Jordan Construction Co. of Hilton Head Inc. is facing OSHA citations of $46,800 for exposing workers to cave-in and struck-by hazards at a worksite in Pooler, Ga., where workers were installing sewer lines at an intersection.
OSHA issued the employer two willful citations for allowing employees to work in an excavation without cave-in protection and not ensuring the soil pile was at least two feet from the excavation edge. OSHA requires that all trenches and excavation sites five feet or deeper be protected against sidewall collapses. Protection may be provided through shoring of trench walls, sloping of the soil at a shallow angle or by using a protective trench box. Additionally, two serious violations include failing to provide a safe entrance and exit from the trench and not requiring employees to wear head protection while working in a trench where falling objects could result in injury.
The citations can be viewed at http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/OSHA20150462fs.pdf.
Jordan Construction has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
