One pipelayer was crushed to death and another injured when a trench collapsed. They were laying sewer pipe in a trench four feet (1.22 meters) wide at the bottom and 15 feet (4.57 meters) wide at the top. It was not shored or otherwise supported to prevent a cave-in. The soil in the bottom part of the trench was mostly sand and gravel and the upper portion was clay and loam. The trench was not protected from the vibration of heavy vehicle traffic on a nearby road. To exit the trench, the workers had to climb over backfill. When they tried […]