A worker had to use his hands and a spade to dig his workmate free from a torrent of dirt when a trench they were excavating collapsed in the Waikato backblocks, in what WorkSafe says was a preventable incident.

The work did not comply with regulations around excavation safety, and as a result the employers were sentenced and fined $275,000, in addition to reparations of $45,000 for harm caused to the worker. 

Read the WorkSafe alert>>

Read WorkSafe's Excavation Safety good practice guidance>>