Woofter Construction & Irrigation
Collapse, engulfment open trench or excavation — Fractures — COLBY, Kansas
| Employer | Woofter Construction & Irrigation |
| Address | Corner of W. Willow Ave. and Sewell Ave. |
| City, State ZIP | COLBY, Kansas 67701 |
| Report ID | 20241211179 |
| Event Date | December 3, 2024 |
| Outcome | Hospitalized |
| Nature of Injury | Fractures |
| Body Part | Pelvis |
| Event Type | Collapse, engulfment open trench or excavation |
| Source of Injury | Ditches, channels, trenches, excavations |
| Secondary Source | Secondary source not applicable |
| Industry (NAICS) | 237110 |
| Inspection # | 1792547 |
| GPS Coordinates | 39.37000, -101.05000 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
An employee was in a trench working on a water/sewer line connection when the dirt started to shift and engulfed the employee up to his waist. He was trapped for approximately 1 hour and sustained fractures to the pelvis.
Incident Summary
On December 3, 2024, a worker at Woofter Construction & Irrigation in COLBY, Kansas suffered fractures to the pelvis. The incident was classified as collapse, engulfment open trench or excavation, with ditches, channels, trenches, excavations identified as the source of injury. The worker was hospitalized.
Context
OSHA has recorded 16 severe injury reports involving "Collapse, engulfment open trench or excavation" incidents in our database. Browse all Collapse, engulfment open trench or excavation injuries.
Similar Incidents
Other severe injury reports involving Collapse, engulfment open trench or excavation events:
| Date | Employer | Location | Nature | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10, 2025 | MC UNDERGROUND UTILITIES, LLC | PRINCETON, Texas | Fractures | Hosp. |
| Apr 5, 2024 | Environmental Allies Inc. | HUMBLE, Texas | Fractures | Hosp. |
| Dec 27, 2024 | Mclain Site Solutions, Inc | SAINT AUGUSTINE, Florida | Dislocations | Hosp. |
| Jul 23, 2024 | Shaw Services LLC | LUBBOCK, Texas | Fractures | Hosp. |
| Jul 30, 2025 | GEORGIA DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, LLC | SANDY SPRINGS, Georgia | Fractures and soft tissue injuries | Hosp. |
| Jun 28, 2024 | Stahlheber Excavating, Inc. | TRENTON, Ohio | Fractures | Hosp. |
| May 1, 2025 | CREATIVE MULTICARE, LLC | SMYRNA, Georgia | Surface and flesh wounds unspecified | Hosp. |
| Sep 4, 2024 | Soderberg Construction | VAN BUREN, Maine | Multiple severe wounds and internal injuries | Hosp. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Workers injured on the job have the right to medical treatment covered by workers' compensation, wage replacement benefits during recovery, and protection against retaliation for reporting the injury. You have the right to file a complaint with OSHA if you believe your workplace is unsafe, and OSHA cannot reveal your identity to your employer without your consent. You also have the right to see your OSHA 300 injury log. If your employer denies a workers' comp claim, you can appeal through your state's workers' compensation board. An occupational health attorney can advise on complex cases involving denied claims or third-party liability.
After an employer reports a severe injury, OSHA decides whether to conduct an on-site inspection. Fatalities and amputations typically trigger automatic inspections. For hospitalizations and eye loss events, OSHA may conduct a phone/fax investigation or an on-site inspection based on the circumstances. During an inspection, OSHA compliance officers assess the accident scene, interview witnesses, review safety records, and identify violations. Citations and penalties may be issued. OSHA also works with the employer to abate hazardous conditions. All inspection results are published in OSHA's public inspection database at osha.gov.
You can file an OSHA complaint online at osha.gov/workers/file-complaint, by calling 1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742), or by visiting your local OSHA area office. Complaints can be filed anonymously. OSHA prioritizes formal written complaints from workers. If you believe an imminent danger exists, call OSHA immediately — they are required to investigate immediately when there is reasonable grounds to believe imminent danger exists. Workers are protected from retaliation for filing complaints under Section 11(c) of the OSH Act; if you experience retaliation, file a separate complaint within 30 days of the adverse action.
About This OSHA Report
This is a severe injury report filed with OSHA. Employers are required to report all work-related fatalities and severe injuries within 8 to 24 hours. Browse more reports by employer, state, or industry below.