Fatalities in Trenching Operations—Analysis Using Models of Accident Causation

Abstract

More than 65 construction workers are killed each year due to trench related accidents. Accident prevention begins with having a clear understanding of the causes of these accidents. This paper discusses the analysis of 296 fatality reports related to trenching operations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the 1997–2001 time frame. In this paper, two models will be considered to analyze the fatality reports and to find the major relationships between the “how” and the “why” of trenching fatalities. The first model considers the causes related to physical processes, and the second model evaluates causes that can be linked to human behavior. The understanding of the major links between these two models and other factors will help to develop more effective strategies to prevent trenching fatalities.