goes by the book."  Skeers said OSHA investigators believe other employees, besides Major, were in the trench the day of the accident.  Kevin Goering said another employee was in the trench for a brief period the day of the accident. He said three employees, including Major, were at the job site.

UPDATE, Trench collapse brings fine of $20,400

By TARA DEERING and THOMAS BEAUMONT, Register Staff Writer, 08/08/2001

Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials said Tuesday the agency has fined a Des Moines plumbing company $20,400 in an Urbandale trench collapse. William Major was installing a sewer line at 7418 Dennis Drive in Urbandale June 6 when the dirt walls of a 10½-foot-deep trench collapsed. He survived being buried under several feet of dirt for more than five hours.  The state agency found in a two-month investigation that Major's employer, Chas W. Goering plumbing contractors, violated several safety standards. The plumbing company was issued four serious violations totaling $5,700 and a $14,700 willful violation.  Jerry Skeers, labor safety officer for OSHA, said that willful violations are not often issued. He said from two to 20 willful violations are issued a year in Iowa, compared with about 1,000 serious violations. The plumbing company was fined:  -$14,700 in a willful citation for allowing employees to work in a trench about 35 feet long, 8½ to 10½ feet deep and 2 feet wide with no protection system.  -$1,500 for allowing employees without effective training on excavation safety to work in trenches. Lack of such training could result in crushing injuries or death.  -$1,050 for failing to provide protection because excavated materials or equipment were not kept at least two feet from the trench's edge.  -$2,100 for failing to ensure that inspections were conducted by a competent person before employees were allowed to enter the trench.  -$1,050 for failing to protect employees from hazards. The top of the ladder used to climb into the trench was about 3 feet below the top of the trench.  Skeers said an informal conference with Chas W. Goering, 3211 Forest Ave., has been scheduled for Friday.  The plumbing company may present any evidence or views supporting lesser penalties. Skeers said many times a settlement is reached and the fines are lowered. The company has a right to appeal the fines levied against it.  Ken Goering, president of Chas W. Goering plumbing contractors, said in June that all of his employees who work in trenches are extensively trained to follow proper procedures. He said in most cases the 69-year-old firm's standards exceed the state requirements.  The plumbing company also investigated the incident. Goering could not be reached for comment Tuesday.  OSHA officials said a serious violation carries a maximum fine of $7,000, although the average fine is about $1,000. Such violations cause serious injury or death.  A willful violation has a maximum fine of $70,000. Skeers said the maximum fines for violations are rarely issued. Officials said willful violations are the intentional disregard of safety regulations.  "Probably the biggest (total) penalty we've ever issued a company is around $500,000 or $600,000," Skeers said.  Cole Chase, chief executive officer of Homebuilders Association of Iowa, said OSHA has handed down much larger fines for accidents involving injuries.  "Given their authority, that's not particularly high. I think they can go upwards of $200,000, depending on the level of neglect," Chase said.  "I've seen single job site where there have been $500,000 in fines," he said. "So $20,000 given their ability to fine is not particularly high."  OSHA officials said repeat violations of safety standards carry stiffer penalties.

Trench collapse injures two

By Marty Roney, Montgomery Advertiser

PRATTVILLE - Two construction workers were trapped for about half an hour Thursday afternoon when the walls of the trench they were working in collapsed. Danny Mullis, 40, was in fair/stable condition at Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery on Thursday night, a hospital spokesman said. Anthony Moore, 23, was in serious condition, the spokesman said. The accident scene was at the intersection of Bridge Street and Gin Shop Hill Road. It took rescue crews about 25 minutes to free the men. Moore was buried to his waist and apparently suffered a broken pelvis and back injuries, said Capt. Leon McCord, shift commander for the Prattville Fire Department. Mullis, who was buried to his chest, received "minor" injuries, McCord said. In fact, Mullis walked up the steep slope leading from the trench to the road after being rescued. "They're very lucky. It could have been much worse," McCord said. The call for help came at 4:02 p.m., and the first units responded within three minutes, radio logs report. The men, employed by B.S. Carter Construction Co. of Prattville, were replacing a 54-inch drainage pipe under the road. The trench is about 15 feet deep. A trench box, a safety device used to protect workers if the ditch gives way, was not in place at the time of the cave-in. Firefighters at ground level nervously watched the sides of the trench as five of their comrades worked to rescue the two men. Occasionally, small amounts of dirt would fall from the walls into the trench. Three firefighters worked to free the men, while another two crouched sheltered in a section of 54-inch concrete pipe that had already been laid in the ditch. The Prattville Fire Department has an intensive cross-training program in which firefighters are certified in several different rescue disciplines.

UPDATE, OSHA fines contractor $113,000 in mishap that killed worker

The contracting company that was doing work in Wilkes-Barre in February during a trench collapse that killed one worker was hit with $113,000 in proposed fines from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration Thursday. The proposals for fines were made against James T. O'Hara Co., Moscow, for what OSHA called "willful, serious and repeat violations of safety and health standards" in a written statement. Andrew Hedesh, area director of OSHA Wilkes-Barre office, explained it is not the first time O'Hara has been under scrutiny. "This employer has considerable history with OSHA which resulted in citations and penalties for failure to protect workers in trenches," Hedesh said. "After every inspection, the employer promised to correct the hazards but continued to exhibit a blatant disregard for the safety of his employees." O'Hara was doing excavation work in Wilkes-Barre on Feb. 16, when a trench collapsed, killing Joel Connors, 31, of Pottsville and injuring another worker. It was determined soon after the accident that O'Hara was operating in Wilkes-Barre without the proper permits and license. Connors' family has filed suit against the city, Wilkes-Barre Township, Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority and Michael J. Pasonick Jr. Inc. Consulting Engineers and Surveyors. The family has also asked District Attorney David Lupas to investigate the accident to determine if anyone could be held criminally negligent. OSHA is also proposing fines for the company's alleged failure to protect workers in that same trench 10 days earlier, on Feb. 6. According to information from OSHA, the two alleged egregious, willful violations, which carry a proposed penalty of $49,000 each, were issued for exposing employees to cave-ins. A $9,000 penalty was proposed for alleged serious violations for failure to place a spoil pile at least two feet from the edge of the excavation, not maintaining a safety and health program, and not providing a support system to protect workers in a weakened sidewalk. The alleged repeat violation, with a proposed penalty of $6,000, was for failure to provide a stairway, structural ramp, or ladder in the excavation where employees were working and for failure to provide adequate training regarding excavations hazards. Willful violations are defined as those committed with intentional disregard of or plain indifference to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations. Serious violations are those in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious injury could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard. The company has 15 days to contest the citations and proposed penalties to independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

