Texas Firms Face Fines After Fatal Crawl Space Accident
OSHA proposes over $299,000 in penalties for a construction contractor and staffing agency following a fatal mini-excavator incident.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Jul 13, 2026
Federal safety regulators have cited a building contractor and a staffing company for dozens of safety violations following the death of a worker in an elementary school crawl space.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration launched an investigation at Converse Elementary School after an employee of D L Bandy Constructors Inc. became trapped between a mini-excavator and a concrete beam. The worker was clearing dirt from a crawl space beneath the school when the fatal incident occurred. Staffing agency Pacesetters Personnel Services also provided temporary employees for the project.
Investigators cited D L Bandy Constructors Inc. with one willful violation for removing the factory-installed rollover protective structures from mini-excavators. The company allegedly added fabricated parts to modify the heavy equipment so it could fit into the tight crawl space.
OSHA also issued 15 serious violations to the contractor regarding confined space hazards. According to regulators, the company failed to identify permit-required confined spaces, conduct necessary air quality testing, provide proper ventilation, train employees or implement emergency rescue protocols.
Pacesetters Personnel Services faced two serious violations for failing to ensure confined space safety procedures were followed and neglecting to train temporary workers for the site conditions.
Federal officials proposed $276,399 in penalties for D L Bandy Constructors Inc. and $23,170 for Pacesetters Personnel Services. Both companies have 15 business days to comply with the citations, request an informal conference or contest the findings.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is assistant editor of OHSOnline.com.