It was a frightening moment for a New York gravedigger when a grave opening he was working on collapsed on him. Find out what happened and make sure your employees aren’t at risk for trench collapses.
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The gravedigger, who was seriously injured when he was buried up to his waist, is employed by a company that owns and operates cemeteries throughout the New York City area. An inspection by OSHA’s Long Island area office found that the excavation and support systems lacked adequate protection against cave-ins. As well, the excavation had not been inspected to identify such deficiencies. Other hazards identified included damaged equipment and the placement of excavated soil on the edge of the unprotected trench.