U.S. Department of Labor Fines Georgia Contractor For Trenching Violations; Proposes $106,078 in Penalties

ACWORTH, GA - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Corley Contractors Inc. – based in Dallas, Georgia – for exposing employees to excavation hazards while installing water and sewer lines at a worksite in Acworth, Georgia. The company faces $106,078 in penalties.

OSHA initiated an inspection as part of the Agency’s National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Trenching and Excavation after observing employees exposed to trenching hazards. Inspectors determined that Corley Contractors Inc. – operating as C&L Contractors – failed to install a protective cave-in system inside the excavation area, and did not provide a safe means to enter and exit the excavation.

“In a matter of seconds, employees can be seriously or fatally injured when a trench collapses,” said OSHA Atlanta-West Acting Area Office Director Jeffery Stawowy. “Employers are required to slope, shore, or shield trench walls to protect workers from cave-ins.”

View OSHA’s Construction Hazards Prevention Videos on trenching and soil classification for information on trenching safety.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

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 help 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 https://www.osha.gov.