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A contractor faces $169,000 in OSHA fines after an inspection revealed cave-in hazards at a construction site.

Penney Construction Co. of Hartford, CT, received two willful citations with $140,000 in fines. That’s the maximum fine allowed by law for willful violations.

OSHA says an inspection found:

• a trench lacked protection to prevent the walls from collapsing onto workers
• the cave-in hazard was intensified by the presence of an unsupported sidewalk and catch basin overhanging trench, and
• even after being informed that the conditions posed an imminent danger, the employer continued to send workers into the trench.

Five serious violations with $29,000 in fines involve:

• rocks and soil falling into the trench
• not testing a sewer line for hazardous atmospheres
• lack of personal protective equipment, and
• not adequately training workers to recognize the hazards associated with their work.

OSHA has placed Penney Construction into its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which includes mandatory follow-up inspections.

Penney Construction has 15 days from receipt of the citations to decide whether to contest them.

Tags: cave-in hazards, imminent danger, willful violations