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Collapse kills worker

More than a ton of dirt fell on New Oxford man installing sewer lines

JOSEPH DEINLEIN, For Dispatch/Sunday News

A New Oxford man died in a trench collapse yesterday after more than a ton of dirt fell on him. Byrle Wetzel, 53, of Fleshman Mill Road was part of a three-man crew from George H. Bixler Inc. plumbing company working around 11:30 a.m. at 1312 Carlisle Pike in Penn Township, near the Adams County line. The workers were connecting Penn Township's new sewer line to a residence, according to York County Coroner Barry Bloss. As Wetzel was in the 7-foot-deep trench, a corner of it collapsed, pinning him under an estimated 2,500-pound chunk of dirt, Bloss said. As soon as the dirt fell, Joe Giseman, a subcontractor hired by Bixler to operate the backhoe, and the other crew member went into the trench in an effort to save Wetzel. "We jumped down there and tried to get that big clump off him," Giseman said. "We couldn't get it, so that's when we called 911." The chunk of dirt covered most of Wetzel's body, exposing only his upper torso and head, Bloss said. "His head was never covered," he said. "There was compression to his chest area, which compressed his lungs, making it impossible for him to breathe." Wetzel had worked for the company for 15 years, according to Bloss. Rod Bixler, owner of the company, declined comment at the time of the accident. By the time paramedics got to Wetzel, it was too late, according to Jan Cromer, chief of Penn Township Fire Department. At 12:35 p.m., Cromer said the operation went from rescue to recovery. Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials were called to observe the rescue and begin an inquiry into whether proper procedure was followed on the work site. The federal agency will be investigating the accident. An inspector is at the scene today and Bob Fink, an OSHA spokesman in Harrisburg, estimated the investigation would take a month or two. Fink said typically any trench more than five feet deep should be either sloped back or shored up. Whether a trench will likely collapse depends on many factors, including the type of soil, the amount of moisture in it and whether the soil had been previously disturbed. The recent dry weather could have caused the soil to clump, but Fink said usually wet dirt is a bigger problem. "A lot of time you get water going down into fissures" and the soil slides, he said. This is the second trench collapse in York County in two years. Fifteen months ago, a 16-year-old boy was seriously injured in Jackson Township after he was buried up to his ribcage in another trench collapse. Craig DeTraglia had been digging a sewer line, working for his father's Mechanicsburg-based company, DeTraglia Construction, when the accident occurred. After an investigation, OSHA issued the company a $525 fine for failing to shore up the trench. Betty Owings, who lives in the house where the sewer line was being installed yesterday, declined comment. When rescuers arrived yesterday, they set up supports on both sides of the trench to prevent it from collapsing further and possibly harming paramedics trying to free Wetzel, Cromer said. "There were several cracks in the side walls," Cromer said. "It's a very, very dangerous operation. A very tedious rescue." Carlisle Pike was closed from Eisenhower Drive to Hershey Heights Road for nearly six hours. It took the York County Special Rescue Task Force nearly an hour to secure the trench, at which time paramedics determined Wetzel was dead, Cromer said. To free the body, rescuers first had to dig another trench perpendicular to the first one in order to secure the hole. Another backhoe and an operator had to be called in to perform the digging, Bloss said.

Workman is killed after wall collapses at North Island job

UNION-TRIBUNE, August 1, 2001

CORONADO -- A 19-year-old man working with a construction crew building a pier at North Island Naval Air Station died yesterday of injuries he suffered when a concrete support wall collapsed on him as he worked in a trench, a Navy spokesman said. The man, a civilian employed by Nova Group Inc., based in Napa, had a slight pulse when he was pulled from the trench about 1:30 p.m., a half hour after the incident. He was airlifted to UCSD Medical Center, where officials for Nova said he died from the injuries, according to Lt. Phil Rosi, Navy Region Southwest public affairs officer. Rosi said he was not aware of further details surrounding the accident, which would be under investigation by Nova and the Navy. Carol Bionoa, a spokeswoman for Nova, said the company was building a pier on the east side of the base. The victim was believed to be from Northern California. Federal firefighters and employees gave the victim emergency attention before he was taken to a hospital.

Gas Fire Injures Worker

TIMES RECORD STAFF

An Arkansas Oklahoma Gas worker was injured in a natural gas fire in Fort Smith Monday.  Kenny Lewis was taken to St. Edward Mercy Medical Center with second-degree burns to his face and forearms, AOG Vice President Mike Callan said. Lewis was listed in fair condition Monday night, a nursing supervisor said.  Callan said the accident happened after workers ruptured a gas line in the 3500 block of May Branch Lane at about 2:45 p.m. The workers were operating a directional boring machine and were employed by a contractor hired by a cable television company, he said.  About 30 minutes later gas from the ruptured line ignited and injured Lewis, who was attempting to repair the damage, Callan said.  “It could have been a spark from the gravel being blown out of the hole by the pressure of the gas, it could have been a spark created by a shovel. There’s just no way of telling (what started the fire),” Callan said.  Callan said the rupture caused five to eight AOG customers to lose gas service. The line was expected to be repaired Monday night, he said.

