El Paso Construction Company Cited for Trenching, Excavation Safety Hazards

Federal safety officials have cited an El Paso, Texas, construction company for failing to protect its employees from trench collapse hazards.

El Paso Underground Construction, a pipe-laying company, faces $190,642 penalties proposed by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

OSHA conducted an inspection after observing employees working in an unprotected trench. OSHA cited the company 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.

OSHA cited the company four times in 2017 for failing to protect employees from trench collapse hazards. The agency has placed El Paso Underground in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

El Paso Underground Construction 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