California Company Fined Over Trench Worker Death
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has issued $157,500 in citations to W. A. Rasic Construction for multiple violations of workplace safety regulations following a fatal trench collapse. The incident resulted in the tragic death of an employee working in an unprotected excavation.
What Happened: On August 28, 2024, at around 3:00 a.m., a worker was inside a 17-foot-deep trench when a portion of it collapsed. The collapse caused a concrete pipe to be displaced, pinning and killing the employee. Cal/OSHA’s investigation identified serious violations of workplace safety regulations related to excavation and trench safety.
What Cal/OSHA Chief Debra Lee said: “No worker should lose their life due to preventable safety failures. We will continue to enforce trench safety regulations, hold employers accountable and work to ensure that safety standards are upheld to protect workers.”
Violations Identified by Cal/OSHA:
·Failure to implement an effective injury and illness prevention program
W. A. Rasic Construction did not implement an effective injury and illness prevention program to identify, evaluate, and correct workplace hazards, and provide training, a requirement that has been in place for more than 30 years. This failure exposed employees to the hazards associated with working in an unshored trench.
·Failure to conduct a proper inspection of the excavation site
The employer’s inspection failed to identify conditions that could lead to dangerous cave-in hazards or the lack of necessary protective systems, such as trench boxes or shoring, which could have prevented the collapse.
·Failure to Provide Adequate Cave-In Protection
The employer did not provide the necessary cave-in protection for employees working in an excavation approximately 17 feet deep. This critical safety failure exposed workers to the risk of fatal injury, as evidenced by the incident.
Employers have the right to appeal any Cal/OSHA citation and notification of penalty by filing an appeal with the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board within 15 working days from the receipt of notification.