Salem, OR — The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) has fined Hillsboro-based Renner Trucking and Excavating Inc. $80,804 for repeatedly violating rules that protect workers from trenches caving in on them.
A cave-in can trap and kill within seconds.
Oregon OSHA issued a citation to the company on May 12 following an inspection that found two employees working in a trench with no protective system in place. The trench – about 3 feet wide by 12 feet long and more than 5 feet deep – was part of work to build a home in Beaverton.
The division conducted the inspection under a prevention-based emphasis program that focuses enforcement resources on trenching and excavation hazards, which are extremely dangerous to workers.
“Any employer preparing to do this type of work must take the well-known dangers seriously by following safety requirements designed to protect workers," said Renée Stapleton, administrator for Oregon OSHA. “Workers have a right to hazard-free jobsites. Employers must make that right a reality."
Altogether, Oregon OSHA cited Renner Trucking and Excavating Inc. for three violations of the Oregon Safe Employment Act. Those violations were:
Failure to provide a sufficient protective system to protect employees from a trench collapse. It was a first-repeat violation. Penalty: $39,696.
Failure to ensure a competent person was available to identify and address existing and predictable trench hazards. It was a first-repeat violation. Penalty: $39,696.
Failure to provide adequate protection for employees from loose rock or soil potentially falling from the face of the trench onto their heads. It was a serious violation. Penalty: $1,412.
The total penalty issued to the company included a standard reduction based on the size of the company. Employers have 30 calendar days after receiving a citation to file an appeal.
Oregon OSHA offers free resources – involving
no fault, no citations, and no penalties – to help employers address a broad range of workplace safety and health concerns, including trench and excavation hazards. They include a
guide to safe excavation practices and a
fact sheet about competent person duties.
Moreover, the division offers the following non-enforcement resources:
Consultation services – Provides free help with safety and health programs, including how to control and eliminate hazards, and hands-on training
Technical staff – Helps employers understand requirements and how to apply them to their worksites