Ruptured gas line forces daycare evacuation

Tuesday, July 31, 2001, By Amy Jo Johnson, TIMES WRITER

Thirty-eight children and eight workers were evacuated from Ready, Set, Grow! Daycare and Nursery School in Auburn Monday after contractors severed a natural gas line across the street, about 50 feet away.   A subcontractor for J.R. Heineman & Sons Inc. was excavating sections of concrete while working on a drive for Auburn Elementary School, 301 E. Midland Road, when workers hit a 1 1/2-inch, plastic gas pipe at about 11 a.m.   "Whenever natural gas is present, there is the potential for ignition," said Kevin Keane, a spokesman for Consumers Energy Co.  Because Monday's gas leak was outside in the open and dissipating rapidly, the chances of a fire were reduced, he said.  Emergency crews blocked Midland Road, east of Moll Street and at Auburn Road, while Consumers Energy workers stopped the leak and worked to repair the line.  Auburn-Williams Fire Chief Mike Snyder said the Auburn Police Department, Bay County Sheriff's Office and the Monitor Township Fire Department also helped keep traffic away from the area.  Snyder said staff at the daycare center handled the evacuation quickly and calmly. "We were exceptionally pleased with how that went," he said.  Sheri Dufresne, program director of Ready, Set, Grow!, said, "There was an incredibly loud hissing noise," coming from the gas line but everyone worked together well to make sure the children were kept safe.  Dufresne said the husband of one of the daycare's employees is the pastor at Auburn United Methodist Church, so a note was stuck to the door and the children set out on a four-block adventure to the church.  "It was fabulous. Jim Klann, the officer in town, he helped us out," she said, adding that some of the construction workers from across the street also offered their assistance. "Everyone was wonderful."  Dufresne said the children, who ranged in age from a couple months to 11 years, were taken to the church in groups, some walking and others in strollers.  "We couldn't use cars," she said.  Dufresne said she left the door to the daycare and nursery school unlocked in case a parent heard about the gas leak and rushed over. The note on the door informed parents where their children were.  "It's a small community, so everyone knows where Auburn United Methodist is," she said.  She said the evacuation lasted about two hours. "Just to be on the safe side," Dufresne said.  Auburn Police Chief Jim Klann said nobody was home at the two houses south of the daycare center, so they didn't need to be evacuated. He said Heather Downs, an apartment complex to the north, wasn't evacuated because the northeast winds didn't blow the gas toward the apartments.  "Because of the location of the daycare, that was priority one - to get the kids out," he said.  Snyder said some homes on the south side of the Midland Road were also notified, in case they needed to evacuate.

Man Killed In Construction Accident

A 19-year-old man is dead after a construction accident on North Island Tuesday. The man was working for a private company that's building a Navy pier. He was in a trench when part of a concrete wall collapsed, and he was crushed by a 500-pound support structure.  Co-workers were able to free him and perform CPR but without success.  The victim was from Napa, Calif.

Farm worker freed from trench

Crews from Tayside Fire Brigade helped free the man

A man is recovering in hospital after being buried in a trench at a Perthshire farm for three hours. The unnamed 34-year-old man, a partner in the farm business, was working in the ditch on Feddal Farm near Braco when it collapsed on him at about 1530BST on Saturday. A mini-digger was being used to dig the ditch to lay a pipe in the Whistlebrae area of the farm at the time of the accident. Fire, ambulance and police services went to the scene and the man was eventually pulled free at 1830BST. A spokeswoman for Tayside Fire Brigade said he was covered in up to 15ft of earth. He was eventually freed after rescue teams used diggers and shovels to release him - although trapped upright and completely covered he had been able to talk to his rescuers. He was taken by air ambulance to Stirling Royal Infirmary, where his condition is said to be stable.

Drainage Ditch Caves In, Killing Worker in Va.

By Tom Jackman, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, July 25, 2001

One worker died and another was rescued by Fairfax County firefighters yesterday when a trench they were digging behind a new home in Dranesville collapsed on top of them, fire and police officials said. The names of the two workers were not released yesterday pending notification of family members. The worker who survived, a 16-year-old male, was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital with breathing difficulties and was released yesterday afternoon. The accident occurred about noon in the new Cedar Chase subdivision near Route 7 and Reston Avenue. The two workers were digging a French drain, consisting of gravel and pipe, to provide drainage behind the house, at 11620 Cedar Chase Rd. A backhoe also was operating nearby when the trench, about seven feet deep, collapsed on the two workers, Fairfax police Lt. Bruce Guth said. Investigators did not know whether vibrations from the backhoe contributed to the trench cave-in, Guth said. Officials at G.H. Wolff Jr. Excavating of Warrenton, which was performing the job, did not return a call yesterday seeking comment. The older of the two workers was completely covered by dirt, while the teenager was trapped up to his chest, Fairfax fire Lt. Lorenzo Thrower said. Firefighters from a newly opened station nearby were dispatched and were working on the teenager within moments. But the other worker was dead when they arrived, Thrower said, killed either by the pressure of the dirt or by suffocation. The backhoe operator and the homeowner ran to help the two men, and the backhoe operator was slightly injured trying to help, Thrower said.  "When the ground collapses," Thrower said, "you're dealing with the same amount of weight as a vehicle. With several hundred pounds of dirt, that's a lot of pressure impeding your ability to breathe." An investigator from the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry was at the scene yesterday afternoon but declined to comment.

UPDATE, Buried alive in accident, a workaholic sees the light

A Des Moines man's pace and priorities change after a brush with death.

By MAGGIE O'BRIEN, Register Staff Writer, 07/19/2001

William Major's two little girls will have a new softball coach this fall: their dad. Coaching is one way Major can spend more time with his daughters, Samantha, 8, and Danielle, 6. He wouldn't have done it a few months ago. Major, of Des Moines, said he was a workaholic who moved "110 miles an hour, all the time." He has changed since June 6, when a trench at an Urbandale residence collapsed on him. Major was buried alive for five hours under several feet of dirt. Major will return to work at Chas. W. Goering plumbing on July 30 if his doctor approves. He has rested at his home in the 700 block of Boyd Street since his release from the hospital two days after the incident. Major said the brush with death was an eye-opener. "I'm not going to run around and work all the time," Major said this week. "I'm going to spend more time with the girls, whether it be softball or Brownies or dancing." Are the girls glad their dad plans to be around more? "Yes!" the duo screamed in unison. "We've always been family-oriented, but he's more so now," said Major's wife, Carmen. Major, 36, was installing a sewer line at 7418 Dennis Drive in Urbandale when the dirt walls of a 10=-foot-deep trench collapsed. Major crouched down and created an air pocket beneath him. Rescue workers credited his quick thinking with saving his life. Major has had physical therapy twice a week for shoulder and back pain. He said he feels stronger every day. Major said he planned to slow down at work. Formerly, he worked until a job was done, avoiding breaks. Safety is more important now, he said. "I've thought about correcting myself, not rushing myself," he said. "I'm really going to keep my eye on safety. You don't stop to think about the consequences. "It happened in the blink of an eye. I'm going to be more cautious." The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the plumbing company are investigating the accident. Rescue officials said the trench lacked supports used to prevent cave-ins. The company said its policy is to use supports to brace the walls of trenches. Mary L. Bryant, OSHA bureau administrator, said the investigation into the accident was continuing. Major's boss, Ken Goering, was on vacation and unavailable for comment. Major does not fault the company and said he would work in trenches again. The collapse, he said, was an accident. "I'm not a betting man, and I don't even want to think about what the odds of it happening again would be," he said. Major is eager to work again. He has visited friends at work several times since the accident. "I've gone down there a few times to get out of her hair," he said, motioning to his wife. "I feel very rested and ready to get back to work."

