Causal Analysis of Fatal Trenching Accidents

A study was performed by the Construction Industry Research and Policy Center at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville to identify causation for U.S. trench collapse fatalities in the construction industry that occurred during the years 1997-1999. Of the 1217 fatality case files analyzed, 44 were categorized as trench collapse fatalities. The 44 trench collapse case files were analyzed and the contributed factors of the fatalities were identified in an effort to determine the causation of collapses. The results of the study showed a large number of trenches without any type of protective devices being used. The findings of the fatal trench collapse investigation events suggest that fatal events might have been prevented if there was compliance with OSHA regulations for protective devices in the trenches, training of employees, and having an OSHA trained competent person on site.

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