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2 workers dead after Hoover drainage ditch collapse
Workers killed in Hoover trench collapse were ‘vivacious, honest, extremely loyal’
Updated Jul 26, 8:45 AM;Posted Jul 26, 8:44 AM
By Carol Robinson | crobinson@al.com
Authorities have released the names of two men killed when they became trapped in a trench collapse in a Hoover neighborhood.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Gaspar Manueal-Pedro, 46, and Matias Gaspar-Lopez, 28, The men were related and both from Guatamala, but living in Birmingham.
“These young men were vivacious, honest, extremely loyal and dedicated to their families and their work,” according to a GoFundMe established to help their families.
The men worked for a company called Water Drainage Solutions. Hoover Fire Capt. Scott West said they were working on a drainage system in front of a home on Twin Pine Circle, near Preserve Parkway, when the earth around them caved in. The trench was about 8-feet deep and the workers were found about seven feet down.
....
Updated Jul 26, 8:45 AM;Posted Jul 26, 8:44 AM
By Carol Robinson | crobinson@al.com
Authorities have released the names of two men killed when they became trapped in a trench collapse in a Hoover neighborhood.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Gaspar Manueal-Pedro, 46, and Matias Gaspar-Lopez, 28, The men were related and both from Guatamala, but living in Birmingham.
“These young men were vivacious, honest, extremely loyal and dedicated to their families and their work,” according to a GoFundMe established to help their families.
The men worked for a company called Water Drainage Solutions. Hoover Fire Capt. Scott West said they were working on a drainage system in front of a home on Twin Pine Circle, near Preserve Parkway, when the earth around them caved in. The trench was about 8-feet deep and the workers were found about seven feet down.
....
2 workers dead after Hoover drainage ditch collapse
Updated Jul 23, 9:17 PM;Posted Jul 23, 3:57 PM
By Carol Robinson | crobinson@al.com
Two workers were killed Tuesday when they were trapped in a collapsed trench in a Hoover neighborhood.
The men, both adult males, worked for a company called Water Drainage Solutions. Hoover Fire Capt. Scott West said the men were working on a drainage system in front of a home on Twin Pine Circle, near Preserve Parkway, when the earth around them caved in. The trench is about 8-feet deep and the workers were found about seven feet down.
"This is not the result we were hoping for,'' West said.
Hoover firefighters and police responded to the scene at 3:04 p.m. Hoover firefighters, later joined by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service, used shovels to dig their way to the victims. There was never any communication, West said.
The workers’ bodies were discovered about 5:30 p.m. “We have located both of the victims and both of the victims are deceased,” West said. “We have switched our efforts to recovery mode so were working on removing them from the trench at this point.”
....
Updated Jul 23, 9:17 PM;Posted Jul 23, 3:57 PM
By Carol Robinson | crobinson@al.com
Two workers were killed Tuesday when they were trapped in a collapsed trench in a Hoover neighborhood.
The men, both adult males, worked for a company called Water Drainage Solutions. Hoover Fire Capt. Scott West said the men were working on a drainage system in front of a home on Twin Pine Circle, near Preserve Parkway, when the earth around them caved in. The trench is about 8-feet deep and the workers were found about seven feet down.
"This is not the result we were hoping for,'' West said.
Hoover firefighters and police responded to the scene at 3:04 p.m. Hoover firefighters, later joined by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service, used shovels to dig their way to the victims. There was never any communication, West said.
The workers’ bodies were discovered about 5:30 p.m. “We have located both of the victims and both of the victims are deceased,” West said. “We have switched our efforts to recovery mode so were working on removing them from the trench at this point.”
....
OSHA FactSheet Quick Card | Trenching and Excavation Safety
Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction operations. OSHA defines an excavation as any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth’s surface formed by earth removal. A trench is defined as a narrow underground excavation that is deeper than it is wide, and is no wider than 15 feet (4.5 meters).
Dangers of Trenching and Excavation
Cave-ins pose the greatest risk and are much more likely than other excavationrelated accidents to result in worker fatalities. Other potential hazards include falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, and incidents involving mobile equipment. Trench collapses cause dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries each year.
