The fatality rate for excavation work is 112 percent higher than the rate for general construction

Construction

OSHA: Texas Pipe-Laying Company Exposed Workers to Trenching Hazards

Aug. 8, 2018

The agency conducted an inspection after observing employees working in an unprotected trench.

OSHA has cited El Paso Underground Construction to the tune of $190,642 after the company allowed its workers to work in dangerous conditions.

The agency discovered the Texas-based company's employees performing pipe work in an unprotected trench, triggering an inspection that dug up several violations.

"This company has once again put their employees at serious risk by failing to provide training and implement required trenching protections," said OSHA El Paso Area Office Director Diego Alvarado. "Unprotected trenches can be fatal and it is fortunate that no one was injured."

OSHA cited El Paso Underground for failing to provide employees a safe means of entering and exiting a trench, not protecting employees against cave-ins and for failing to train employees in safe work practices.

This wasn't the company's first run-in with the agency. El Paso Underground Construction previous was cited four times in 2017 for similar violations. As a result, OSHA has placed El Paso Underground in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.