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Master Plumber Dies When Trench Collapses, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On July 29, 2003, a 35-year-old, male master plumber died when an unshorn trench collapsed. Two employees from the contracting company were speaking with him at the time from the side of the trench. He had searched and diagnosed a water line leak when the walls of the trench collapsed. The plumber was employed by a plumbing company contracted by a commercial establishment to locate and repair a water leak. He died at the scene from asphyxia due to chest compression.

To prevent future occurrences of similar incidents, the following recommendations have been made:

Recommendation No. 1: Employers should train …