City faces fine for worker killed in sewer line cave-in

State labor officials fined Columbia $12,000 for safety violations in a sewer line cave-in that killed a public works employee.

Marvis Myers, 31, died Feb. 6 after a trench he was working in at Pulaski and College streets collapsed.

There was inadequate protection to prevent a cave-in as well as insufficient checks for hazardous gases during the excavation and rescue efforts, according to a report made public Wednesday

Both utilities staff and firefighters were at fault, the report said in citing six violations.

Most of the fine – $7,000 – was for insufficient preparation of the excavation against collapse. The major problem cited was failure to provide adequate bracing in the hole to prevent a cave-in as well as during digging out debris to rescue Myers.

Myers was walking toward a ladder in the six-foot-deep hole after spreading gravel on its bottom when the collapse occurred, it said.

He was entrapped from his chest down and a piece of asphalt fell on his back, it said.

Myers suffocated after being entrapped for 25 minutes and also suffered rib and pelvic fractures as well as internal bleeding, the report said.

City officials, who declined comment, can appeal the fine to the state Administrative Law Court.

This story was originally published July 22, 2015 at 4:18 PM.