Department of Labor cites North Florida contractors for willfully endangering employees in excavations without required safety protections.
What Happened?
On May 28, 2024, OSHA inspectors witnessed workers employed by Masci General Contractor Inc. installing a sewer line in a trench. The trench was 6 feet deep and 40 feet long near International Speedway and Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach.
OSHA inspectors initiated the removal of the employees from the trench and subsequently, the agency issued a citation to the employer for willfully endangering workers. The company failed to provide essential cave-in protection such as trench boxes or shoring systems while employees worked in the excavation.
A few days later, OSHA inspectors encountered workers from K T Carter Contracting Inc. in a 12 foot deep trench without cave-in protection. Once again, inspectors initiated the removal of employees from the trench. As a result of the inspection, OSHA issued a willful violation to the company.
In addition to the willful violation, the companies were both cited for serious violations for:
- Exposing workers to cave-in and struck-by hazards by not providing a stairway, ramp, ladder, or other safe means of access and egress from the trench
- And placing soil piles along the edge of the excavations
Masci General Contractor Inc. faces $216,633 in proposed penalties.
K T Carter Contracting Inc. faces $146,803 in proposed penalties.
Preventing The Violation
According to OSHA, trenches 5 feet deep or greater require a protective system UNLESS the excavation is made entirely of stable rock.
To prevent excavation and trenching violations:
- Provide cave-in protection systems
- Provide a safe means of access and egress
- Perform risk assessments prior to entering excavations
- And ensure excavated materials are not placed closer than 24″ from the edge of any excavation
Resources
OSHA provides resources for excavation and trenching safety.
JJ Safety provides safety meetings, safety training kits, and online training for excavation and trenching.