Worcester Contractor Fails to Provide Cave-in Protection to Trench Workers

On Monday, The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued JE Amorello Inc. willful and serious citations for exposing workers to trenching hazards at a Quincy worksite.

OSHA’s inspection found Amorello employees working in a trench deeper than 8 feet that lacked proper shoring or sloping of its sidewalls to prevent them from collapsing onto the workers. Investigators also found that the trench did not have a ladder so workers could swiftly exit the trench, and that bricks and excavated material were stored at the edge of the trench wall.

OSHA standards require that all trenches and excavations 5 feet or deeper be protected against collapse. “Even though no collapse occurred this time, allowing employees to enter and work in an unprotected trench is both dangerous and unacceptable,” said Brenda Gordon, OSHA’s area director for Boston and southeastern Massachusetts.

The Worcester, Mass., contractor faces a total of $20,020 in proposed fines.

Source:
US Labor Department’s OSHA cites Worcester, Mass., contractor for failing to provide cave-in protection at Quincy, Mass., jobsite , Newswire.com, January 10, 2011
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