U.S. Department of Labor | ||||||
Occupational Safety & Health Administration |
OSHA News Release
2002 - 12/16/2002 - Mass. Contractor Faces Nearly $130,000 in Fines for Cave-In and Underground Utilities Hazards at Rhode Island Worksite |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
Region 1 BOS 2002-247 Mon., Dec. 16, 2002 Contact: Ted Fitzgerald Phone: (617) 565-2074 Mass. Contractor Faces Nearly $130,000 in Fines for Cave-In and
Underground Utilities Hazards at Rhode Island Worksite PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Failure to protect workers against unguarded trenches and unmarked underground utilities at a Burrillville, R.I., worksite has resulted in $129,800 in proposed fines against a Fitchburg, Mass., underground utilities contractor. Fiore Construction Co., Inc. has been cited by the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for alleged willful, repeat and serious safety hazards at a sewer construction project at a Burrillvile mobile home park, "The Village at Maplehill". The citations and fines follow three OSHA inspections conducted between June and September of this year. According to Kipp Hartmann, OSHA's Rhode Island area director, each inspection was prompted either by Fiore's excavating equipment striking underground power lines or by reports of Fiore employees working in trenches that lacked cave-in protection. "Our inspections found workers exposed to two of the deadliest hazards in sewer construction: being crushed in the collapse of an unprotected trench or being electrocuted by contact with unmarked underground power lines," Hartmann said. "It's imperative for the safety of their workers that employers locate and work safely around underground utility lines and that they properly protect trenches against collapse." OSHA is citing Fiore for two alleged willful violations and proposing $98,000 in fines. The company also faces $22,800 in fines for three alleged repeat violations for failing to supply cave-in protection on another trench, not supplying a ladder or other safe means of exit from a trench, and failing to have a competent person inspect the trench for hazards. An additional $9,000 in fines is proposed for four alleged serious violations for not instructing employees in the recognition of unsafe conditions, an earlier instance of failing to determine the location of underground utilities, storing excavated spoils at the edge of a trench and using an inadequately sized trench box. Fiore Construction Co., Inc. has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to either elect to comply with them, to request and participate in an informal conference with the OSHA area director, and/or to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. OSHA's Providence Area Office conducted the inspection. Its telephone number is (401) 528-4669. A fact sheet detailing the citations and proposed penalties is attached. FACT SHEET Citations and Proposed Penalties Fiore Construction Co. Inc Burrillville, R.I. Worksite Two alleged willful violations, with $98,000 in proposed penalties, for:
###
U.S. Labor Department releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call (202) 693-7773 or TTY (202)693-7755. |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
Back to Top | www.osha.gov | www.dol.gov |
Contact Us | Freedom of Information Act | Customer Survey Privacy and Security Statement | Disclaimers |
||
Occupational Safety & Health Administration 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210 |