Texas contractor cited in fatal trench collapse

A Texas contractor has been cited by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a worker died during a trench collapse late last year.

OSHA announced Tuesday the two repeat citations against Buffalo, Texas-based R Construction Civil LLC over the October workplace death, which occurred during excavation operations at a job site near the city of Manvel, which is south of Houston.

During the incident, the worker became pinned against a mechanical compactor and then died after a trench wall caved in.

OSHA said the company failed to provide a means to safely exit the excavation site, failed to keep spoil piles at least two feet away from the excavation’s edge, and failed to offer an adequate protective system inside the excavation site to protect workers against cave-in hazards.

The contractor was also given one serious citation for not conducting daily site inspections.  

OSHA proposed $257,822 in penalties. The company has 15 days to contest the citations.