Danbury, Conn., contractor faces nearly $145,000 in OSHA fines

[Omaha Steve]

http://hr.cch.com/news/safety/121508a.asp

SAFETY / OSHA - 12/15/08
Danbury, Conn., contractor faces nearly $145,000 in OSHA fines for work in collapsing excavation at Brookfield, Conn., site

OSHA has cited Sand Cut Properties LLC of Danbury, Conn., for alleged willful and serious violations of safety standards after an employee was directed to work in a collapsing excavation at a Brookfield, Conn., worksite. The company, which is developing and constructing industrial buildings at 4 Sandcut Road, faces a total of $144,800 in proposed fines.

On May 28, a Sand Cut Properties employee was directed to enter a 6- to 9-foot-deep excavation to retrieve a piece of equipment. The collapsing excavation was weakened by water accumulating in the excavation and by a 15-foot tall pile of excavated materials placed at its edge. The excavation did not have required cave-in protection in place.

"There was no excuse for sending this employee to work inside an unprotected, unstable and collapsing excavation," said Robert Kowalski, OSHA's area director in Bridgeport. "This instruction ignores basic safety requirements and common sense. This was an imminent danger situation, and the employee was fortunate not to be crushed or buried alive."

As a result, OSHA has issued Sand Cut Properties two willful citations, with $140,000 in proposed fines, for the lack of cave-in protection and for placing the 15-foot pile of excavated material next to the excavation's edge. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.

FULL story at link.