Aqua Ohio Cited After Trench Collapse Leads to Death of Employee
OSHA has cited the utility company for failing to protect workers in trenches.
A man died due to injuries when a trench collapsed on him in March while he was working, and as a result, OSHA found the employer, Aqua Ohio Inc., did not provide trench cave-in protection for its employees. The company has been cited for one repeated and five serious safety violations. This is the second time the agency has cited Aqua Ohio for trench-related issues.
"This young man's death was preventable. It is unacceptable that Aqua Ohio again risked the lives of its employees in an unprotected trench," said Howard Eberts, OSHA's area director in Cleveland. "The company knows cave-in protection is required in a trench more than 5 feet deep, but their failure to comply cost a man his life."
Crain's Cleveland Business reported that penalties in the case totaled $44,800.