A AND L UNDERGROUND, INC.

CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYEE INJURED IN TRENCH CAVE-IN

AT APPROXIMATELY 1430 HOURS ON JUNE 15, 1987, EMPLOYEE #1 WAS INSTALLING SHORING IN A TRENCH THAT WAS 30 FEET LONG, 2 1/2 FEET WIDE AND 6 1/2 FEET DEEP. THE SHO RING CONSISTED OF 4 FEET BY 8 FEET SHEETS 3/4 INCH PLYWOOD. THE PLYWOOD SHEETS W ERE BRACED AT THE BOTTOM BY PIECES OF 4 BY 4, AND AT THE CENTER BY HYDRAULIC JAC KS. THE PLYWOOD SHEETS HAD BEEN EMPLACED AND WERE AWAITING THE SETTING OF THE HY DRAULIC JACK. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS STANDING IN THE PROTECTED AREA OF THE TRENCH (WHER E SHORING WAS ALREADY SECURED) REACHING THROUGH TO SET THE HYDRAULIC JACK IN PLA CE FOR THE NEXT SECTION. HE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE JACK AND, INSTEAD OF DR OPPING IT, STEPPED FORWARD INTO THE UNPROTECTED PORTION OF THE TRENCH. THAT'S WH EN THE TRENCH CAVED IN, PINNING HIM BETWEEN THE SHEETS OF PLYWOOD. HE WAS PINNED FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES BEFORE HE COULD BE RESCUED. HE REMAINED CONSCIOUS FOR ABOUT THREE MINUTES, TALKING TO THE OTHER EMPLOYEES. HE WAS TRANSPORTED, ST ILL UNCONSCIOUS, TO THE ST. CLOUD HOSPITAL.