A Texas contractor was cited by OSHA after an 18-year-old worker was killed when a 15-foot trench wall collapsed on him.
Inspectors determined that the company allowed work to be conducted in the trench without a proper protective system in place to prevent a collapse.
The worker was fatally injured in September 2023 when the trench wall caved in, causing tons of dirt to pin him against a reinforced concrete box.
In November 2021, this same company was cited for failing to use an adequate protective system at another worksite. The company was also cited in 2007 following the death of an employee in January of that year in a similar incident.
Fine: $257,811
Company: Hurtado Construction Co., Fulshear, Texas
Business: Water and sewer line and related structures construction
Reasons for fine:
One willful violation for failing to:
- protect employees working in excavations from cave-in hazards by using adequate protective systems
Six serious violations for failing to:
- have a person who was trained to render first aid at a remote worksite, exposing employees to a delay in medical treatment
- have a safe means of egress from a trench with a depth greater than 4 feet
- prevent employees from working in excavations which had accumulated water
- use shielding systems according to manufacturer specifications
- install shields in a manner to restrict hazardous movement
- protect employees from cave-in hazards when entering and exiting an excavation
One other-than serious violation for failing to:
- provide OSHA 300 Injury and Illness logs to OSHA within 4 hours