Protect Yourself
Do not enter an unprotected trench! Trenches 5 feet (1.5 meters) deep or greater require a protective system unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock. Trenches 20 feet (6.1 meters) deep or greater require that the protective system be de-signed by a registered professional engineer or be based on tabulated data prepared and/ or approved by a registered professional engineer.
Protective Systems
There are different types of protective systems. Sloping involves cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation. Shoring requires installing aluminum hydraulic or other types of supports to prevent soil movement and caveins. Shielding protects workers by using trench boxes or other types of supports to prevent soil cave-ins. Designing a protective system can be complex because you must consider many factors: soil classification, depth of cut, water content of soil, changes due to weather or climate, surcharge loads (eg., spoil, other materials to be used in the trench) and other operations in the vicinity.
Competent Person
OSHA standards require that trenches be inspected daily and as conditions change by a competent person prior to worker entry to ensure elimination of excavation hazards. A competent person is an individual who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards or working conditions that are hazardous, unsanitary, or dangerous to employees and who is authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate or control these hazards and conditions.
Access and Egress
OSHA requires safe access and egress to all excavations, including ladders, steps, ramps, or other safe means of exit for employees working in trench excavations 4 feet (1.22 meters) or deeper. These devices must be located within 25 feet (7.6 meters) of all workers.
General Trenching and Excavation Rules
Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges.
Keep surcharge loads at least 2 feet (0.6 meters) from trench edges.
Know where underground utilities are located.
Test for low oxygen, hazardous fumes and toxic gases.
Inspect trenches at the start of each shift.
Inspect trenches following a rainstorm.
Do not work under raised loads.
Additional Information
Visit OSHA’s Safety and Health Topics web page on trenching and excavation at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/trenchingexcavation/index.html
Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction operations. OSHA defines an excavation as any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth’s surface formed by earth removal. A trench is defined as a narrow underground excavation that is deeper than it is wide, and is no wider than 15 feet (4.5 meters).
Dangers of Trenching and Excavation
Cave-ins pose the greatest risk and are much more likely than other excavationrelated accidents to result in worker fatalities. Other potential hazards include falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, and incidents involving mobile equipment. Trench collapses cause dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries each year.
Protect Yourself
Do not enter an unprotected trench! Trenches 5 feet (1.5 meters) deep or greater require a protective system unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock. Trenches 20 feet (6.1 meters) deep or greater require that the protective system be de-signed by a registered professional engineer or be based on tabulated data prepared and/ or approved by a registered professional engineer.
Protective Systems
There are different types of protective systems. Sloping involves cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation. Shoring requires installing aluminum hydraulic or other types of supports to prevent soil movement and caveins. Shielding protects workers by using trench boxes or other types of supports to prevent soil cave-ins. Designing a protective system can be complex because you must consider many factors: soil classification, depth of cut, water content of soil, changes due to weather or climate, surcharge loads (eg., spoil, other materials to be used in the trench) and other operations in the vicinity.
Competent Person
OSHA standards require that trenches be inspected daily and as conditions change by a competent person prior to worker entry to ensure elimination of excavation hazards. A competent person is an individual who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards or working conditions that are hazardous, unsanitary, or dangerous to employees and who is authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate or control these hazards and conditions.
Access and Egress
OSHA requires safe access and egress to all excavations, including ladders, steps, ramps, or other safe means of exit for employees working in trench excavations 4 feet (1.22 meters) or deeper. These devices must be located within 25 feet (7.6 meters) of all workers.
General Trenching and Excavation Rules
Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges.
Keep surcharge loads at least 2 feet (0.6 meters) from trench edges.
Know where underground utilities are located.
Test for low oxygen, hazardous fumes and toxic gases.
Inspect trenches at the start of each shift.
Inspect trenches following a rainstorm.
Do not work under raised loads.
Additional Information
Visit OSHA’s Safety and Health Topics web page on trenching and excavation at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/trenchingexcavation/index.html
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