OSHA has cited Avon, Co.-based ContractOne for safety violations following a fatal trench cave-in, according to a news release from the agency. The company faces $57,463 in penalties for its alleged violations.
OSHA determined the contractor willfully failed to use a trench protective system at a residential construction site where workers were installing water lines. The agency alleges ContractOne failed to conduct regular site inspections to correct potentially hazardous conditions, failed to place excavated soil piles at a safe distance from the trench, and failed to utilize appropriate procedures during trenching operations.
OSHA trenching standards require protective systems for trenches five feet or deeper and requires soil and other excavated materials to be at least two feet from the edge of a trench.
“The employer’s failure to install protective systems contributed to the death of a worker,” said OSHA Denver area director Herb Gibson. “Trenching hazards are well-known, but they can be prevented when the employer meets their legal obligations and takes proper precautions.”
ContractOne has 15 business days after the receipt of their citation and penalties to comply, to request an informal conference with their OSHA area director, or contest the findings.