Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025
105,313Records 71,083Employers 85,290Hospitalizations 27,770Amputations 2015-01-01 2025-10-31

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #221520612

SOUTHERN DIVERSIFIED TECHNOLOGIES INC

Event
Asphyxiated, Collapse, Crushed, Crushing, Engulfed, Optical Fiber Cable, Trench, Trench Box
NAICS
238210
Inspection type
Federal Agency
Activity number
#346387459
Employer profile
SOUTHERN DIVERSIFIED TECHNOLOGIES INC
Summary number
221520612
Report ID
0627100
Project type
C

Event description

Three employees are buried in trench collapse, one is killed

Investigation abstract

At 1:00 p.m. on December 12, 2022, Employee #1 and Employee #2 were sitting was hospitalized for his injuries. Employee #3 escaped with minor injuries that did not require hospitalization. inside a six-foot deep trench working on damaged fiber optic cable. The crew began working in the trench around 10:30 a.m. Employee #1 and Employee #2 were sitting inside the trench with their legs crossed, locating damaged fiber optic lines. Employee #3 was in the trench handing tools back and forth to Employee #4 outside the trench. The employees had been working in the trench for approximately three hours when the trench caved in the first time at approximately 1:00 p.m. A second cave-in occurred approximately five minutes later. Employee #1 was killed due to asphyxiation and crushed ribs. Employee #2

Victims (2)

  1. #1 Fatality Age 31 M

    Event type
    2
  2. #2 Hospitalized Age 39 M

    Event type
    1

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