Drew Johnson, 23, from Utility Trenching became stuck knee-deep in the roughly 12-foot-deep trench last Tuesday outside a home at 13019 Hawthorne Court. One side of the trench had collapsed on his legs. About 30 Omaha firefighters responded. The unusually narrow trench required precarious work to excavate Johnson, trapped that day for about 61⁄2 hours. An ambulance took Johnson to the Nebraska Medical Center with foot pain. He was listed in fair condition Wednesday.
According to The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction operations. The fatality rate for excavation workers is 112 percent higher than the rate for general construction. Cave-ins pose the greatest risk and are much more likely than other excavation-related accidents to result in worker fatalities. Other potential hazards include falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, and incidents involving mobile equipment.
OSHA is investigating Utility Trenching, which has operated in Omaha for 15 years, has four previous OSHA violations. The company’s previous four violations, which have occurred over the past nine years, have totaled $7,850 in fines.

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