Giant Construction Corp., a contractor in Tamuning, faces penalties exceeding $1 million after federal inspectors discovered employees working in trenches without the required safety equipment. The company's employees were found installing sewer lines in deep trenches at a worksite in the Palisades Subdivision Project in Tiyan, Guam.
OSHA Area Office Director Roger Forstner in Honolulu expressed concern over the situation, stating, “Giant Construction Corp. has shown a flagrant disregard for the safety of its employees and put workers at risk of serious and potentially fatal injuries. The company’s owner admits they understand the dangers but still chooses to put profit before people."
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Giant Construction Corp. for nine willful violations for failing to protect employees working in trenches and for two serious violations for not providing adequate means to exit trenches. This is not the first time the company has faced such issues, as it has been subject to five previous OSHA inspections since 2014.
OSHA has a National Emphasis Program on trenching and excavations, with standards requiring protective systems in trenches deeper than 5 feet. The agency emphasized the importance of inspections by knowledgeable individuals and the presence of safe means of egress from trenches before allowing workers to enter.
Giant Construction Corp. has 15 business days to comply with the citations and penalties, request an informal conference, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The company, known for its work in residential and commercial construction, faces significant repercussions for its repeated violations of safety regulations.
