Contractor With History of Safety Violations Fined for Trench Hazards

An Illinois construction contractor in business for more than 50 years has a history of exposing its workers to trench hazards, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said. OSHA inspectors found that P.T. Ferro Construction Co. employees worked in a 7-foot trench without cave-in protection or a way to exit quickly if a collapse occurred. "Ground soil is an unpredictable aspect in all trenching and excavations," said Kathy Webb, OSHA's area director in Calumet City, in a statement. "It gives no warning prior to giving away, and a collapse can bury workers in just...