Trench Collapse Prompts 6 Citations, $63,360 in Fines

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued six citations with fines totaling $63,360 to Trimat Construction of Bidwell following a trench collapse at a job site in Mercerville on March 8.OSHA reported that an agency OSHA inspector was performing a work site inspection when he directed an employee to exit the trench, believing collapse was imminent. Within five minutes, the trench collapsed and could have buried the worker under 6 to 7 feet of soil, OSHA said.The inspection was conducted under OSHA's national emphasis program on trenching and excavation.The agency issued t...