Gas Leak Forces Evacuations in San Francisco

David Mills

A gas leak in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco forced evacuations of four buildings. A contractor's backhoe apparently broke a two-inch gas main about 9:20am near the intersection of Union and Leavenworth. Twenty people in four buildings were evacuated as PG&E crews worked to cap the leak. There was no fire or explosion, and no injuries were reported. The leak was capped just after noon, and residents were allowed to return to their homes.

Plumbing contractor dies after collapse of sewer trench

NORTHFIELD, Minn. -- State safety inspectors are investigating the death of a construction worker who died here Tuesday after a trench collapsed on him. Richard P. James, 55, and his two adult sons were installing sewer lines for a new housing development when the trench collapsed, said Northfield Police Chief Gary Smith. The sons, and other construction workers, used a backhoe to remove most of the soil. The men were digging James out with their hands by the time Northfield police arrived. James was underground for five to seven minutes before his body was pulled out, ashen but with no visible injuries, Smith said. James was later pronounced dead at Northfield Hospital. ``It was very unusual,'' Smith said. ``You seldom see trenching accidents these days.'' Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokesman James Honerman said the agency will interview witnesses and examine how the trench was sloped and what shields were in place. With training and protective measures, Honerman said, most trenching accidents can be prevented. OSHA workers were at the scene on Tuesday to collect soil samples. Results of the investigation won't be available for at least two weeks, Honerman said. Mike Reedy, James' brother-in-law, said the family didn't want to comment on the death. The funeral will be held in Northfield on Saturday, he said.

Ky. worker is rescued after trench collapses

By Craig Garretson, Post staff reporter

A worker trapped for more than 10 hours Thursday after a trench collapsed on him in Crittenden was finally freed early this morning, with relatively minor injuries from the ordeal. The worker, identified as Donnie Thacker of Shelbiana, Ky., was buried in clay-like dirt and gravel above his waist when the roadside trench he was working in partially collapsed about 2 p.m. Thursday, said Crittenden Fire Chief Steve Hyden. The man was airlifted to University Hospital after rescue personnel pulled him from the trench a few minutes after midnight. He is listed in serious condition. Workers were installing sewer pipe on Violet Road in front of the U-Save Auto Rental, off Dixie Highway in Crittenden, when the collapse occurred. Hyden said the worker was the only man in the trench at the time, but co-workers quickly came to his aid. The 27-year-old Pike County, Ky., man was conscious throughout the ordeal, telling firefighters he felt pain in his back, pelvis and leg. He was given oxygen and fluids through an IV to prevent dehydration. He eventually asked firefighters for a shovel so he could help dig himself out, Hyden said. ''He looks like a groundhog. He's throwing dirt left and right,'' Hyden said. But for the most part, progress was painstakingly slow. To avoid further injury to the worker, rescuers dug him out over a period of 10 hours using garden tools. ''If we were to quickly remove all that pressure from his legs, his blood pressure would drop to nothing and he could go into cardiac arrest,'' Hyden said. Rescue workers also wanted to avoid further collapsing the trench. Every few minutes, the excavated dirt would be sucked out by the Sanitation District No. 1's Vactor 2000, a truck equipped with an enormous vacuum. ''One false move and we could have a secondary cave-in,'' Hyden said. ''In a situation like this, it goes in quick but comes out slow.'' Once the dirt was sucked out, airbags and wooden planks - donated by Crittenden Lumber and Supply - were pushed in to shore up the sides of the trench. Hyden said the man wasn't a city or county employee, but didn't know what company he worked for. He said he didn't know if the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) would investigate the collapse. Publication date: 07-13-01

Two teens hurt when trench collapses

By Bill O'Brien Daily Herald Staff Writer, Posted on July 10, 2001

Two 16-year-old boys were in serious condition Monday night after a trench they were digging next to a house in North Barrington collapsed, leaving both partially buried. The teens, who were doing summer work for a local contractor, were in the 7-foot trench at about 4:50 p.m. in the Wynstone subdivision when the ground caved inward, said Fire Chief David Dato of the Wauconda Rural Fire Protection District. "Both subjects, with the exception of their heads, were substantially covered by earth and ground," said Dato, whose department led the rescue. The boys, Francisco Rosas of Round Lake Beach, and Iban Garza of Round Lake, were flown by Flight for Life helicopter to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where they were listed in serious condition. Both worked during the summer for Spring Grove-based R.C. Concrete Concepts, one of the contractors involved in building the new white and gray stone house at 58 Hillburn Lane. The construction of the house is nearly complete, and Rosas and Garza were apparently conducting foundation work, digging the trench by hand. The trench apparently was not shored up in any way, Dato said. When the ground caved in, other construction workers started digging the boys out, trying to put up wooden pallets as they worked to protect themselves. When rescue workers arrived, they too dug, installing wooden and steel bracing to protect both themselves and the victims. At about 6:10 p.m., Rosas was removed, but it was an hour later before Garza was completely uncovered and removed. The helicopter that flew them to Lutheran General landed on the practice range of the Wynstone golf course first, said Rosemary Luby, who also lives on Hillburn Lane. Both Rosas and Garza, whose injuries included those to the legs and pelvis, were both conscious during the entire ordeal, Dato said. They were expected to recover quickly, said a Lutheran General spokesman. Rosas' sister, Yesenia, 14, said her brother, who will be a junior at Round Lake High School, recently took the job at R.C. Concrete to earn some extra money over his summer vacation. "He only started five weeks ago," she said. "It was just a summer job." Officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration arrived on the scene late Monday to begin an investigation into whether federal work rules were followed. "A rule of thumb for contractors is, if you're going to be underground, is there probably should have been some safety measures in place," Dato said. It was not immediately clear, however, whether a trench box or other supporting bracing was required by law to be in place during this particular incident. A worker at R.C. Concrete confirmed that both of the 16-year-old boys were employed by the company, but refused to comment on the situation. Daily Herald staff writer Kat Zeman contributed to this story.

Worker injured when trench wall collapses

UNION-TRIBUNE, July 6, 2001

POWAY -- A construction worker suffered a hip injury when a dirt wall of a 5-foot-deep trench collapsed on him yesterday, fire officials said.   Co-workers dug him out and firefighters strapped him into a basket litter to haul him out of the trench. He was taken to a San Diego hospital, where a spokeswoman said he was in fair condition.  His name was not available.  The trench, for a water or sewer line, was being dug across the parking lot of a Danielson Street construction site adorned with a banner "Future home of Gateway Computers." About 3 p.m., a section of trench wall about 6 feet long collapsed on the worker, pinning his legs, said Poway Fire Capt. Kevin Hitchcock.  The rescue took about 20 minutes. Hitchcock said state industrial safety officials have been notified of the accident.

