U.S. Department of Labor | July 22, 2015
Hassell Construction cited for egregious safety violations in Richmond, Texas collapse
HOUSTON – One minute he was working in the 8-foot trench
below ground. The next, he was being buried in it. His co-workers came to his
rescue, digging him out with their bare hands. Moments after they pulled the
injured man to safety, the unprotected trench collapsed again. His injuries
were serious and led to his hospitalization.
The man’s Houston-area employer, Hassell
Construction Co. Inc., knew the Richmond, Texas excavation site was dangerous, but failed to protect its workers.
Today, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Hassell Construction for 16 safety
violations, including six egregious willful violations for
failing to protect workers inside an excavation from a cave-in. The company
faces penalties totaling $423,900.
“For more than
2,500 years, man has known how to prevent deadly trench collapses. It is absolutely
unacceptable that employers continue to endanger the lives of workers in trenches,”
said Assistant Secretary
of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “An employer
is responsible for providing a workplace safe from hazards. Hassell
Construction failed to do that in this case.”
In addition to the willful violations,
Hassell was cited for nine serious violations, including failing to remove
debris from the edge of the excavation. The company also did not provide a safe means to get in and out of the excavation
for workers or conduct atmospheric testing inside excavations after a sewer
leak.
“Trench cave-ins are preventable,” said John
Hermanson, OSHA’s regional administrator in Dallas. “There are
long-established, basic precautions. They’re not new, and they’re not secret.
Hassell Construction knew its trenches weren’t safe, but still put its workers
in harm’s way.”
OSHA has placed
the company in its Severe
Violator Enforcement Program. The
program concentrates resources on inspecting employers who have demonstrated indifference
towards creating a safe and healthy workplace by committing willful or repeated
violations, and/or failing to abate known hazards. It also mandates
follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law.
The citations Hassell
Construction received are available here.
Hassell
Construction employs about 150 employees to help construct water and sewer
lines in the Houston area. Its workers compensation insurance carrier is
Liberty Mutual. The employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations
to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s Houston South area
director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
To ask questions,
obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report amputations, eye
loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent
danger to workers, the public should call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at
800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency’s Houston South office at 281-286-0583 or its
Houston North office at 281-591-2438.
Under the Occupational
Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe
and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these
conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing
standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more
information, visit http://www.osha.gov.
###
Media Contacts:
Diana
Petterson, 972-850-4710, petterson.diana@dol.gov Juan
Rodriguez, 972-850-4709, rodriguez.juan@dol.gov
Release Number: 15-1429-DAL
|