A federal office security investigation has discovered a Glenburn, Maine common contractor ignored an onsite skilled’s repeated warnings and the corporate’s personal site-specific security plan previous to an incident by which an worker suffered deadly crushing accidents when an unbraced retaining wall collapsed at a Brownville worksite.
The Occupational Security and Well being Administration (OSHA) decided two staff employed by Patriot Paving Group LLC had been putting in storm drainage pipes in a three-to-four-foot-deep trench in June 2024. On the identical time, firm proprietor, Clifford Lane, used an excavator close to the retaining wall’s base, which destabilized it and brought on a 40-to-60-foot-long part of the wall to tip over, in keeping with OSHA. One employee escaped however the different employee was killed.
Based on OSHA investigators, Lane knew the wall subsequent to the ditch was unstable, however didn’t use mandatory protecting techniques or evacuate workers. The persevering with excavation created clear and imminent risks.
After its investigation, OSHA cited the corporate for 5 willful violations and proposed penalties of $161,325 for not bracing the retaining wall and exposing workers to struck-by and/or caught between hazards; failing to take away workers from the ditch after it was decided to be hazardous; and never coaching or instructing three workers within the hazards related to trench actions.
The corporate has 15 enterprise days to conform, request an off-the-cuff convention with OSHA’s space director, or contest the findings earlier than OSHA’s unbiased evaluate fee.
Patriot Paving Group LLC is a web site preparation and common contractor specializing in residential and industrial paving, excavation and stormwater drainage work.
Subjects
Workers’ Compensation
Contractors
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