The Dunback lime kilns accident

The Dunback lime kilns accident has thrown quite a gloom over the district, and widespread sympathy is felt towards the relatives of the victims. When the news spread that the men were entombed, dozens volunteered for the relief work and all last night over 100 willing hands were engaged in digging the men out. It was not expected that any would be got out alive, and about 3 o'clock this morning the worst fears were realised. The bodies of Murray and Flynn were found close together. The former was pinned behind the truck, and had evidently been suffocated. Flynn's body was knocked about by the falling earth and stones, and was terribly bruised. His death must have been instantaneous. Hannah was found, badly crushed, nearer the end of the cutting, and appearances indicated that he had made a dash for the rope at the face, but was caught by the falling debris and shared the fate of his comrades. The scene of the accident was a deep cutting over 60ft long which was being excavated for the purpose of constructing a new lime kiln. Men have been working at the cutting for the past six months, and it was intended to drive a tunnel in from the head of the cutting. The entrance of the cutting is about 18ft wide, and narrows in to about 12ft at the head. The banks must be 30ft high. The formation is of a loose, gravelly nature, and under the circumstances there is some comment that the sides of the cutting were not strongly braced with timber. Instead of this, it is alleged they were supported by a few pieces of board. Wednesday, 4-July 2001 This material is published in the Online Edition.

UPDATE, Injured workers released; Holt closed

The three Harrison sewer workers injured when a ditch caved in Tuesday morning were all treated and released from North Arkansas Regional Medical Center, a spokesman said. City workers Bob Choate, T.J. Eddings and Mike Crow were inside a ditch cut across Holt Avenue between Spruce and Liberty streets to install a sewer line when the ditch collapsed and completely buried Choate. Arnold Rogers, city waste water manager, said Choate basically was in a seated position when the ditch caved and was covered by about 12-18 inches of dirt. At the time, Choate's hard hat fell over his face and gave him a little extra air as co-workers used their hands to dig him free. "That's gosh awful lucky," Rogers said. A Harrison Police report shows street department officials reported Tuesday afternoon that Holt Avenue will be closed until further notice. Rogers said workers are traumatized by the event, but they hope to get back to work Thursday. He also said they were about five feet from completing the project when the ditch caved in. As such, it is possible Holt could be re-opened by the weekend, he said.  Rogers said Choate suffered a broken ankle in the incident. Rogers went on to say that he recalls similar incidents across the country in which workers have been injured or killed, but he hopes nothing like this happens again. "I never want to see it again," he said. ©Harrison Daily Times 2001

Trench Collapses, Worker Injured

Worker In Hutchinson Buried Up To His Waist

HUTCHINSON, Minn., 2:40 p.m. CDT June 26, 2001 -- A worker is recovering after a trench collapsed during a city street reconstruction project in Hutchinson. The worker was taken to the Hutchinson hospital after Monday's accident. His name and condition have not been released. Rescue workers were called just after 2 p.m. when the wall of a 14-foot utility trench caved in on the worker. Fire Chief Brad Emans says the force of the cave-in slammed the worker into the other side of the trench and buried him up to his waist. Officials with OSHA were notified and are meeting with city officials.

Trench collapse kills 1, injures 1

By Paul McKibben, Betty Beard and Charles Kelly; The Arizona Republic

June 22, 2001 12:00:00

GILBERT - One man was killed and another injured Thursday when a trench collapsed on them in an increasingly common type of construction accident.  The men were installing a sewer for a Shea Homes development north of the intersection of Higley and Chandler Heights roads in south Gilbert. They were working in a safety box, a metal container designed to prevent them from being buried if the walls of the 35-foot-deep trench collapsed, said Rick Weigele, a spokesman for the Gilbert Fire Department. Jose Guadalupe Gonzalez, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene, said Deputy Bill Knight, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. The second victim, Juan Estrada, 28, was treated at Desert Samaritan Medical Center for a fractured leg and released Thursday afternoon. Knight said Gonzalez was working outside the safety box when the trench collapsed at about 9:30 a.m. Gonzalez initially was buried at least to his shoulders. Minutes after the first collapse, the trench collapsed again, burying him at least 5 feet deep. Gonzalez is survived by a wife and child in Mexico, Knight said. His brother also was working at the site during the cave-in. The victims worked for Tyers Contracting Inc. in Phoenix, according to fire officials and a representative of Shea Homes. Tyers has been licensed to do business since 1987, according to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. The state agency has no record of complaints against the company in the past two years. Company officials declined to comment. Lora Janzik, an attorney for Shea Homes, also declined to comment. The state Occupational Safety and Health Division was investigating the incident, but Darin Perkins, division director, said it typically takes two to three months to find the cause of fatal industrial accidents and decide whether a company should be fined. Trench deaths are on the upswing, he said. The division is investigating a similar death that occurred last month in Scottsdale. "In the early to mid-1990s we didn't see many," Perkins said. "There were years when we didn't have any fatalities at all. Then we had four in 1999, which is quite a large number." Last year, Perkins' agency logged one trench collapse that was fatal and three that weren't. To push contractors to improve safety, the agency has been hitting them hard with fines. During the 12 months that ended Sept. 20, the division conducted 108 inspections for possible trenching violations, about 13 percent of all inspections. But trenching violations accounted for 40 percent of all safety penalties levied during that period, $680,000 out of $1.7 million in total fines, Perkins said. The record fine for such a violation was issued the year before. Agate Construction Co. of Scottsdale was assessed a $335,250 fine after a 23-year-old Mexican national worker was buried alive in January 1999 when a stream of water from a broken sewer pipe poured into a trench on a stretch of freeway at 90th Street and Shea Boulevard.

