The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fined an Ontario, Oregon-based company nearly $20,000 following the deaths of two men killed in a trench collapse in April.
According to the Idaho Press, the citation listed five “serious” violations that company Ontario Pipe Supply committed on April 10 when two men were killed. Javier Ortega, 59, and Arcenio Carrillo, 51, were setting irrigation pipes in New Plymouth when the 4-by-8-foot trench they were working in collapsed.
OSHA has accused the company of failing to instruct each employee on recognizing and eliminating potential cave-in hazards. In addition, no inspections were completed for cave-in hazards, and the trench did not have any form of stairway, ramp, or ladder.
Soil was also placed on the edge of the trench walls, while OSHA guidelines call for excavated material to be at least two feet from the trench edge.
Source: Idaho Press
