Trench Injury Leads to Repeat Safety Violations Against Grading, Pipeline Company

OSHA conducted an inspection after an employee was struck by a rock while working in an unprotected trench at a site in McDonough, GA. The company was issued three repeat citations alleging that it allowed employees to work in a trench lacking adequate cave-in protection, did not have a means of exit within 25 feet of where employees were working and had not been inspected by a competent person prior to employees entering it after blasting. Similar violations were cited against the same company by OSHA after a 2005 inspection. The company has also been cited for serious violations alleging failure to plan for a medical emergency in case of a serious injury, deviating from a manufacturer’s installation instructions for a trench box and failing to protect employees from a trench cave-in while installing a ladder. Two other-than-serious violations pertaining to recordkeeping issues were also cited. Total penalties of $136,200 have been proposed by OSHA.

[Gary’s Grading & Pipeline Co., Monroe, GA. Release Number 07-1534-ATL (343), Nov. 1, 2007]