Man saved from trench collapse

By ERIC COLLINS, Staff Writer

A 55-year-old Severna Park man who dug a trench for a home improvement project was rescued by county firefighters yesterday after the trench collapsed and trapped him for about 2 hours, county fire officials said. The incident brought a small army of firefighters to the backyard of David Heron in the quiet Chartwell neighborhood, where fire engines lined the streets, TV cameras tracked every move, neighbors gawked and a news helicopter circled from above. Despite all the attention, Mr. Heron was unhurt, with his lawn suffering the brunt of the injuries. "We can replant the grass," said Peggy Heron, his wife. "That was the least of my worries." Mr. Heron had spent most of the morning yesterday digging the 8-foot deep by 2-foot wide trench with a shovel at his home in the 500 block of Devonshire Court. He was trying to make room so a mason could fix a retaining wall that supports a back yard entrance to his basement. But just as he was finished with the laborious project around 1:30 p.m., the sandy soil collapsed around him, trapping the 5-foot 8-inch man up to his armpits, he said. "It happened so fast," said Mr. Heron, a Postal Service worker who has lived in his two-story brick and frame home for 11 years. "I think I might have panicked if it (came) higher." With the help of his wife and their son, Chris, Mr. Heron was able to dig down to his waist after about 30 minutes. But he was afraid the rest of the trench or the wall would topple down on him and decided to call authorities. When firefighters arrived shortly after 2 p.m., they found him still digging away, with the dirt trapping his legs, said Division Chief John M. Scholz, a county Fire Department spokesman. Crews from the county Collapse Rescue Team helped secure the retaining wall and trench with ropes and wooden boards while eight members of the Howard County rescue squad stood by as backup, Chief Scholz said. With oxygen pumping into the hole through a large yellow hose, firefighters worked from the side of the trench to help Mr. Heron dig himself out -- one bucket at at time. By 4 p.m., crews began tossing around other rescue plans, such as using a county Department of Public Works vacuum truck to suck up the dirt. However, before the vacuum truck was hooked up, Mr. Heron had dug out enough dirt to free himself. "Once I got my right foot out, it was easy," said Mr. Heron, wearing glasses, a soiled T-shirt, shorts and New Balance running shoes. Paramedics check him out, but Mr. Heron declined to be taken to an area hospital for an evaluation. Meanwhile, his son -- unimpressed with the whole spectacle -- questioned his father's home improvement skill. "This time he got a little in over his head, literally," the 22-year-old man said.

Plumbing worker saved from accidental burial

By Patrick Flanigan Democrat and Chronicle

SPENCERPORT (Wednesday, June 13, 2001) -- A plumbing contractor was buried up to his neck in Spencerport yesterday when a pile of dirt collapsed into a seven-foot hole. Phil Potter, 24, whose address was not available, was in the emergency room at Strong Memorial Hospital yesterday afternoon. His condition was not known, but emergency crews said he had a strong pulse and appeared uninjured when he was put in an ambulance. "He was doing pretty well, for being buried," said Rick Wolfe, deputy chief of the Spencerport Fire District. Michael Carr, a worker for Paul H. Hartmann Plumbing, said he, Potter and Cliff Turlington were installing a sewer line for a Prospect Street house when the hole collapsed shortly before noon. Potter went down a ladder into the hole when Carr noticed the pile of dirt was collapsing. Potter scrambled back up the ladder, but the dirt pile and a concrete sidewalk slab slammed into him, pinning him against the wall, Carr said. He and Turlington - who was operating a backhoe -- began digging Potter out, and had removed the dirt down to his waist when the emergency crews arrived. Spencerport building inspectors issued a stop-work order at the site until the Occupational Safety and Health Administration could inspect the excavation, Wolfe said.

UPDATE: Trench lacked safety braces before cave-in

By TARA DEERING and MELISSA MYERS

Register Staff Writer, 06/08/2001

The trench that collapsed and buried a worker in Urbandale lacked supports used to prevent such cave-ins, officials said Thursday. The Des Moines plumbing company doing the work and state workplace-safety authorities were investigating the accident.  Urbandale Fire Chief Jerry Holt said the trench lacked proper supports when rescuers arrived at the cave-in on Wednesday. They had to request equipment to build supports as they worked to find William Major, who was trapped underneath several feet of dirt.  Major's employer said company policy is to use supports to hold the walls of trenches. "We're trying to review why there wasn't any shoring holding up the banks," said Ken Goering, president of Chas. W. Goering plumbing contractors. "Once we find what's wrong, we'll take the necessary steps to fix it." Investigators with the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration studied the accident site Thursday. Major, 36, was installing a sewer line at 7418 Dennis Drive when the dirt walls of the 10½-foot-deep trench collapsed. He crouched down and created an air pocket beneath him, which rescue workers credit for saving his life. Except for some pain in his hip and numbness in his feet, Major said Thursday he was feeling much better. He said he was looking forward to having a beer. "They wouldn't let me out today," he said from a wheelchair during a news conference at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. The nine-year employee of Goering plumbing said he doubts he will work in another trench any time soon. "Not without a whole lot of safety precautions," he said. Goering plumbing continued work at the site Thursday, filling in the trench that almost took Major's life. Mary Bryant, administrator of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said her agency usually investigates cave-ins of trenches more than 5 feet deep. She said several precautions are required in such work, such as shoring the sides of a trench, using a portable box that protects the worker by holding up the dirt walls, and digging a trench so its sides slope. Bryant said companies found in serious violation of safety guidelines can receive a maximum fine of $7,000. Goering said all of his employees who dig trenches are extensively trained to follow proper procedures. He said this is the first time that such an incident has happened in the 69 years the company has been in business. "Our company standards in most cases exceed OSHA requirements," he said. "Our policy is, when in doubt, we shore it." Major said he did not know the wall was collapsing until it was too late. "I had no idea the wall had broken loose until it started to push me against the other side," he said. Major said that while he was buried, many things raced through his mind. He choked back tears as he said he thought of his family and friends. He said his four-hour entrapment seemed to pass quickly. He said he could hear his co-workers above him after he was buried. "I originally heard my guys screaming 'Hang on!" " he said. "I could hear the rescuers every time they dropped the bucket on my head. They kept saying, 'Hold on! Hold on!' and I kept saying, 'Hurry! Hurry!" " he said Thursday. Major said he worked hard to control his breathing. He said his first-aid training as a military policeman for the Iowa Army National Guard helped him remain calm. He said he tried at one point to help dig with his hands, but quickly stopped after realizing he was using what little air he had in the confined space. "Just before they punched through I was getting a little wheezy," he said. Major joked that it was rude of emergency workers to have expected to find him dead. "I don't believe you should write anybody off," he said. Carmen Major, his wife, was at the scene when he was freed. She said Thursday that the previous day was a blur. "To be real honest, I was strictly in shock," she said. "I don't think I showed a whole lot of emotion until today." The rare outcome, she said - with her husband not only surviving but dodging major injuries - was attributable to one factor: "The Lord was looking down on us yesterday."

