OSHA Fines Texas Construction Company $117,500 for Alleged Safety Violations

Site Concrete Inc., an underground utility contractor that employs about 1,200 workers, was cited by OSHA for one alleged willful and two alleged repeat violations following an inspection by the agency's Dallas area office that began July 20 at the company's worksite on Alanis Lane in Wylie. At the time of the inspection, completed under OSHA's National Trenching and Excavation Program, four workers were installing a new valve on the water main inside a 7-foot-deep trench.

"Since 1998, this employer has been inspected by OSHA 16 times, resulting in $231,510 in fines and penalties. Exposing employees to unsafe working conditions is unacceptable," said Kathryn Delaney, OSHA area director in Dallas. "Employers must follow safety and health standards to prevent injuries and fatalities, and are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees."

The willful citation was issued for alleged failure to provide employees with cave-in protection, such as sloping or shoring, when working inside a trench greater than 5 feet deep.

The repeat violations include allegedly placing excavated materials and equipment less than 2 feet from the edge of the trench and allegedly not providing adequate means to exit the trench.