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An Illinois construction company has been fined $59,500 for exposing construction workers various trench dangers. According to a press release issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on June 9th, the Duce Construction Co. received four safety violations, including three serious violations and one willful violation, for reportedly failing to properly protect construction workers from trench dangers at a job site located in Savoy, Illinois (on East Airport Road).
As Thomas Bielema, OSHA’s area director in Peoria, stated in the press release, “it is unacceptable for Duce Construction to allow workers into an unprotected trench. Each year, trench collapses result in numerous deaths and serious injuries… employers that specialize in [construction] work must take all necessary precautions to ensure their employees have safe working conditions.”
Trench Dangers That Were the Focus of the OSHA Violations
The specific issues that were the focus of the OSHA violations committed by Duce Construction included:
- Storing soil piles within 2 feet of the edge of an excavation or trench
- Failing to provide a means of escaping or exiting the trench (such as by, for instance, providing a ladder to allow workers to easily get in/out of the trench)
- Failing to provide workers with safety vests or other protective clothing despite exposing these workers to nearby traffic.
While these violations were classified as “serious” violations, the “willful” violation (i.e., the violation in which Duce Construction is alleged to have intentionally violated safety regulations and, in so doing, displayed a plain indifference to workers’ safety and health) specifically involved a failure to ensure that trench boxes were properly used to prevent soil avalanching and cave-in trench dangers.
Unfortunately, being cited for trenching violations is not new to the Duce Construction Co. In fact, the company has reportedly exposed its workers to trench dangers multiple times over the past decade and was specifically cited by OSHA both in 2006 and 2008 for such violations.
Mount Vernon Trench Accident Lawyers at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C.
At the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C., our experienced Mount Vernon trench accident lawyers have been providing client-centered representation to our Southern Illinois clients since 1950. Our trusted attorneys focus on our clients’ needs, we are passionate about our clients, and we do everything we can to help them get the maximum possible compensation for their losses and injuries so they can focus on recovery and moving on with their life.
We take pride in tailoring our legal representation to specifically meet our clients’ needs and in expertly guiding them through each stage of the complex the legal process. While our attorneys are aggressive and effective litigators both inside and outside of the courtroom, we are also counselors that can provide our clients with helpful legal advice regarding their best options.
Contact Us Today
If you have been injured in a trench accident, contact us by calling (888) 896-9381 or by emailing us using the form at the upper right-hand side of the page. We can provide you with a free, thorough assessment of your case, along with professional advice regarding the best manner in which to move forward.
