OSHA Proposes $105K in Penalties for Trenching Violations

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing $105,600 in penalties against a Chicago contractor that allegedly failed to protect workers from trenching hazards, despite previous citations for the same type of violation.OSHA said in a press release that it cited Pan-Oceanic Engineering Co. Inc. with willful and repeat safety violations after witnessing an employee working in an unprotected trench greater than 8 feet in depth. "It is unacceptable that Pan-Oceanic Engineering would allow workers to access an unprotected trench," stated Gary Anderson, OSHA's area directo...