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| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
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OSHA News Release
2003 - 10/30/2003 - Potential Trenching Hazards Bring $98,800 in Fines to Site Concrete Inc. in Grand Prairie, Texas |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 6 News Release: OSHA-03-613-DAL Thurs., Oct. 30, 2003 Contact: Diana Petterson or Elizabeth Todd Phone: (214)767-4776, Ext. 222 or 221 Potential Trenching Hazards Bring $98,800 in Fines to Site Concrete Inc. in Grand Prairie, Texas DALLAS -- Failure to protect employees from potential trenching and excavation hazards has brought Site Concrete Inc. of Grand Prairie, Texas, $98,800 in proposed penalties from the Corpus Christi area office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Site Concrete Inc., a utility contractor that employs 234 workers, was cited with five alleged serious and five alleged repeat safety violations following a May 22 OSHA inspection at the company's worksite at the intersection of Mockingbird and Navarro in Victoria, Texas. At the time of the inspection nine workers were in a 14-foot deep trench installing storm sewers. "This company has had eight inspections within the past three years resulting in penalties totaling almost $58,000 for similar trenching violations," said John Giefer, area director of OSHA's Corpus Christi area office. "Exposing workers to possible cave-ins is unacceptable and will not be tolerated." The alleged serious violations include failing to adequately train employees on the hazards of working in confined spaces, failing to provide training on how to avoid trenching hazards, failing to provide hard hats for their workers and for allowing their employees to work with damaged ladders. A serious violation is one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. The alleged repeat violations include failing to conduct regular safety inspections, failing to adequately train employees on the hazards of possible cave-ins, failing to provide safe egress from a trench and not providing adequate protection from possible cave-in hazards. Workers should install a ladder or ramp for easy access and egress. A repeat violation is defined as a violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order where, upon reinspection, a substantially similar violation is found. Site Concrete Inc. has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Corpus Christi area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health and Review Commission. Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health standards can call the OSHA Corpus Christi area office at (361) 888-3420. OSHA's toll-free hotline number may be used to report workplace accidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers at 1-800-321-6742. OSHA is dedicated to assuring workers safety and health. Safety and health add value to business, the workplace and life. For more information, visit www.osha.gov ### U.S. Labor Department news releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. |
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