The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) recently cited Hillsboro-based Renner Trucking and Excavating Inc. for repeated violations of trench cave-in rules, the agency announced May 28. The state safety and health agency is seeking $80,804 in penalties.
Oregon OSHA cited the employer following an inspection that found two employees working in a trench with no protective system in place. The trench—about 3 feet (ft) wide by 12 ft long and more than 5 ft deep—was part of a homebuilding project in Beaverton.
Oregon OSHA performed its inspection under its prevention-based emphasis program to focus enforcement resources on trenching and excavation hazards. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a similar emphasis program.
Oregon OSHA cited Renner Trucking and Excavating Inc. for three violations of the Oregon Safe Employment Act, including the following:
- Failure to provide a sufficient protective system to protect employees from a trench collapse—a “first-repeat” violation (penalty: $39,696);
- Failure to ensure a competent person was available to identify and address existing and predictable trench hazards—a “first-repeat” violation (penalty: $39,696); and
- Failure to provide adequate employee protection from loose rock or soil that could potentially fall from the face of the trench onto their heads—a serious violation (penalty: $1,412).
The total penalty included a standard reduction based on the company’s size. Employers have 30 calendar days after receiving a citation to file an appeal, according to Oregon OSHA.
“Any employer preparing to do this type of work must take the well-known dangers seriously by following safety requirements designed to protect workers,” Renée Stapleton, Oregon OSHA’s administrator, said in a statement. “Workers have a right to hazard-free job sites. Employers must make that right a reality.”
A cave-in can trap and kill within seconds, according to Oregon OSHA. Federal OSHA has an ongoing National Emphasis Program (NEP) of enforcement and outreach to address trenching and excavation hazards. In 2022, the federal agency increased its enforcement efforts due to a spike in trenching and excavation fatalities. Last year, OSHA acknowledged significant decreases during fiscal year (FY) 2024 in the number of fatal injuries from trench collapses and falls, two leading causes of construction industry worker deaths.
Illinois celebrates impact of safety partnership
The Illinois Department of Labor’s (IDOL) On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program (On-Site), along with OSHA’s Chicago South area office, Pepper Construction Company, and the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council, recently celebrated completion of the Hollywood Casino Joliet construction project and the impact of an OSHA Strategic Partnership, the agency announced June 3.
The partnership, launched in mid-2024, was designed to reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses during the construction of the new casino. The collaborative effort focused on worker training, routine site inspections, safety walk-throughs, and hazard mitigation strategies to ensure a safety-focused culture on the jobsite, according to the IDOL.
“Our partnership exemplifies what’s possible when employers, labor, and government work together to prioritize safety,” IDOL Director Jane Flanagan said in a statement. “By embedding a culture of prevention and vigilance from day one, we helped ensure that thousands of hours of construction work were completed with minimal injuries and maximum care for worker wellbeing.”