Campus construction leads to state investigation

By Morgan Eads

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A state agency launched an investigation Tuesday into whether a trench dug in the middle of campus endangered employees who were working in it.

Kentucky Occupational Health and Safety official David Dickerson said the agency would be unable to comment during the investigation, which could last at least six weeks.

The investigation began after Kentucky Kernel reporters called the agency to ask about the safety of the trench.

The trench, which is next to the Grehan Journalism Building, was originally dug Monday. At more than 7 feet deep and about 8 feet across, the trench did not adhere to regulations listed in both national and state Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.

According to an OSHA fact sheet, an average of two construction workers die in trench collapses each month. Collapses are fatal in many cases — one cubic yard of soil can weigh as much as a car.

Kernel editors saw workers in the trench Monday. Tuesday morning the trench was worked on to better meet OSHA standards.

After seeing a photograph of the work site that was taken Monday, nationally-known accident investigation consultant Timothy Kobernat spotted several safety violations.

“If we had come across this (worksite) when I was at OSHA, it would be in the thousands of dollars of fines,” said Kobernat, who worked with OSHA for 32 years.

According to OSHA regulations, a ladder for employees to exit a trench must extend 3 feet above the edge of the trench. Ladders used Monday fell short of the edge of the trench by at least 1 foot.

Additionally, if there are no supports, the mouth of a trench this size should be about 16 feet across, to ensure a slope with a reduced risk of collapse. The photograph taken Monday showed a trench opening that fell far short of that measurement, said Kobernat, who was an area director during his time at OSHA. The soil removed from the hole, known as spoil, was also piled too close to the trench, Kobernat said.

University officials said they could not comment on the investigation in time to meet deadline Tuesday.

With construction projects continuing across campus, there is a heightened awareness of potential dangers for construction workers. A death last year on a privately-run campus construction project has also contributed to the attention being paid to safety for employees.

On Tuesday morning workers dug a wider opening to the trench and replaced the ladder used Monday with one that extended above the trench by several feet. Dirt from the pile adjacent to the trench was also shifted further away from the trench.