Worker Trapped 40 Feet Down Hole Dies Despite Rescue Attempts

Firefighters who worked feverishly for hours to retrieve a construction worker trapped in a 40-foot-deep hole reached the man Tuesday night, only to discover he had died. The man fell into the 4-foot-diameter hole about 1 p.m. and was quickly covered with soil, Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said. By 5 p.m. firefighters had removed about 15 feet of soil. They reached him about two hours later, Humphrey said. "We dug quickly away from his face and chest, but essentially he was without any vital signs of life," he said. It appeared the man died immediately after falling feet-first into the hole, Humphrey said. An autopsy would be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. The man, described as being in his 30s and from the Long Beach area, was identified as an employee of Malcolm Drilling, a contractor on the $2.4 billion Alameda Corridor, a 20-mile rail project linking the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach with downtown. Two inspectors from the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration were sent to the accident site, said Dean Fryer, a spokesman for the agency. There have been two other major industrial accidents on the rail project, Fryer said. A surveyor with the contracting firm Tutor-Saliba Corp. died May 25 when he was run over by a grading machine, Fryer said. Another Malcolm Drilling employee was severely injured in July 2000 when a crane he was rigging touched a power line. The construction of the Alameda Corridor requires a lengthy concrete trench that will keep rail cargo separate from vehicle traffic. It is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2002.

Crews free worker from muddy mix

By MURRAY GLENN

Staff Writer

Donald Pearce got himself into a muddy mess Thursday morning that stopped traffic on a busy west-side highway for about an hour. Pearce was planting a silt fence in a culvert along the shoulder of Highway 295 when he sank up to his waist in mud about 9 a.m. The accident occurred near Peeler & Sons paint and body shop. Co-workers tried to dig him out for about an hour before the hole started filling up with water from a nearby drain. Emergency crews from Spartanburg County Emergency Medical Services, the North Spartanburg Fire Department and the Westview-Fairforest Fire Department labored for another hour to free the victim. Westview-Fairforest Fire Chief Danny Knight said the mud, which had gravel mixed in it, created a suction-like effect that created a challenge for crews. Four or five firefighters used shovels and other hand tools to free the victim. Crews also used pumps and buckets to direct the water away from Pearce. At one point, crews put an oxygen mask over Pearce's face when he started to show signs of exhaustion. Once he was freed from the mud, Pearce walked back to the shoulder of the road and told bystanders he was doing OK. He thanked rescue workers for their effort and he started making plans to return to work. Pearce is part of a crew working to expand Highway 295 from two to four lanes between John B. White Sr. Boulevard and Highway 221.  Murray Glenn can be reached at 582-4511, Ext. 7214 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Construction worker dies; Man was installing 2-ton sewer pipe in Bloomingdale

By Heather Vogell, Tribune staff reporter , May 17, 2001

A construction worker died Wednesday while installing a 2-ton sewer pipe in Bloomingdale, although authorities must wait for autopsy results to determine whether he was crushed by the pipe or died from natural causes. Roberto Dorado, 50, of the 100 block of East Palatine Road, Palatine, was declared dead at the scene, according to the DuPage County coroner's office. Rescue workers had to wait more than three hours before removing the man's body from a trench along Knollwood Drive near West Army Trail Road. They were afraid the trench's walls would collapse. An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration began investigating. Bloomingdale Fire Lt. Nels Olson said the man and a supervisor on a backhoe were lowering a concrete cylinder into the trench just before 12:30 p.m. when "something happened." A passerby who heard the supervisor screaming for help jumped into the trench and tried to administer CPR to the man, who was up to his knees in dirt and lying on his left side in the 10-foot-deep hole. The passerby could not feel a pulse, though he tried to resuscitate the man for about five minutes, Olson said. When emergency workers arrived, they saw that the packed dirt walls of the trench had not been reinforced and feared a cave in. They pulled the passerby out, Olson said. Rescuers relied on the passerby's word that the man was dead, Olson said. Had they believed the man was alive, rescuers could have lowered a rope or harness into the hole. Instead, they waited for a steel-reinforced box, called a trench box, to be brought from another construction site.  They then fitted it into the trench before lowering personnel down to the man using a cable strung from a ladder truck. Several phone lines feeding a nearby office building had to be cut before the trench box could be fitted. Olson said authorities received conflicting reports about what happened in the trench. Though a 911 call reported that the man had been trapped when the trench walls gave way, a collapse did not occur, he said. The sewer line was being installed by A&A Sewer, Water and Excavating of McHenry. It leads to a planned hotel development. The supervisor at the construction site declined to comment, except to say the incident was unfortunate and he was praying for the man's family. Bay Pahati, a safety compliance officer with OSHA, said the agency had not determined whether the company violated safety rules.

Worker dies in cave-in

By Justin Kmitch Daily Herald Staff Writer; Posted on May 17, 2001

An excavation worker lay partially buried in a 10-foot-deep sewer trench for four hours Wednesday in Bloomingdale before rescue officials were able to recover his body. Roberto Dorado, 50, a Palatine resident, was killed in the accident. Bloomingdale Fire Protection District Lt. Nels Olson said two people were installing sewer lines in a trench on the east side of Knollwood Drive, just north of Army Trail Road, at 12:33 p.m. when the accident happened. It took Bloomingdale firefighters and paramedics three minutes to reach the trench, Olson said. But they were kept from entering the trench for more than three hours because the side walls were not properly supported by a steel box that would have kept the walls of clay from caving in, he said. It took several hours for rescuers to get a trench box that would fit in the hole. Boxes brought in from the Bloomingdale and Roselle fire districts were too short, and rescuers were concerned the walls still might cave in from above. Finally, a box was brought in from a contractor doing a separate local project. "It's district policy that we do not enter a trench or ditch that does not have supported walls, because we don't want to become victims ourselves while attempting a rescue," Olson said. The firefighters were shocked to find someone giving the victim CPR when they arrived, he said. The man apparently had walked outside a nearby restaurant, heard screams and ran to the trench. The firefighters told him it wasn't safe to be in there, so he walked out of the hole, told them the man had no pulse, and disappeared, Olson said. The accident happened as an A&A Sewer-Water Excavating crew from McHenry was installing sewer lines adjacent to property that will soon be home to a Marriott Courtyard hotel and a Marriott Residence Inn. A person who answered the phone at A&A Sewer hung up on calls seeking comment on the accident. The man identified by Olson as the site supervisor also declined to comment. Olson said firefighters heard differing accounts of the fatal accident from crew members. Rescuers believe the victim was working in the trench, without a hard hat, attempting to connect two 2.5-ton concrete sewer pipes, Olson said. One pipe was in the ground, and the other pipe may have been hanging by cables over the victim's head as it was being lowered into the trench, he said. One witness account said the victim was hit in the head with the hanging pipe, and he collapsed and got lodged knee-deep into the clay at the bottom of the hole, Olson said. In the other witness account, the victim may have been crushed between the hanging concrete piece and the north wall of the trench before getting buried knee-deep in wet clay, Olson said. "I'm not committing to either scenario, because the entire incident is being investigated by OSHA, the DuPage County coroner's office and the Bloomingdale Fire Protection District," he said. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating but might not have a decision for a couple of months, OSHA area director Charlie Shields said. If safety violations are found, the fines could run up to a maximum of $7,000 per violation, Shields said. Willful violations could be penalized with a fine of up to $70,000, he said. There's a possibility for multiple violations, but there's no correlation between death or injury and the fine total, Shields said. "It's not intended to be punitive," Shields said. "Sometimes fatalities happen and there's no violation." He said Wednesday's accident is the first cave-in death in DuPage County reported to OSHA since July 1994. Nine out of 10 death-related cases involve a violation, Shields said. OSHA fined A&A Sewer-Water Excavating in 1994 for serious hazardous violations, but none involved trench digging, Shields said. Shields said companies are not required to notify OSHA before they dig, but the agency requires trench boxes inside ditches deeper than 15 feet. The OSHA compliance inspector at the scene, Bay Pahati, said the A&A Sewer trench was 10 feet deep. OSHA could spend the next few months talking to witnesses, taking photographs of the scene and gathering soil samples, Pahati said. Coroner's office officials would not comment on the death, but an autopsy is scheduled for this morning.

