BANNING, Calif. -- A construction worker was killed in Banning Tuesday when a trench collapsed and buried him, a fire captain said.

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The trench collapse on West Ramsey Street, near Omar Street, was reported at 10:44 a.m., according to the Riverside County Fire Department. When firefighters arrived, only one of the man's shoulders could be seen, and a paramedic was lowered on a rope to check for vital signs, Capt. Lori Hutchinson said.

"They were able to utilize some of the paramedic equipment and put a monitor on him," Hutchinson said. "When our units arrived ... there was still dirt falling into the hole ... the dirt just continued to collapse."

"It's on a 40 percent slope," she said.

Fire crews worked to shore up the trench to prevent further collapses.

That effort was put on hold, however, until inspectors with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration could complete an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse.

According to Jim Earhart, Banning's director of public utilities, the victim was working with a private contractor hired by the city to bury power lines and create a new substation.

The new substation would "substantially relieve existing demand and provide electrical power to the growing population," Earhart said.

Between 50 and 75 firefighters were at the scene.