Federal safety regulators have opened an investigation after a trench collapsed at a construction site in Cape Coral, trapping a worker inside a deep excavation before emergency crews were able to rescue him.
Authorities said the worker was pulled from the 12-foot-deep trench Monday afternoon after first responders arrived at the scene. The incident occurred at the construction site of a new two-story medical facility being developed for Lee Health.
Following the rescue, the focus quickly shifted to safety compliance as investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, commonly known as OSHA, arrived to determine whether required construction safety standards were followed.
The project’s general contractor, DeAngelis Diamond, confirmed it is cooperating with the federal investigation but declined to provide detailed comments due to the ongoing review.
"Yesterday there was accident involving a trade partner, team member who became temporarily pinned at a site in Cape Coral. Emergency responders arrived quickly and were able to safely extricate the individual. We are grateful for their efforts. We have secured the work area and are cooperating fully with the responding agencies and any subsequent investigations, because this is an active investigation we can not provide additional details at this time." - Kaisa Schmidt - VP Marketing and PR
Officials from the Cape Coral Fire Department confirmed that OSHA investigators were present at the site the same day as the incident.
Experts say trench collapses are a known hazard in Florida due to the state’s sandy soil conditions.
Wade Kundinger explained that the loose soil common in the region can make excavation work particularly dangerous.
"I think about Florida, and I think about how loose and sandy our soil is," Kundinger said. "It’s not as firm as other areas of the country. It’s a little scary."
OSHA classifies most of Florida’s soil as Type C, which is considered the least stable soil category for excavation work. Because the soil lacks cohesion, trenches can collapse quickly if proper protective systems are not used.
Federal safety rules require additional precautions when trenches exceed certain depths.
Under OSHA regulations, excavation sites must follow strict safety requirements designed to prevent cave-ins and protect workers.
One of the most important rules is commonly referred to as the five-foot rule, which requires any trench deeper than five feet to have protective systems such as trench boxes, shoring or bracing.
Additionally, construction sites must designate a “competent person” responsible for inspecting trenches daily and after changes in conditions such as rainfall.
Investigators will review whether these requirements were followed at the Cape Coral project.
Experts say OSHA investigations typically involve detailed technical analysis of both the job site and the surrounding conditions.
Ehab Shaheen said investigators will collect measurements and examine soil samples to determine what caused the collapse.
"First of all, they secure the site, take measurements, and samples of soils," Dr. Shaheen explained.
He noted that water infiltration can significantly weaken already unstable soil.
"If you add water to the system, soil gets weakened."
Florida’s high groundwater levels can increase the likelihood of trench failures, particularly if excavation safety systems are not properly installed or maintained.
Construction industry leaders say trench collapses remain one of the most dangerous hazards in construction.
A similar accident in Cape Coral in 2022 resulted in two worker fatalities after a trench cave-in during a construction project.
Nationwide, OSHA reported 13 trench-related deaths in 2024, according to the most recent available data.
Kundinger said the incident is a reminder of how quickly excavation work can become life-threatening.
"This is a reminder of just how dangerous construction sites can be. When we are talking to our members, everything we say is slow down, look around, pay attention. Primarily when you're digging... it's frightening," Kundinger said.
OSHA investigations can take up to six months to complete as inspectors review documents, interview workers and analyze site conditions.
If investigators determine that safety violations occurred, the agency has the authority to issue citations and significant financial penalties against responsible parties.
For now, officials say the investigation is ongoing and additional details may not be released until the federal review is completed.
Originally reported by WINK Investigative Chief Reporter: Chorus Nylander in WINK News.