Worker Dies In Backhoe Accident; Lifeflight Called To Construction Site

FOREST GROVE, Ore., 6:26 p.m. PDT May 10, 2001 -- A backhoe flipped over, killing a worker at a construction site near Forest Grove Thursday. The backhoe trapped the worker late Thursday afternoon at a new home site. Lifeflight was called to the scene, but emergency medical technicians were unable to revive the victim, KOIN 6 News reports. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Construction employee killed by 'wave of dirt' at work site

Stephanie A. Miller, The Arizona Republic; May. 10, 2001

A Phoenix man was buried alive Wednesday morning at a northeast Scottsdale construction site. Raymundo Perez-Moreno, 36, a construction worker, was killed at about 9 a.m. in the 10500 block of East Desert Hills Drive when a wall of dirt approximately 35 feet high and 30 feet wide collapsed, authorities said. Desert Hills Drive intersects with Cave Creek Road in the northernmost part of Scottsdale, a couple of miles east of Carefree. A co-worker told authorities that "a wave of dirt" covered Perez-Moreno, who the witness said was advised by their supervisor not to return to the area because it was unsafe. Perez-Moreno was an employee of Blucor Contracting Inc. The company could not be reached for comment. The Gilbert-based construction company was issued four citations last November by the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health for violation of several safety regulations. Blucor is contesting the citations, said Pat Ryan, assistant director of the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health. OSHA compliance officers are investigating Wednesday's incident and will determine if the company violated any OSHA guidelines, Ryan said. Authorities are uncertain what project the construction crew was working on or why Perez-Moreno returned to the area. The victim's body was removed Wednesday at 3:40 p.m. by the Rural/Metro Fire Department and released to the medical examiner. Reporter Sarah Anchors contributed to this article.

Construction worker dies in trench collapse

WENTZVILLE (AP) -- A construction worker died Friday afternoon after the walls of a trench collapsed on him, crushing him below the neck, authorities in St. Charles County said. The construction crew was installing sewer lines for a new subdivision. The 39-year-old, a worker for a St. Peters company called Pipeworks, was in a trench about 11 feet deep. A rescue team arrived at the scene shortly after the collapse and reported that the victim was buried in dirt up to his shoulders. ''The biggest thing is the dirt pressing against you and it smashes the wind out of you. Cuts off the circulation,'' said Deputy Chief Bill Cook, spokesman for the Wentzville Fire Protection District.

Trenching and Excavation Accidents; Worker pulled from trench after being trapped 3 hours

04/28/01   By PATRICK O'DONNELL

BEACHWOOD - Bobby Burks moved quickly when he spotted a crack in the dirt wall of the trench.   Henry "Bud" Simon didn't.   A step slow to react to his employee's warning, Simon, 70, was trapped several feet below ground level yesterday morning when the walls of a work trench he dug alongside a house foundation collapsed. Intending to waterproof the foundation, he was instead buried to his waist in heavy dirt and clay, unable to move his legs and able only to shout to Burks for help.   "He just kept saying, Hurry up,' " Burks said.   But Simon had a long wait. He spent three hours trapped in the hole alongside a house in the 25000 block of Halburton Rd. before rescue crews could pull him free. As rescuers shored up the trench walls with metal plates and braces, a rescue helicopter landed at the nearby Chagrin Rd. fire station.   Because of Simon's age and history of heart trouble, a medic jumped in the hole with him and inserted an IV needle in each arm during the wait.  When he was pulled free shortly after 2 p.m., he waved to a crowd of cameras and cell-phone-toting neighbors calling friends to watch for them on television. In response to shouted questions as he was whisked away.

Trench collapse injures worker

By Kate Leckie

News-Post Staff

MIDDLETOWN - A construction worker doing underground utility work at a residential development site in the 4200 block of Old National Pike was trapped in a trench for nearly four hours Thursday.  Robert Davis, 35, of Charles Town, W.Va., suffered injuries to his pelvis area and lower legs, officials said.  After he was pulled out of the trench about 1:10 p.m., Mr. Davis was flown by Maryland State Police helicopter to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.   Thursday afternoon, Mr. Davis was listed in serious but stable condition, said a trauma nursing coordinator.   Employed by Woodmack Inc., Mr. Davis told rescue workers that he was standing along the 10-feet-deep trench when the ground gave way about 9:30 a.m. and he fell at the site at 4240-B Old National Pike near Hollow Road.  Initially, Mr. Davis was covered up to his neck, but coworkers were able to free him to his waist and called for help, said Rick Himes, Frederick County director of emergency services.   During the rescue effort, workers took turns digging in the chilly 8-feet-wide trench and administered oxygen to Mr. Davis.  He remained calm and conscious throughout the ordeal but said "that it hurt" when he finally was freed, Mr. Himes said.   Mr. Davis' coworkers declined comment. "They're still pretty well shaken," Mr. Himes said.  In a trench collapse, the greatest concerns are the strain the weight of the dirt puts on the person and the threat of hypothermia, officials said.   The temperature inside the trench remained about 54 degrees, officials said.   Middletown and Braddock Heights fire departments responded to the accident, along with the collapse rescue team from Montgomery County.   Representatives of the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Administration also were notified.

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Parent Category: Incident Alert Archives

Category: Trenching & Excavation Alerts

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