A Franklin Park man died and another man was injured yesterday in the collapse of a trench in Beaver County that authorities said was not reinforced as required under federal health and safety standards.

Marion E. Peters, 61, died at the scene in the 200 block of Silverdale Drive in Economy, said Deputy Coroner Skip Haswell. An autopsy will be performed today, he said.

Injured in the accident was Roger Kowal, 50, of Economy. He was flown by helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian, where he was treated and released at about 8 p.m., said Economy Fire Chief Jake Thomas.

Officials said Kowal is an owner of Kowals' Excavating and Trencher Service, which was digging a trench for a sewer line when the accident occurred.

Michael Laughlin, a safety compliance officer for the Pittsburgh office of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, was on the scene and said the agency is investigating.

He declined to provide details, but said federal standards require trenches deeper than 5 feet to be shored with a trench box.

Fire officials said the trench behind the home was at least 7 feet deep and was not shored.

Thomas said the borough's municipal authority is in the second phase of a project that requires many homes to connect to the sewer system. He said the Kowals' company was on a list of contractors approved by the borough to connect homes to the system.

Thomas said he planned to ask borough council about standards required of contractors to be placed on the list.

Emergency personnel were called to the scene at about 3:40 p.m. when Kowal's son, Jonathan, notified the occupant of the home, who called 911, said Economy Police Chief Tom Harrington.

They found the two victims about 4 feet apart in a trench about 30 feet long. Kowal was buried up to his chest and Peters up to his nose, Thomas said.

Both were conscious and kept asking how the other was doing, said Economy Police Sgt. Jerry Droz.

Jonathan Kowal and an Economy police officer tried to dig out the two victims with a backhoe, but stopped when emergency personnel feared another collapse would occur. Rescuers tried shoveling by hand instead.

Kowal was dug out in about 20 minutes, officials said, but workers were unable to extricate Peters before he died shortly after 4:30 p.m.

Thomas said that recent wet weather probably was a factor in the collapse.

Two other men have died in the area in the last year in collapses of trenches that were not properly shored, officials said.