Fractures

Employees had unearthed an existing water line and were in the process of backfilling it using an excavator. The injured employee was in the trench using a tamp machine to compact the dirt. While dropping a load of dirt into the trench, the excavator struck the existing water line, causing water and sand to spray into the cab of the excavator and the operator's eyes. The excavator bucket then swung and struck the injured employee's left leg, fracturing their lower leg.