OSHA Cites Ohio-based Trenching Company for Safety Violations

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited A. Bagnoli and Sons Inc., a water, sewer and utility excavation company located in Poland, Ohio, with four alleged willful and serious safety violations after one worker was killed and another seriously injured. The incident occurred when part of a 17-foot deep by 65-foot long trench caved in on April 7, in Hudson Ohio, trapping the two workers for more than six hours. Total proposed fines equal $140,000

OSHA cited A. Bagnoli and Sons with two alleged willful violations for failing to provide proper cave-in protection shields at the excavation site and provide employees with a safe egress while entering and exiting a trench.

Additionally, the company was cited for two serious citations with proposed penalties of $4,200 for allowing employees to work under loads lifted by digging equipment and failing to keep excavated materials at least 2 feet from the edge of the excavation area. An OSHA violation is serious if death or serious physical harm can result from a hazard an employer knew or should have known exists.

In 1989, A. Bagnoli and Sons was issued one serious citation for a lack of proper trenching protective equipment and a second serious citation for lack of required personal protective equipment.

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.

Source: OSHA