Contractor Faces $255K Fine for 20-Year Old Worker’s Death in Trench Collapse

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited a Pennsylvania excavation contractor for safety violations after a 20-year old Maryland worker was killed in a trench collapse.

OSHA opened an investigation into Jonas David Wagoner and his J.D. Wagoner Excavating on April 2, 2026, and found workers were installing a storm sewer system 12 feet below ground level in a trench that was not adequately protected from soil collapse. When a portion of the trench’s wall failed, the unrestrained soil engulfed one worker.

The agency issued a willful violation for failure to protect workers from cave-ins and two repeat violations for failing to assign a competent person to conduct daily trench inspections and removing employees from hazardous conditions.

In addition, the employer received three serious violations for failure to provide construction hazard prevention training. establish a safe means for workers to exit the excavation site, keep materials at least two feet from the edge of an excavation site, and restrain side materials from becoming roll-in hazards.

OSHA proposed $254,884 in penalties.

The employer has 15 business days to contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.