Excavating Company Fined $140,500 for Knowingly Putting Workers in Danger

A Washington Department of Labor and Industries inspector took spontaneous action to stop activity on a construction site when he noticed workers in an inadequately protected trench. Inspector Tyler Barrick photographed employees of Clark County Excavating & General Contracting pulling co-workers out of a 12-foot-deep trench where a sewer line was being installed. The workers were being pulled out by hand because a ladder was too short to reach the top, L&I said. Barrick observed that the crew had a trench box in place, but it was not big enough for the job, leaving room for the dirt...