OSHA Cites Alabama Construction Company for Trench Safety Violations
Federal investigators found workers exposed to trench collapse hazards at a Jefferson County jobsite.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Jan 29, 2026
A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has found that a Birmingham area construction company willfully exposed workers to trench collapse hazards at a Jefferson County worksite, federal safety officials said.
Inspectors with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited CB&A Construction LLC after determining that workers installing drainpipes were exposed to a trench that lacked protective safeguards. In addition to the unprotected excavation, OSHA found workers handling suspended loads without hard hats and working at the edge of the trench without barriers.
OSHA classified the violation as willful and proposed $170,145 in penalties. The company has 15 business days after receiving the citations to correct the hazards, request an informal conference with an OSHA area director, or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Protective systems such as trench shields, sloping, or shoring are required under OSHA’s trenching and excavation standards to prevent collapses that can bury or seriously injure workers.
The investigation was conducted as part of OSHA’s National Emphasis Program, which targets enforcement and outreach in high-hazard industries to help reduce serious injuries and fatalities on American worksites. Employers can contact OSHA for compliance assistance and information on protecting workers from trenching hazards.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.