Excavation company to pay $380,000 for trench violations

A Minnesota-based excavation company has agreed to pay a $380,000 penalty and increase employee training in an agreement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Wagner Construction Inc., based in International Falls, Minnesota, was cited by OSHA in 2019 and 2020 for exposing workers to excavation hazards on job sites in North Dakota.

Under the terms of the agreement, released Wednesday, in addition to the fine, Wagner will train workers on trenching and excavation hazards, develop detailed site-specific safety plans and employ a full-time safety manager to protect workers from excavation hazards. The company has also agreed to hire a third-party safety consultant, provide OSHA with the address of all of its 2021 job sites to allow inspectors to check for trench standard compliance, form a safety committee and address safety issue through weekly supervisor meetings. The company has also purchased new trench safety equipment.