A plumbing and sewer services company in Illinois has been cited for safety violations after a federal investigation found it responsible in the death of a worker in a trench collapse.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigators determined that Rooter Solutions Inc. of Burr Ridge, Ill., "failed to install cave-in protection that would have protected workers in the trench and did not ensure the use of required head protection," the U.S. Department of Labor reported June 8.
The 27-year-old worker was killed in December 2022 when the walls of the trench he was working in collapsed, "crushing him fatally," the release states. Another worker in the trench at the time of the collapse was able to escape unharmed, according to the release.
Rooter Solutions was cited for one willful violation and one serious violation, the release reports, and faces proposed penalties of $35,940.
Sukhvir Kaur, director of OSHA Chicago North, said in the release that the death "was one of 39 caused by fatal injuries in trench collapses in 2022."
“Trench collapses are one of the construction industry’s most deadly hazards," Kaur said in the release. "Soil can shift suddenly and bury a person under thousands of pounds of dirt and rocks."
OSHA is responding to the alarming statistics with a "national emphasis program" on trenching and excavations standards, the release reports. Measures include mandatory protective systems for trenches deeper than 5 feet; requirements on the distance soil and materials must be kept from the edge of a trench; trenches must be kept drained of standing water and properly ventilated; have safe entrances/exits for workers; and be "inspected by a knowledgeable person," according to the release.
OSHA is also working to promote trench safety by collaborating with the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) on Trench Safety Stand Down Week from June 19 to 23, the release reported. The initiative aims to educate thousands of workers across the country through various job sites and emphasizes the importance of adhering to trenching standards. OSHA's website provides additional resources, including a safety video, according to the release.
